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April 2023
Texas Ranger Hall of Fame Newsletter
Department the City of Waco
Official State Repository of Texas Ranger Memorabilia
Home of Texas Ranger Bicentennial 1823-2023
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Gift of Lone Ranger Cards | |
Trading cards of sports figures premiered in the 1860 as giveaways in tobacco, candy, and gum. Topps Chewing Gum, founded in 1938, is one of the leaders. In the 1950s and ‘60s they issued now-classic Major League Baseball player, movie, television and recording stars cards such as Hop-Along Cassidy and the Beatles. The most valuable modern baseball card, the 1952 Mickey Mantle card, sold for $12.6 million in 1922. | |
In 2023, artist Todd A. Smith donated two original cards he drew depicting Clayton Moore as the Lone Ranger and Jay Silverheels as Tonto from the 1950s adaptation of the Lone Ranger. Since first appearing on radio in 1933, the the Lone Ranger has graced many forms of media. Starting in the 1940s the Lone Ranger has appeared in several sets of cards from numerous trading card companies. | |
Mr. Smith says he was inspired to create these “Topps” style cards by his fascination with The Lone Ranger and Texas Ranger history. Smith has been illustrating for the Topps Trading Cards company since 2011. He is well-known for his photo realistic sketches of current and former baseball players found in the Topps Sketch Series baseball cards. He has also produced artwork for Topps trading cards of some of the largest media properties including Star Wars, Marvel Comics, Lord of the Rings and Star Trek. | To see more of Mr. Smith's artwork, please visit his website at: https://www.toddaaronsmith.com/ | |
Congress Honors the 200th Anniversary of the Texas Rangers | |
In March Congressman Pete Sessions and Senator Ted Cruz March sponsored resolutions recognizing and honoring the Texas Rangers for their 200 years of service under five flags. Texas Ranger Major James Thomas, TRHFM board member Laura Greenwood and Texas Ranger 2023 board member Seth Molina appeared at the Capitol representing the Texas Rangers and the Bicentennial. Laura Greenwood coordinated the process with Congressional and Senate staffers. Thank you to Congressman Pete Sessions and Senator Ted Cruz. It was a truly amazing day! | |
"I’m Proud to Honor The Texas Rangers As They Mark 200 Years Of Keeping Texas Safe." - Senator Ted Cruz | |
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Above Left to Right: Laura Greenwood, Major James Thomas, Senator Ted Cruz and Seth Molina
Below: Press Conference with Representative Pete Sessions outside the US Capitol
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A Successful Spring Break Round Up | |
Spring Break Round at the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum is an annual event at the TRHFM that started in 2009. On Saturday March 11th, over 400 people participated. It was a fun-filled event featuring chuck wagon cooking by Texas Top Guns, presentations on modern Rangers by Texas Ranger Kenneth Shields and book signings. | |
Ranger Shields brought surveillance drones communications equipment used in crisis situations and hostage negotiation. Ranger Shields began his journey in law enforcement as a 911 Dispatcher, entering Texas DPS as a Trooper in the Highway Patrol and promoting to Texas Ranger. As with all Texas Ranger Talks, visitors from the US and other countries were able to ask questions, meet the Ranger and even take selfies. We appreciate his service and the time Rangers have devoted to this program over the years. | |
The Waco-McLennan County Library hosted a story time at our site on Wednesday March 8. Children of all ages "stomped their boots", learned some of the Texas alphabet, and found bluebonnets in the clouds at the Library on the Go day at Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum. If you missed it, you can get free admission to the museum anytime with the library's Museum Passes program. | |
Our next Western Crafts & Story Time Days will be Saturday, April 8th and Saturday, May 13th from 10am to 1pm. April's theme is "Crafty Varmints." May's theme is "The Science of Clues." Activities are included with museum admission. | |
Join us on Friday, April 28th at 10am to 2pm for a book signing with Betty Oglesbee, author of Texas Ranger Leo Bishop: His Legendary life and Times ... A Personal Glimpse. Ranger Bishop's life story embodies all the traits that make him an icon within the history of law enforcement: perseverance, honesty, seeking the truth, attention to detail, and a watchful eye. The book is available for purchase in the Museum gift shop. | |
Leo Henderson Bishop (1903-1973) was among the first of the "new" Texas Rangers appointed by James V. Allred upon his inauguration as Governor of Texas in 1935. Two boxes of Bishop family memorabilia at the estate sale of Bishop Family Historian Bettye Bishop Robbins in 2016 provided the basis for this personal glimpse into her father's life, along with supportive articles from the San Augustine Tribune. | |
