# Judson Roberts — Elmer Gantry character guide

> Judson Roberts in Elmer Gantry by Sinclair Lewis.

**Role:** minor

**Also known as:** Jud, Old Jud

**First appearance:** 0031-chapter-vi

## Who they are

A rough, older man who becomes a convert at Elmer's revival.

## Relationships

### [Elmer Gantry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/characters/elmer_gantry)

_professional_

Judson Roberts is a fellow evangelist and business associate who collaborates with Elmer in revival schemes.

### [Elmer Gantry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/characters/elmer_gantry)

_professional_

Judson Roberts is a fellow evangelist and business associate who collaborates with Elmer in revival schemes.

### [Elmer Gantry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/characters/elmer_gantry)

_professional_

Judson Roberts is a fellow evangelist and business associate who collaborates with Elmer in revival schemes.

## In the story

### [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/chapter-iii)

Judson Roberts stands with Elmer during the revival meeting and is credited with influencing Elmer's conversion.

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/i)

The State Secretary of the Y.M.C.A., a former football star who uses his physical presence and psychological tactics to recruit young men to Christianity.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/iii)

The star soloist and preacher who delivers an emotional sermon, using athletic imagery to appeal to the audience, and personally pressures Elmer to convert.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/iv)

Mentioned as a model of evangelistic success that Elmer compares himself to.

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/vii)

State secretary of the Y.M.C.A., former football star, traveling to Concordia, Kansas; privately doubts his faith and considers quitting for real estate.

### [Chapter XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/chapter-xiii)

Mentioned as a model for Elmer's bullying hero role in the audience.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/chapters/v)

Elmer recalls Judson Roberts' earlier bullying role in the audience.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/characters/judson_roberts
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/elmer_gantry_se/characters