May 2022
Texas Ranger Hall of Fame Newsletter
Sponsored by the City of Waco
Official State Historical Center of the Texas Rangers
Home of Texas Ranger Bicentennial 1823-2023
|
|
More than a Museum: A Training Center and "Embassy" for Waco
|
|
The public knows the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum as the official State historical center of the Texas Rangers. What most do not know are its roles as a law enforcement training center, a place where Rangers are selected, and a focal point for distinguished visitors to Texas. Unique among historical centers, while visitors soak up the history in the museum and Hall of Fame, history is being made in another wing.
|
|
The service of more than a few Texas Rangers have begun in Waco. Interview Boards to select new Texas Rangers have been held on-site. Once promoted to Texas Ranger, they return for specialized training by attending "Ranger Schools" (as seen above). Other State, Federal and regional law enforcement agencies have participated in joint sessions.
|
|
The advanced classroom and workshop sessions include topics such as: handling biological, radiological and chemical terrorism threats; advanced crime scene investigation; the use of state-of-the-art digital crime scene laser scanners (as seen below); bloodstain and blood splatter analysis; the recognition and protection of at-risk children; and witness interview and suspect interrogation. Even specialists from the Israeli Mossad and INTERPOL have held classified workshops and briefings on aspects of terrorism.
|
|
The advanced technical and procedural training Rangers have acquired here has been employed when Rangers have been called upon to assist with incidents and tragedies such as the 2009 and 2014 Ft. Hood shootings, the Sutherland Church mass shooting in 2017, the Austin serial bombings in 2018, and others.
|
|
The Texas Rangers and their historical center also attract an impressive list of distinguished visitors. Every Texas governor since 1964 and two US Presidents have visited. The diplomatic parties from Russia, Mexico, Brazil (as seen below), Thailand, Kyrgyzstan and the People's Republic of China have attended receptions and in-depth tours. . Soldiers from Ft. Hood have held promotion and re-enlistment ceremonies in the Hall of Fame. And touchingly they and their families have chosen to spend time with us before deployments to war zones and upon their safe return. World War I and II, Korea and Vietnam Medal of Honor recipients and families have honored us with visits.
|
|
But our most important visitors are the schoolchildren, some of whom have ridden school buses from the Panhandle to Waco.
|
|
Summer Programs Return for 2022!
|
|
Bring your family down to the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum on Saturday, June 4th, 2022 for our annual Home on the Range event! See Texas Ranger reenactors throughout the years and learn how to live out on the frontier in the late 1800s. The Texas Top Guns and the Legends of the Texas Rangers reenactment groups will be on museum grounds from 10:00AM to 2:00PM. There will be a presentation by Jan Devereaux about the Petticoat Rangers at 10:30 AM and 2:00 PM.
|
|
Texas Ranger Talks return this summer! We are currently scheduling Texas Rangers and historians to speak on the following Saturdays:
- June 25th
- July 9th
- July 23rd
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for the latest information.
|
|
Military Appreciation Weekend
|
|
Podcast with Major Wayne Matthews
|
|
|
Have you ever wondered what life is like as a Texas Ranger? Hear from Company "E" Texas Ranger Major Wayne Matthews in El Paso, as he sat down to share more about his career and life as a Texas Ranger.
|
|
Story Time with Audrey is now on YouTube
|
|
|
In addition to our monthly posts on Facebook and archive on our websites educational pages, we have been hard at work loading our Story Time with Audrey videos onto YouTube as another resource for families and teachers to access these Texas-sized children's' programming.
|
|
Our DFW friends tuned in to Fort Worth Today on KTVT CBS11 on April 30th for a special episode on modern Texas Rangers. Thank you to Ranger Job Espinoza, Ranger Don Stoner, SOG Matt Davenport, Trooper Adam Lawson, and Texas Ranger Association Foundation for putting this together. We enjoyed watching it. https://www.facebook.com/yourfortworthtoday
|
|
Texas DPS Memorial Ground Breaking
|
|
On April 14th at DPS Headquarters in Austin, ground was broken for a Memorial honoring officers who died in the line of duty dating back to the formation of the Texas Rangers in 1823. The memorial will serve as a bridge between law enforcement and civilians, educating visitors about the ongoing challenges of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Thank you to Gov. Abbott, Col. McCraw, Public Safety Commissioners and DPS Personnel who helped mark this historic occasion.
|
|
Names on the memorial will date back in time almost 200 years. Documentation on the memorial's earliest individuals listed, Texas Rangers from the Mexican and Republic of Texas eras, was provided by the Tobin and Anne Armstrong Texas Ranger Research Center. Staff members conducted a research project spanning 20 years.
|
|
Webster's Dictionary - Did you know?
|
|
Did you know the Webster Dictionary was first published on April 14, 1828? Did you know the Texas Rangers, established in 1823, are older than their definition? Cool! Oh, and Mr. Webster, Rangers can still ride horses!
|
|
New black and cream ceramic Texas mugs and shot glasses. They are "Americaware" and have a good weight to them. Cute Texas detail on inside of both mug and shot glass. $13.95 and $7.95 each.
|
|
To shop more items available for purchase, please visit our Gift Shop online or in person 9am to 4:30pm daily. You never have to pay admission to shop. Sales from the Gift Shop benefit the preservation and education activities of the Museum. Please call (877) 750- 8631 or email thestore@texasranger.org to order. We ship worldwide. Thank you!
|
|
Texas Ranger BicentennialTM Partners Program
|
|
Be part of the Texas Ranger Bicentennial! The Texas Rangers will commemorate their landmark 200th anniversary in 2023. With a $100 contribution, you will receive:
- A limited-edition enameled bronze pin featuring the official Texas Ranger Bicentennial™ seal
- A certificate signed by an active or distinguished retired Texas Ranger
- Your name or family name on the online roster of Bicentennial Partners™
- A one-time-use family admission ticket (admits 4) to the Museum.
$90 of the contribution qualifies as a charitable contribution. The Texas Ranger Hall of Fame is a 170(c) government-owned nonprofit.
Please click here to learn more about the program.
|
|
Official Texas Rangers Bicentennial Pin
Trademarked by the Texas Dept. of Public Safety Designed by the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum
|
|
|
Save $1.00 off regular adult admission for up to two adults. Coupon not valid on discounted senior or military admission. No cash value.
The museum is open 9am to 5pm with the last guest admitted at 4:30pm. The museum is located off I-35 and University Parks Drive in Waco, Texas. For more information, call (254) 750-8631 or visit www.texasranger.org.
|
|
|
Newsletter Compiled by Christine Rothenbush, Marketing & Development Specialist
|
|
|
|
|
|
|