Dr. McCaslin Earns Conservation Award | | |
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Congratulations to Dr. Richard B. McCaslin, whose book, Texas Ranger Captain William L. Wright, won the prestigious award from the San Antonio Conservation Society award for best new publications on Texas History on March 24th. The book is one of 17 in the Texas Ranger Bicentennial Series. Like all of the books in the series, it incorporates research based on the historical resources available in the Texas Ranger Armstrong Research Center. | William L. Wright (1868–1942) was born to be a Texas Ranger, and hard work made him a great one. When demands for Ranger reform peaked, he was appointed as a captain and served for most of the next twenty years, retiring in 1939 after commanding dozens of Rangers. Wright emerged unscathed from the Canales investigation, enforced Prohibition in South Texas, and policed oil towns in West Texas, as well as tackling many other legal | |
problems. When he retired, he was the only Ranger in service who had worked under seven governors. Wright has also been honored as an inductee into the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame at Waco. | |
In Memoriam: James Scoggins | | |
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It is with sadness that we observe the passing of James Scoggins, Unsolved Crimes (UCIP) Program Supervisor, Company “F” Waco. He passed away at the age of 60 on Friday, March 10, 2023. | James began his career with DPS in 2004 assigned to the Texas Highway Patrol stationed in Fredericksburg. Superior service led to an appointment as a Texas Ranger in 2009, stationed in San Antonio. In 2012 he was promoted to Lieutenant of Co. “F” Waco. The museum staff grew to know and respect him as enormously dedicated to the people of Texas. | |
In February of 2013, James was involved in a tragic motorcycle accident in the Chisos Mountains in the Big Bend National Park. He was seriously injured to an extent that could have ended his career. | |
James persevered through extensive and painful rehabilitation with the support of his family, the Texas Rangers and many friends. Amazingly, he returned to work in 2015 in a non-commissioned position overseeing the Unsolved Crimes Investigative Program in which he coordinated the efforts of six Rangers assigned to cold and unsolved cases. His work and that of the program attracted national recognition. | |
James life and legacy is inspirational. He demonstrated that dedication and determination can overcome what to most would be insurmountable challenges. | |
Texas Ranger Jesse James Mack | | |
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Please check out a new blog post by the Texas Historical Commission about Texas Ranger Jesse Mack. He lived on the grounds of the Jordan Plantation for a short period while his father worked as a ranch foreman. | |
Texas Ranger Day in Burton | |
The Burton Heritage Society hosted its 12th annual Texas Ranger Day in historic Burton, Texas at the Burton Railroad Depot on Saturday, March 11th. Attendees celebrated both Burton’s history and the 200th anniversary of the Texas Rangers. Events included Annie Maud Avis Memorial Fajita and Bean cook-off, demonstrations by the Old West Rangers and the Legends of the Texas Rangers, folklife demonstrations including blacksmithing and chuckwagon cooking, and tours of the historic Railroad Depot with Burton Farmers Cotton Gin. | |
Kerstin Travel Mug by Perka | |
Features a silver badge design. Available in blue, black or gray. 16oz double wall stainless steel camping mug with copper lining and cork base. A portion of the sales from Perka drinkware benefits Shelter to Soldier. $$32.95 + Tax | |
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 (254) 750- 8631 or email thestore@texasranger.org to order. We ship worldwide. Thank you! | |
Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and BicentennialTM Support | |
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Contribute to the TRHFM in honor of the Texas Rangers Bicentennial™ in 2023. With a $100 contribution, you will receive:
- A limited-edition enameled bronze pin featuring a 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 Supporters™
- 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.
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Texas Ranger Hall of Fame Bicentennial Pin
Trademarked by the Texas Dept. of Public Safety Designed by the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum
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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.
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Newsletter Compiled by Christine Rothenbush, Marketing & Development Specialist | | | | |
