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By Texas Standard, W.F. Strong

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Stories from Texas are written for and recorded for the Texas Standard radio program. They’re written by W.F Strong and edited for broadcast by Texas Standard producers.

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Texas Standard » Stories from Texas episodes:

04.10.2024
Counting Cattle With the Fathers
Longtime listeners may know — Texas Standard is fast approaching a milestone birthday. We’re turning 10 next March. With us almost from the beginning have been signature segments including the Typewriter Rodeo and Stories From Texas — these bi-weekly commentaries...
03.13.2024
The Other Hill Country
Over the next couple of months, many will set off for the Texas Hill Country to enjoy the splendor of the wildflowers celebrating spring. Many of the tourists are flatlanders, who not only love the kaleidoscope of colors but also...
02.28.2024
The mystery of the Texas box
We’ve all heard the proverb about one man’s trash being another’s treasure. Well, for generations of a family now living in Texas, the treasure in question was an old box found discarded many years earlier. Texas Standard commentator W.F. Strong...
02.14.2024
Bonnie and Clyde: Star-synced lovers
February the 14th may be one of the more divisive days on the calendar. Though Valentine’s Day is meant to celebrate love — many find it cheesy, commercial, or downright depressing. Others, lean into the holiday. In the latter camp,...
01.03.2024
New Year’s Eve on Houston Street
Champagne toasts, fireworks, making resolutions, fancy meals… those are just some of the many ways Texans chose to to ring in 2024. Texas Standard commentator WF Strong, however, decided to welcome the New Year by reflecting on the past.
12.20.2023
The Gift of the Tidelands
Texas Standard commentator W.F. Strong has a little holiday tradition. Every December he likes to count our collective blessings as Texans by highlighting a great gift to Texas. He says the tidelands were special because the giver didn’t realize how...
12.06.2023
La Pitada
554 miles from AT&T Stadium you will find a Dallas Cowboys celebratory tradition that is unique in Texas. You might expect it in Dallas or Arlington, but to find this three decade tradition thriving in a Brownsville neighborhood, is both...
11.09.2023
Found in Translation
For those with a rudimentary knowledge of Spanish, traveling Texas becomes more interesting because the Spanish names of places reveal, or hint at, their histories. Texas Standard commentator WF Strong has some examples.
10.25.2023
On Censorship
A look at the headlines might sometimes give you a sense of déjà vu — haven’t you read or seen this before? Fights over government shutdowns… a looming presidential race that may pit the same candidates against one another. Texas...
10.11.2023
The Legend of La Llorona
All through October, the Texas Standard team is tracking Texas cryptids. As we’ve dug into some of these legends, we’ve noticed a few patterns. First of all, many of the cryptids associated with Texas have roots in Mexico. And there...
09.27.2023
‘The Killers of the Flower Moon’ is an Oklahoma story with Texas ties
There’s a much-anticipated film coming out next month. It’s the latest from Martin Scorsese and stars Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio. Texan Jesse Plemons also has a big role — playing a Texan from history. Commentator WF Strong profiled...
09.13.2023
Texas is God’s Country
“Everything’s bigger in Texas” may be one of the most famous sayings about Texas. “Don’t mess with Texas” probably comes in a close second. Texas Standard commentator WF Strong has been looking into another well-known saying about Texas.
08.16.2023
How the railroad saved Fort Worth
When we’re speaking of the North Texas metroplex — Dallas always gets first billing. It’s DFW… not FWD. But Texas Standard Commentator WF Strong says, at one point, the slightly smaller large city was at risk of disappearing altogether.
08.03.2023
The Historical Accuracy of Lonesome Dove
“Lonesome Dove” is one of the most popular Texas novels of all time — with many millions of copies sold since it was first published in 1985. The miniseries that followed in 1989 was the second most popular mini-series of...
07.19.2023
Texas Spelling Bee
Are there words that just trip you up every time you try to spell them? For the producer writing this script it’s allegience — allegiance — so many vowels. You know it’s bad when Word or Google can’t even make...
07.05.2023
The Second Sacking of San Antonio
Most Texans believe that the Battle of San Jacinto settled everything. Once Mexican President Santa Anna was decisively defeated, he famously signed a treaty guaranteeing Texas independence and he would never again set foot on Texas soil…Right? Well, commentator WF...
06.22.2023
The 50th anniversary of ‘The Time It Never Rained’
It’s been 50 years since the publication of Elmer Kelton’s now classic Texas novel, “The Time it Never Rained.” Kelton wrote 50 books and said this was his favorite — he called it his signature work. It won him both...
05.24.2023
Farmer Logic
If you’ve spent any time around farmers — you may have noticed a similar, pragmatic approach to life many share. Texas Standard Commentator WF Strong says it’s something he’s long observed.
05.10.2023
Things Redneck Dave said to me on the drive across Texas
Technology has a role in helping us remember the past. Whether it’s a Facebook memory or a similar push from your photos app. But milestones have long played the same role — anniversaries, holidays, big changes in life. Maybe it’s...
04.26.2023
What a Handshake is Worth
How much is a promise worth? How much is it worth if you guarantee the promise with a handshake? What is the value of one’s word? In Texas, once, all these taken together were worth over ten billion dollars in...
04.12.2023
Sancho
One of Texas folklorist J. Frank Dobie’s favorite stories was the story of Sancho, the tamale-loving Longhorn. He heard it from John Rigby of Beeville, Texas. Dobie said that he figured Rigby had dressed up the story a bit and...
03.29.2023
It’s My Turn
A couple of weeks ago, Texas Standard commentator WF Strong shared some news with a few members of our staff. Now, he’s ready to share it with all of you.
03.01.2023
Quinta Mazatlan
Cicero said, “If you have a library and a garden, you have all that you need.” Texas Standard commentator WF Strong says you can begin to understand that wisdom when you enter the gates of Quinta Mazatlan. It’s an urban...
02.16.2023
My Valentine
Love, of course, can come in many forms. Texas Standard commentator WF Strong has found a lot of love in his life, including in his two teenage boys. He recalls a certain newer relationship that he says came as a...
02.01.2023
