“Texas is neither southern nor western. Texas is Texas.” (William Blakley)

William Blakley (1898-1976) was a Texas senator for two incomplete terms, the first in 1957 and the second in 1961. He is remembered today for the quotation: “Texas is neither southern nor western. Texas is Texas.” The speech was made in a television program and was cited in a 1961 book. Blakley has been asked if Texas is “southern” or “western”—a familiar conundrum.
 
 
Wikipedia: William A. Blakley
William Arvis “Dollar Bill” Blakley (November 17, 1898 – January 5, 1976) was an American senator and businessman from the State of Texas. He served two incomplete terms as Senator, the first in 1957, the second in 1961. He was part of the conservative wing of the Texas Democratic Party and is remembered for running against liberal Democrat Ralph Yarborough in the 1958 election and losing to Republican John Tower in the 1961 special election, yielding the first Republican senator from Texas since Reconstruction.
   
The Lone Star State - Quotes About Texas
“Texas is neither southern nor western.  Texas is Texas.”
William Blakley, Senator
 
Google Books
The Super-Americans:
A picture of life in the United States, as brought into focus, bigger than life, in the land of the millionaires—Texas
by John Bainbridge
Garden City, NY: Doubleday
1961
Pg. 9:
...the Senate, was asked on a television program if Texas is a Southern or Western state. “Texas is Texas,” Blakley replied.
 
Google Books
1001 Greatest Things Ever Said about Texas
by Donna Ingham
Guilford, CT: Globe Pequot
2006
Pg. 29:
Texas is neither southern nor western. Texas is Texas.
—William Blakley