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'''James Travis Roberts, Jr.''', known as '''Travis Roberts'''  (May 11, 1937 &ndash; June 3, 2021)<ref>James Travis Roberts Jr. (1937-2021) - Find A Grave Memorial, June 12, 2021.</ref> was a rancher, engineer, surveyor, and historical preservationist from [[rural]] Marathon in Brewster County in southwestern [[Texas]].<ref name=obit>James Travis Roberts, Jr. | Obituaries | alpineavalanche.com, June 9, 2021.</ref> Marathon bills itself as "where the Big Bend and Dark Skies Meet."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.marathontexas.com/|title=Marathon, Texas - Where the Big Bend and Dark Skies Meet|publisher=marathontexas.com|accessdate=June 12, 2021}}</ref>

'''James Travis Roberts, Jr.''', known as '''Travis Roberts'''  (May 11, 1937 &ndash; June 3, 2021)<ref>James Travis Roberts Jr. (1937-2021) - Find A Grave Memorial, June 12, 2021.</ref> was a rancher, engineer, surveyor, and historical preservationist from [[rural]] Marathon in Brewster County in southwestern [[Texas]].<ref name=obit>James Travis Roberts, Jr. | Obituaries | alpineavalanche.com, June 9, 2021.</ref> Marathon bills itself as "where the Big Bend and Dark Skies Meet."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.marathontexas.com/|title=Marathon, Texas - Where the Big Bend and Dark Skies Meet|publisher=marathontexas.com|accessdate=June 12, 2021}}</ref>It has an average of only fifteen inches of annual precipitation. Earnings from ranches in the area have declined in recent years.<ref name=saen>{{cite web|url=https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/For-320-million-you-can-own-a-massive-ranch-in-15019928.php|title='Big Empty' for sale|publisher=''San Antonio Express-News''|author=John MacCormack|accessdate=June 13, 2021}}</ref>  

Roberts was born in Alpine, the Brewster County seat of government,  to James Travis Roberts, Sr. (1905-1990), and the former Annie Pauline Bierschwale (1913-1997)..He and his brothers, John and Ike Roberts, worked the family ranch and the large Catto-Gage Ranch.in Kendalia in Kendall County in the Texas Hill Country. Beginning in 1955, Roberts attended [[Texas A&M University]] in [[College Station, Texas|College Station]], at which he was a member of the Fightin’ Aggie Band. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. After college, he served as a lieutenant in the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers]] and in the Army Reserves. After a short stint with the Texas Highways Department, he joined Hunter Associates in [[Dallas]] as a professional engineer and registered surveyor. In this capacity, he designed and helped develop various cities in North Texas. Following retirement, he returned full time to the Maravillas Creek Ranch, just south of Marathon, and continued his engineering and surveying work.<ref name=obit/>

Roberts' ancestors arrived in 1885, prior to the creation of Brewster County. He lived in his later years on grandfather’s old ranch south of Marathon.<ref name=saen/> Roberts was born in Alpine, the Brewster County seat of government,  to James Travis Roberts, Sr. (1905-1990), and the former Annie Pauline Bierschwale (1913-1997)..He and his brothers, John and Ike Roberts, worked the family ranch and the large Catto-Gage Ranch.in Kendalia in Kendall County in the Texas Hill Country. Beginning in 1955, Roberts attended [[Texas A&M University]] in [[College Station, Texas|College Station]], at which he was a member of the Fightin’ Aggie Band. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering. After college, he served as a lieutenant in the [[United States Army Corps of Engineers]] and in the Army Reserves. After a short stint with the Texas Highways Department, he joined Hunter Associates in [[Dallas]] as a professional engineer and registered surveyor. In this capacity, he designed and helped develop various cities in North Texas. Following retirement, he returned full time to the Maravillas Creek Ranch, just south of Marathon, and continued his engineering and surveying work.<ref name=obit/>

Roberts had a lifelong passion for Texas history, specifically the southwest region and Brewster County. He served as chairman on the Brewster County Historical Commission and the Center for Big Bend Studies Advisory Board at Sul Ross State University in Alpine. He was a past president of the West Texas Historical Association, based at [[Texas Tech University]] in [[Lubbock]]. He was on the board of Preservation Texas and a member of the Marathon Museum Board and the cemetery association.<ref name=obit/>

Roberts had a lifelong passion for Texas history, specifically the southwest region and Brewster County. He served as chairman on the Brewster County Historical Commission and the Center for Big Bend Studies Advisory Board at Sul Ross State University in Alpine. He was a past president of the West Texas Historical Association, based at [[Texas Tech University]] in [[Lubbock]]. He was on the board of Preservation Texas and a member of the Marathon Museum Board and the cemetery association.<ref name=obit/>