August 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
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Ask the Ranger Museum
Premiere
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We are premiering a new video series,
Ask the Ranger Museum
, featuring Q&A sessions with active and retired Texas Rangers, forensic specialists, historians, museum personnel, and others. Upcoming guests will be advertised on
our Facebook page
along with a means for viewers worldwide to pose questions for the host.
Christine Rothenbush, Marketing & Development Specialist, and Audrey Ladd, Education Programs Manager, have been hard at work creating this engaging new video series. It presents insight into the modern Texas Ranger service and its history, and how we collect, preserve and make available the artifacts, artwork and archives of the service.
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The first episode features an engaging and informative interview with Lt. James Thomas of Texas Ranger Company "F," which has been headquartered at the museum for 52 years.
*
Ask the Ranger Museum
is produced by the TRHFM in conjunction with the Waco City Cable Channel.
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Before the pandemic, the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame was receiving record attendance -- closing in on 100,000 visitors a year. Only 76 main parking spaces were available on site to handle that many visitors and additional parallel parking on the grounds for banquet attendees of events up to 400 guests.
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In June of 2019 the City of Waco and the Tax Increment Finance board graciously approved a parking expansion. It will add 22 spaces along the I-35 access road. Current attendance is 40% of normal despite I-35 construction and reduction in capacity due to coronavirus. The additional parking will be most welcome when things restart.
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Discovering the Legend: James B. Gillett and Marvin P. Burton
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Discovering the Legend
is a series of TV programs about Texas Ranger history, artifacts and art, and modern Ranger duties. It is produced in cooperation with the Texas Rangers, City of Waco, historians, and donors, as part of our mission to disseminate knowledge and inspire an appreciation of the Texas Rangers.
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Episode #38 features Rachel Smith, Assistant Collections Manager. This episode focuses on two new exhibits that tell the stories of Texas Rangers James B. Gillett and Marvin P. Burton. These exhibits are in the Hall of Fame and are part of the "Honoring the Legacy" series, which focuses on prominent Texas Ranger Hall of Fame inductees.
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Please
click here
to learn more about Hall of Fame Rangers Gillett and Burton.
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The Iconic White Cowboy Hat
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Pictured is Texas Ranger Veronica Gideon of Company "F".
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During their almost 200 year history, the Texas Rangers have worn a wide variety of hats. In the field, Rangers would have worn whatever hat would get the job done. Along with being a stylish addition to their outfit, hats helped protect Texas Rangers from the ever-changing Texas weather. Whether the summer sun was beating down or a thunderstorm was pounding rain, a good hat helped to keep a Ranger safe.
As part of their dress code, modern Texas Rangers wear white or light-colored cowboy hats. They can wear straw hats in the summer and felt hats in the winter. The color of the Ranger hat has a lot in common with Western movie tradition. In the old Wild West movies, the villains would wear dark-colored hats and heroes would wear light-colored hats. One prominent example of this is the Lone Ranger. Not every fictional depiction of a Texas Ranger has worn a white hat though—Walker Texas Ranger wore a black one!
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New Book
The Texas Rangers
is #1 in Germany
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The Texas Rangers: The World’s Most Legendary Police Force
[
Die Texas Rangers: Die legendärste Polizeitruppe der Welt
]
by Dietmar Kuegler
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Kuegler’s book is now the
#1 bestselling US History book on Amazon in Germany
.
Die Texas Rangers
has been accepted into the Bicentennial Publications Program as the first overseas book. This makes two national Bestsellers—US and Germany—in the Bicentennial series.
The Armstrong Texas Ranger Research Center and the Collections department assisted Mr. Kuegler. The book features the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum and its collections.
Kuegler's book outlines the history of the Texas Rangers, one of the most legendary police organizations in the world. The Rangers are as much a symbol of the state of Texas as the "Lone Star". They represent a vital chapter of the pioneering era of the American West. Kuegler documents the Ranger's astonishing 200 year development from frontiermen into a highly qualified elite police force of the 21st century.
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TRHFM has four 10 Minute Lesson Plans about Texas Ranger History to help teachers, homeschoolers and parents looking for fun activities over the summer. These lesson plans will only take 10 to 15 minutes to complete with your child and are organized to be as easy as
possible to use.
- "Texas Ranger Badges" takes a look at what shapes make up the Texas Ranger badge and a brief history of Texas Ranger badges. (Kindergarten)
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- "Texas Rangers: The Beginning” focuses on why Stephen F. Austin chose to create the Texas Rangers to defend early Texas settlers in 1823. (4th grade)
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- "Texas Rangers and Technology" is a look at how the Texas Rangers have adapted to changing times and new technology. (4th grade)
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- "The Fence Cutting Wars" focuses on why the Fence Cutting Wars (1883-1888) were fought and what the Texas Rangers did to end them. (4th grade)
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Please
click here
to access the lesson plans under “10 Minute Lesson Plans".
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Thanks to Museum Member Steven Labov
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Steven Labov, a third-generation Pennsylvania peace officer, is our longest supporting museum member. He has dedicated 44 years to public service through the Cheltenham Township Police near Philadelphia.
His work with national groups is extensive including the U.S. Search and Rescue Task Force, the National Association of Chiefs of Police, and the FBI InfraGard program and various law enforcement charities. He is the recipient of numerous awards and citations including three life-saving awards related to his work with Search and Rescue. We are grateful for his support and service.
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Please
click here
to read about Steven Labov in the article "Third Generation Police Officer Dedicates Over 40 Years to Service" by Morganne Mallon.
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Texas Ranger Badge Cross-Stitch
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Are you sheltering-in-place and looking for a fun and creative activity to pass the time? The Texas Ranger Museum has a great selection of Cross-Stitch kits.
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XLarge Cross-Stitch
$25.00 + Tax
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Large Cross-Stitch
$16.50 + 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 (877) 750-8631 or email
thestore@texasranger.org
to order. We ship worldwide. Thank you!
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Texas Ranger Bicentennial
TM
Partners Program
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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.
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Official Texas Rangers 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
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