Tom Hoskins and his Thousand Points of Light
It could be said that Texas is a state of natural philosophers. Many people have maxims or aphorisms at the ready for every situation. Tom Hoskins was one such person. He made it his late-in-life mission to record all of...
01.18.2023
We Might Oughtta Praise Texas Grammar
Those who didn’t grow up in Texas can have a lot of trouble with the way many Texans pronounce many place names. Think Gruene or Refugio. But commentator WF Strong noticed sumpin’ else — some Texans use words you pert...
01.04.2023
The Port Mansfield Cut and the treasure discovered there
Running from Corpus Christi to near Brownsville, Padre Island is the longest barrier island in the world. Up until the late 1950s, you could drive the entire 113 miles of the island if you had a vehicle with decent four-wheel...
01.02.2023
Jesse H. Jones was a model philanthropist
Over 30% of annual nonprofit giving happens in the last month of the year. In Texas, philanthropists Jesse H. Jones and his wife, Mary Gibbs Jones, have been very generous. Texas Standard commentator WF Strong has more on the gifts...
11.24.2022
‘Three red marbles’ is a story fit for Thanksgiving
Many Texas Standard listeners are thankful for the “Stories from Texas” brought to us by our regular commentator WF Strong. Today’s story is a little different — he explains why.
10.26.2022
La Llorona
A 500-year-old Mexican legend is still freshly scaring kids — especially in the border regions. The story about a crying woman called La Llorona no doubt arrived in what is now Texas with the earliest Mexican settlers. Ever since, this...
10.12.2022
Yonderings
Texas Standard commentator W.F. Strong explores Texas for us — often through history and lore. But he also picks up new stories from Texas. And, occasionally, he recommends one.
09.28.2022
How Texas Saved the Buffalo
The number of American bison has increased in recent years from a historic low of just a few hundred to half a million. Texas Standard commentator WF Strong says the Lone Star State – and one of its most famous...
09.14.2022
Wright Bacon: A Texas Original
A lot of people love bacon. Maybe no one more-so than comedian Jim Gaffigan. Texas Standard commentator WF Strong says Gaffigan’s bacon commitment might make him a good candidate for a honor this weekend in a Texas city you’ve likely...
09.09.2022
Remembering Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Texas
Queen Elizabeth II’s seven decade-long reign makes it challenging to whittle down to just a few big moments. She witnessed some of the world’s most pivotal events. But from a Texas perspective, there are two days in 1991 that stick...
08.24.2022
Flying to school on my Western Flyer
With school back in session across most parts of the lone star state, Texas Standard commentator WF Strong is among those starting off the morning with drop offs at school. But while he was dripping off his daughter the other...
07.27.2022
Falcon Lake
There’s been a lot of concern focused on Lake Mead in Nevada. It’s the largest reservoir in the United States and is the water source for more than 25 million people. But it’s fallen to just 25% capacity and is...
06.01.2022
Remembering the Uvalde 21
Usually WF Strong brings Texas Standard listeners quirky facts about the state or bits of overlooked history. Today, he said there was just one thing on his heart: the stories of the lives lost in the Uvalde shooting. WF and...
05.04.2022
What happened to Toadsuck, Texas?
Texas has had perhaps more than its share of unusual names of cities and towns. Cut and Shoot – Dime Box – Bug Tussle. But perhaps the strangest was Toadsuck, Texas. You won’t find it on a map today because...
03.23.2022
The Pessimistic Farmer
One in 7 working Texans has an agriculture-related job. That’s a lot of people who depend at least in part on unpredictable markets and mother nature to make a living. So it’s no surprise some of those folks might look...
03.09.2022
How The Railroad Help Built Texas
Early Texas towns took hold alongside protected bays – think Galveston and Corpus Christi. Others developed along the banks of fine rivers, such as San Antonio, Goliad and El Paso. But later it was the steel tributaries called railroads that...
02.23.2022
Wordle For Texas
By this time, you’ve no doubt seen or heard of the game Wordle. The daily puzzle game with the yellow and green boxes has become part of the morning routine for millions of people around the world. To coin a...
01.26.2022
LBJ’s Humor
When most people think of Lyndon Johnson they don’t envision a man with a great sense of humor. He was in power in turbulent times. When I see his face in my mind I see a man who was troubled,...
01.12.2022
A Little Test Of Texas’ Official Symbols
Likely you haven’t had a test of Texas’ official symbols since about 5th grade. You probably still know the major ones – but do you remember the state small mammal?
12.29.2021
How Ranchers Used Barbed Wire To Make Phone Calls
These days, if you’re out working on a ranch and you need some backup, you just pick up your cell phone. If you’re in a remote area of Texas with bad service — you might also have a walkie talkie...
12.15.2021
Texas Ice Fishing
It’s unlikely Texas will see a major freeze this winter like we did last year. At least that’s what forecasters are saying right now. The extreme cold of last February reminded Texas Standard commentator W.F. Strong about a bit of...
12.01.2021
The Most Generous Texan Of Yore?
Most Texans probably know the Brackenridge name. But, depending on where you’re from, you might have a different landmark (and namesake) in mind. In Austin, there was the area’s first public hospital. In Edna, there’s a more than one thousand...
11.17.2021
Texas Navigator App
On Google Maps you can get navigator voices in English with either an American, British, Indian, or Canadian accent. Commentator W.F. Strong thinks they should offer a Texas navigator accent – one that also offers Texas expressions and colloquialisms.
10.20.2021
Peregrine Falcons
This is the time of year that Peregrine falcons make their incredible journey from Greenland to Argentina and Chile, a distance of over eight thousand miles. One of the most popular migration stopovers for Peregrines is Padre Island. There, they...
10.06.2021
The Young Lieutenant Who Crossed the Wild Horse Desert
American history sometimes snuggles up close with what might be better termed American mythology. Take that story about a young George Washington chopping down a cherry tree. But other bits of history based quite a bit more in fact are...
09.22.2021
Texas And The Art Of Understatement
Yes, everything may be bigger in Texas. And Texans are used to being pegged as exaggerators — the tellers of tall tales like Pecos Bill who roped tornadoes and shot stars from the sky. But Texas Standard commentator W.F. Strong...

