Robert Wilburn Calvert

CALVERT, ROBERT WILBURN (1905~1994) Robert Wilburn Calvert born February 22, 1905, in Lawrence County, Tennessee to Porter Calvert and Maud Richardson. Porter Calvert passed away in 1912 leaving his family destitute. Mrs. Calvert brought her family to Texas in 1913, and placed her children in the State Home in Corsicana. Later Justice Calvert would credit his experience in the State Home as the ordeal in which forged his character and the determination that carried him all through his life. This determination resulted in his developing a level of almost fierce self-reliance.

After graduating from high school at the home, he matriculated through undergraduate and law school at the University of Texas in Austin. After graduation, he went to Hillsboro to practice law and entered public service. As a young district attorney, Mr. Calvert was the model of what a prosecutor should be, he was fearless in his commitment to prosecute the guilty, and tireless in his commitment to protect the innocent.

He served as a member of the Texas House of Representatives in the 43rd and 44th Sessions from 1933 through 1935. Calvert served as Speaker of the House in the 45th Session in 1937. As Speaker of the House, he was fair, incisive, and totally incorruptible. His sole guidepost was his perception of the public interest. He was elected an Associate Justice of the Texas Supreme Court in 1950 and served in that position until 1961 when he was elected Chief Justice. Justice Calvert served as Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court through 1972. As a member of the Supreme Court, Justice Calvert will best be remembered by the way he quickly cut through to the heart of a case. His opinions were usually brief and succinct.

Justice Calvert also served as Chairman of the National Conference of Chief Justices from 1970 to1971 and as a member of the Texas State Ethics Advisory Commission from 1984 to 1985. Judge Calvert's twenty-two years on the Court were followed by twenty-two years in private practice. He was a teacher, counselor, researcher, and in all senses a legal scholar in residence. Judge Calvert had neither enemies nor critics. He died on October 6, 1994 in Waco, Texas and was buried at the Texas State Cemetery on October 9, 1994. Robert W. Calvert will live long in the hearts and minds of the many that knew him and loved him.

Information taken from Texas State Cemetery Archives.