One Georgia Southern University professor has made his way into the vault of the Presidio La Bahia Award with his book Matamoros and the Texas Revolution.

Contributing to the history of Texas, GSU history professor Craig Roell remembers the Texas Revolution through a bestowing story of the forgotten Mexican port city Matamoros.

Established by the Sons of the Republic of Texas in 1968, the Presidio La Bahia Award is an annual literary award that promotes the preservation of relics and research of Texas heritage.

With a southern Texan background, Roell used his roots to aid him in writing the 2015 Presidio La Bahia Award-winning book. Combined with research and dedication, the uniquity of Roell’s work falls under his exposure of the geographic and economic context in which made control of Matamoros more desirable than ever for both sides during the revolution.

Unable to accept his award in person, Roell’s mother, sister and editor were in attendance at the ceremony for the busy college professor’s award presentation.