The Texas Story, Centered: A Conversation with Dr. Don Frazier

In the heart of the Hill Country, The Texas Center at Schreiner University is quietly doing something extraordinary: keeping the story of Texas alive, honest, and inclusive. At the helm is Dr. Don Frazier, historian and Director of The Texas Center, whose passion for storytelling and cultural sustainability is helping shape how Texans — both new and native — understand where they came from and where they’re headed.

I had the privilege of joining Don and his wife, Susan Frazier — Director of State House Press at the Texas Center — in their warm, sunlit Hill Country kitchen, where our conversation unfolded over the sights and smells of home. Together, we talked about their shared love of Texas while preparing a meal that beautifully reflected the state’s spirit: Smoked Pork Loin sizzling right on the stovetop, Creamed Corn made from a cherished wedding recipe, and Wacky Cake, a Depression-era dessert that pioneers once baked without eggs — a nod to resilience and resourcefulness that feels distinctly Texan.

As the scent of applewood and butter filled the air, the conversation turned naturally to the thing Don and Susan have dedicated their lives to sustaining: the Texas story itself. Over the rhythmic clatter of pots and laughter from across the counter, Don began explaining why understanding our past — in all its grit, grace, and complexity — is more vital now than ever.

Keeping the Story Honest

“At its core, The Texas Center is in the cultural sustainability business,” Don told me, leaning back slightly as if considering the long arc of history itself. “We’re honest brokers in telling the Texas story. We help natives and newcomers alike see how the past informs the present — and prepares us for the future.” He smiled, a hint of pride in his voice. “If we don’t tell our own story, who will?”

That sense of ownership and balance defines the Center’s mission. “We live in a very polarized world,” he continued. “That’s why we emphasize center in our name — we strive to be honest brokers amidst all the rancor.” In a time when history is often used to divide, The Texas Center aims to bring people together through an authentic, nuanced understanding of Texas itself.

More Than a Museum

While many might assume The Texas Center is a museum, Frazier is quick to clarify that it’s something much more alive. “We’re more of a think tank than a museum,” he said. “Our Texas art and artifacts help create an atmosphere where history and culture marinate our messaging.” The physical items may be few, but the ideas that circulate within those walls — discussions, research, and shared stories — are what truly animate the space.

Telling the Whole Story

For Frazier, part of honest storytelling means facing the parts of Texas history that have long been overlooked. “Historians have made huge strides in recent decades to include underrepresented voices,” he explained. “What needs to happen now is showing how all these stories connect — breaking down the silos.” His goal isn’t to rewrite history, but to expand it — to make sure every person who calls Texas home can see themselves reflected in its larger story.

And that kind of deeper understanding can change lives. “Folks who arrive with a narrow view of the Civil War, for instance, often leave realizing how nuanced and complicated it really was,” he said. “The same goes for people of Mexican heritage. The real story doesn’t fit on a bumper sticker or a meme.” It’s in these moments — where a visitor’s perspective widens — that Don feels the Center’s impact most clearly.

Why Stories Matter

So why, in a state built on legend and myth, does storytelling still matter? Frazier didn’t hesitate. “Because storytelling is how humans learn. It’s basic communication,” he said. “We are a place of great diversity — human, geographic, geologic, you name it. History shows how different elements came together to create, in essence, a new ethnic identity: the Texan.”

Storytelling, for him, isn’t about nostalgia — it’s a bridge between people, generations, and cultures. It’s how Texans, in all their complexity, find common ground.

When History Becomes Personal

That connection to the past runs deep for Frazier. “Between fifth and sixth grade,” he recalled, “I came across the graves of a dozen Texas Confederates in a cemetery in Macon, Georgia. These young men were a long way from home, and it made me ask my first real historical questions: Who were they? Why are they here? What happened to them?”

It was a formative moment — the spark that turned history from a school subject into a lifelong pursuit. “History was about real lives, real choices, real people,” he said. “Just like me.”

A Broader View

Since becoming Director of The Texas Center, Frazier’s appreciation for the state has only deepened. “This role has given me the chance to travel the width and breadth of Texas and meet its people,” he reflected. “It’s given me time to consider the whole sweep of the Texas story — and to develop a sort of thesis about what it all means.”

He’s come to see that Texas isn’t defined by a single story, but by the sum of thousands — stories of perseverance, creativity, and community.

The Texan Spirit

When asked what single story he would tell every Texan, Frazier smiled knowingly. “That’s tough,” he admitted. “There are so many. But I’d probably use several examples that show grit, determination, and endurance. Texans usually aren’t ones for quitting — in fact, we often do our best work when the odds are long.”

That theme of resilience weaves through every part of the Frazier household — from the stovetop Smoked Pork Loin to the Wacky Cake cooling on the counter, each bite telling a story of survival, resourcefulness, and pride.

The Takeaway

For Dr. Don Frazier, the story of Texas isn’t about glorifying the past — it’s about understanding ourselves. The Texas Center is more than a campus initiative; it’s a living conversation about who we are and who we still have the power to become. In a state known for its big skies and bigger personalities, Frazier’s work is a gentle reminder that our greatest strength lies not just in our independence, but in the shared story that binds us all together — one told honestly, with heart, and always from the center.

As our conversation wound down and the last slice of Wacky Cake was served, it was clear that in the Frazier home, storytelling doesn’t end at the written word — it continues at the table. Each dish we prepared told its own small piece of the Texas story: resourceful, rooted in tradition, and shared with a generous spirit. Just as The Texas Center keeps the state’s heritage alive through conversation and scholarship, Don and Susan keep it alive through flavor, memory, and the comfort of a home-cooked meal.

 Follow The Texas Center at Schreiner University on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, and X. Head over to thetexascenter.org and sign up for our week dose of Texas history delivered straight to your inbox. (Facebook https;//wwwfacebook.com/TexasEmpresario/)