Robert Teague Milner Sr. (June 21, 1851 â July 30, 1923) was an American politician and academic administrator. A Democrat, he held numerous Texas state offices, including Speaker of the House, Insurance Commissioner, and Agriculture Commissioner. He was also President of Texas A&M University.
Milner was born on June 21, 1851, in Cherokee County, Alabama, to Arnold Milner and Mary Milner. He grew up in Pine Hill, Texas, attending public school there and later studying at the Henderson Male and Female College.
Between and 1881, Milner worked as an educator. He purchased The Henderson Times, a local newspaper, in 1881, and he operated and edited it from then until 1906.
Milner was a member of the Democratic Party. He represented the 6th district in the Texas House of Representatives from January 11, 1887, to January 10, 1893, serving as Speaker from January 13, 1891, to January 10, 1893. As Chairman of the House Committee on Public Education during his tenure, he worked to improve Texas educaion policy, such as when he drafted and introduced a bill to include Texas history in public curriculum. He also chaired the Committee on Public Printing and was a member of the Committees on Constitutional Amendments, Engrossed Bills, Fish and Game Laws, General Education Bill, Internal Improvements, and Rules.
Milner was appointed Commissioner of the state Departments of Agriculture and Insurance by Governor Thomas Mitchell Campbell. He served as Insurance Commissioner from 1906 to September 1, 1907, then served as Agriculture Commissioner from 1907 to 1908. He had requested the creation of the Department of Agriculture to Campbell, assuming the office as its inaugural Commissioner following its creation.
In 1908, Milner resigned as Agriculture Commissioner and was succeeded by Edward R. Kone. Afterward, he served as President of Texas A&M University from September 1, 1908, to October 1, 1913.
Milner resigned as President of Texas A&M on October 1, 1913, after which he retired to Henderson. He had five children with his wife, Mary L. Hawkins, who he married in October 1883. He died on July 20, 1923, aged 72, in Henderson, and is buried in the Old Henderson City Cemetery.
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