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March 2020 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

Texas Ranger Education Center Reception

Join the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum for a reception at the Texas Ranger Education Center on April 21, 2020 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The Center is available for use by non-profits, schools/home school co-ops, service organizations, professional and children’s associations and governmental agencies. See this state of the art facility and learn how it can benefit your organization at the event! For more information, please see the Education Center .

These Boots Were Made For Joaquin...

New Acquisition! The latest addition to the museum collection is two pairs of custom-made boots originally owned by Texas Ranger Joaquin Jackson. Both pairs of boots were made by the L. M. Easterling Custom Boot Company of Fredericksburg, Texas. The pair with the Texas Ranger badge was made in 2006, and the pair with the "Walking J" cattle brand was made in 2001. While Jackson retired from the Texas Rangers in 1993, these are the type of boots he would have worn throughout his career. Jackson served in the Rangers from 1966 to 1993, and worked at his private investigation firm after retirement, in addition to being an author and actor. He passed away in 2016 at his home in Alpine, Texas. These boots are an important addition to the collection and help tell the story of Texas Rangers today.

The pair on the left is on loan from Wendy Ihde and the pair on the right is a gift of Jewely Van Valin. For more information, find oral histories and obituaries for Joaquin Jackson and other contemporary Texas Rangers here: https://www.texasranger.org/texas-ranger-museum/history/oral-histories/ https://www.texasranger.org/texas-ranger-museum/researching-rangers/texas-ranger-obituaries/

Ranked #4 by Money Inc

Money Inc recently named the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum #4 in its " The 20 Best Things to Do in Waco, TX, for First Timers".

Money Inc  is an online business resource with hundreds of contributors from various businesses, who give insights on how managers run their businesses, build their teams, overcome obstacles, and motivate themselves and staff. It also has a travel section that features "The 20 Best..." in various cities around the world. Please click here to read the article.

Archival Donation

A trailer load of history that has found its way home! On February 25th, Company "C" Ranger Phil Vandygriff drove from Snyder, Texas, with a trailer filled with case files and other documents as a donation to the Tobin and Anne Armstrong Texas Ranger Research Center archives. Our thanks to Ranger Vandygriff and all the donors and supporters who make it possible to preserve this heritage for future generations.

Left to Right: Rusty Bloxom, Research Librarian, and Texas Ranger Phil Vandygriff

Junior Rangers Jason and Jacob Jahner

We were thrilled to be part of Jason (age 8) and Jacob (age 6) Jahner's Texas vacation. During their visit, Company "F" Ranger Jake Burson swore in the brothers as official Junior Texas Rangers.

If you or anyone you know is interested in becoming a Junior Texas Ranger, click here to learn more about the program . Official Junior Texas Rangers will receive: an honorary Junior Ranger certificate signed by an Active-Duty Texas Ranger, a child's badge, a family admission pass, and their name on the rolls of the Junior Texas Rangers on our website. There is a $35 donation per Junior Ranger which supports the educational and preservation programs of the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame.

Heart of Texas Regional History Fair

On February 14th, Collections Assistant Rachel Smith and Education Programs Manager Audrey Ladd helped judge student projects at the Heart of Texas Regional History Fair. Students, ages 5th grade through 12th grade, from the surrounding central Texas region worked hard on history related projects centering around the theme of Breaking Barriers. Winners from the Heart of Texas History Fair will move on to the state competition in Austin. If their projects rank high enough, the students may go onto the national competition in Washington D.C.

Congratulations and good luck to this year's regional winners!

Texas Ranger Bicentennial TM 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

Quick Links Website Gift Shop Knox Center Education Center Education Programs Research Center Active Texas Rangers Distinguished Service Museum Video Texas Ranger Bicentennial Bicentennial Video Texas Ranger Association Foundation Facebook

Education Center The following groups utilized the Education Center for programs in February: DPS Drum Corps Historic Waco Cooper Foundation Texas Attorney General Texas Health and Human Services Texas State Rifle Association

ENJOY $2.00 OFF Expires 4/30/2020 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