What's Texas Standard » Stories from Texas about?

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Texas Standard » Stories from Texas episodes:

Counting Cattle With the Fathers

The Other Hill Country

The mystery of the Texas box

Bonnie and Clyde: Star-synced lovers

New Year’s Eve on Houston Street

The Gift of the Tidelands

La Pitada

Found in Translation

On Censorship

The Legend of La Llorona

‘The Killers of the Flower Moon’ is an Oklahoma story with Texas ties

Texas is God’s Country

How the railroad saved Fort Worth

The Historical Accuracy of Lonesome Dove

Texas Spelling Bee

The Second Sacking of San Antonio

The 50th anniversary of ‘The Time It Never Rained’

Farmer Logic

Things Redneck Dave said to me on the drive across Texas

What a Handshake is Worth

Sancho

It’s My Turn

Quinta Mazatlan

My Valentine

Tom Hoskins and his Thousand Points of Light

We Might Oughtta Praise Texas Grammar

The Port Mansfield Cut and the treasure discovered there

Jesse H. Jones was a model philanthropist

‘Three red marbles’ is a story fit for Thanksgiving

La Llorona

Yonderings

How Texas Saved the Buffalo

Wright Bacon: A Texas Original

Remembering Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Texas

Flying to school on my Western Flyer

Falcon Lake

Remembering the Uvalde 21

What happened to Toadsuck, Texas?

The Pessimistic Farmer

How The Railroad Help Built Texas

Wordle For Texas

LBJ’s Humor

A Little Test Of Texas’ Official Symbols

How Ranchers Used Barbed Wire To Make Phone Calls

Texas Ice Fishing

The Most Generous Texan Of Yore?

Texas Navigator App

Peregrine Falcons

The Young Lieutenant Who Crossed the Wild Horse Desert

Texas And The Art Of Understatement