Strong, W. F.: - W. F. Strong is a Fulbright Scholar and Professor of Communication and Culture at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. He was raised in Texas and holds degrees in Communication and Literature from Abilene Christian University and The University of North Texas. His doctorate in Communication and Rhetoric is from The University of Arizona. He wrote his dissertation on Mark Twain's Speaking, where he developed his intense interest in storytelling as an art form. He was raised working on farms and ranches in South Texas and so has had a long connection with the Texas soil, as did his ancestors who farmed and ranched in North Texas for over a century. His familial background has nurtured his love for the vibrancy of Texas history, literature and culture.