C. A. Roberson, Jr.

C. A. Roberson, who rose through the ranks of higher education to become chancellor of one of the nation’s largest community college systems, died here Monday, January 29, 2018 following a short illness.  Service: 9:00 a.m. Saturday, February 3, 2018 at First Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth.  Interment: 3:00 p.m. in Johnson’s Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens in San Angelo.

C. A. was a respected leader in higher education, particularly in community college financing.  His funding formula for state-supported community colleges was introduced more than 50 years ago, with much of it still implemented by the State Legislature today.

C. A. was named Chancellor of Tarrant County College (then Tarrant County Junior College District) in 1989, succeeding founding Chancellor Joe B. Rushing. Roberson served TCJC for 30 years, beginning as Vice President for Business during its founding year in 1966 and later as Executive Vice Chancellor in 1979. TCJC grew from an opening single-campus enrollment of 4,200 students to more than 50,000 students on five campuses today.

Before joining TCJC, C. A. was business manager at Odessa College, dean of students at Sul Ross State University and business manager of San Angelo College (now Angelo State University).

Born Wall, Texas and raised in Veribest, a West Texas community, in 1929, he was the son of the late C. A. and Annie Mae Roberson. He was a graduate of San Angelo High School. He was awarded an associate degree at San Angelo College, then earned bachelor and master of business administration degrees from Texas Tech University.  Also, a certified public accountant, he did graduate study in community college administration at the University of Texas in Austin.

He was married to Shirley Joyce Stevens in 1957. Besides his widow, he is survived by four children—Frank and wife, Sylvana; Phil and wife Tracy; Ron and wife Karen, and Carla and husband Scott Schumann.

Other survivors include grandchildren Melissa Roberson, Ashly and husband C. J. Morton; April and husband Kenny Riddile, Amber Roberson, Logan Schumann and Carter Schumann, as well as great-grandchildren, Victor and Leilani.

He was a lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church, serving as Elder for many years.

Texas governors—from 1953 to 1993—sought his participation on various boards, commissions and committees.  He chaired the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Insurance Administrative Council and the Texas Surplus Property Agency. He also co-chaired the Coordinating Board’s Committee on Public Community/Junior College Funding.

He served as Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Texas Teacher Retirement System and was founding President of the National Council of Community College Business Officers.  He also was a longtime member of the Executive Committee of the Texas Association of Community Colleges, and consulted with numerous other institutions on a national, regional and local basis.

In 1990, he was named Distinguished Alumnus during homecoming at Angelo State University, and in 1996, he was awarded the Honorary Doctor of Educational Leadership degree from the University of North Texas.

Since retiring in 1996 he and his wife spent time with children and grandchildren, all of whom he credited with providing support over the years. For a decade, the Robersons resided near New Braunfels before returning to Fort Worth about one year ago.