The Sam Rayburn Series on Rural Life is named to honor the memory of a distinguished alumnus of Texas A&M University-Commerce. Sam Rayburn, Texas legislator, congressman, and longtime speaker of the United States House of Representatives, graduated from then-named East Texas Normal College in 1903. Among his several contributions to the university were the establishment of an Air Force R.O.T.C. unit on campus in 1949 and his timely funding intervention for the newly approved vocational agriculture program in 1950. Mr. Sam is remembered for his successful efforts to represent the people of his largely rural district.

Started in 1997 under the auspices of the Texas A&M University Press, the Sam Rayburn Series on Rural Life encourages publication of nonfiction on facets of rural life in East Texas and the surrounding regions. Any related topic, such as the following, would be appropriate for this series: agriculture, architecture, art, banking, cotton, environment, finance, higher education, history, literary figures, little theater, oil/gas, politics, public education, social work, sports, and others.

Memoirs should have sufficient historical background and relevance to the region to make the account appeal to a broader audience.