Subscribers may view the full text of this article in its original form through timesmachine. Best known as the texas ranger captain who tracked down and killed bonnie and clyde, frank hamer was designated by walter prescott webb as one of the three most. To most americans, frank hamer is known only as the villain of the 1967 film bonnie and clyde. Its a biography of a man who joined and took sabbaticals from the texas rangers in the period that straddled both frontier justice and modern crime lab. Despite the title, he was not a texas ranger his entire life, but he certainly spent much of his time as one.
In texas, frank hamer is just another way of saying texas ranger. Thousands of raiders on horseback, some of them angloamericans, regularly crossed the river from mexico to pillage, murder, and rape. Browse below for a sample of the books currently in our inventory. Hamer was probably the most famous of the 20thcentury texas rangers, that oldfashioned law enforcement agency responsible for upholding the law in texas. March 17, 1884 july 10, 1955 was a texas ranger best known for his leadership of the 1934 posse that tracked down and killed criminals bonnie parker and clyde barrow. Chuck parsons has authored numerous books dealing with texas rangers as well as the fugitives they hunted. Lonesome dove by larry mcmurtry, the son by philipp meyer, dead mans walk by larry mcmurtry, other mens horses by elmer. Now, in texas ranger, historian john boessenecker sets out to restore hamers good name and prove that he was, in fact, a classic american hero. Frank hamer had owned an engraved remington model 8 in. It was 1900, and 16yearold frank and his younger brother harrison were sharecropping for dan mcswain. Legendary texas ranger frank hamer was in more than 50 gunfights. He opted for a larger caliber to deliver more punch to the target. John boessenecker has written the definitive biography of a lawman who did way more than rid the nation. Frank hamer, last of the old breed of texas rangers, has not fared well in history or popular culture.
Bank and burlington are the latest stores to reopen in texas trump, in rare presidential move, urges dallas voters to oust judge who enforced governors. Former texas ranger harrison hamer photo, younger brother of the legendary frank hamer and an inspector for the sheep and goat raisers association, was ready for newton. Only an extraordinary texas ranger could have cleaned up banditplagued southwest texas, between the nueces river and the rio grande, in the years following the civil war. The mission of this project is to provide easy access to books, oral histories dissertations, articles. In 1894 the family moved to oxford in llano county, where hamer worked at his fathers blacksmith shop. Most gunfighters of the old west had a handful of scrapes. Legendary leo was a hard man to kill when criminals were at their worst, frank hamer was at his best by lt.
Hamer, francis augustus the handbook of texas online. They have made a name for themselves in the drug world and are. In texas ranger, frank hamer emerges as a principled, fallible man who strove to do the right thing under the most trying circumstances. The lawman waited until the outlaw was leaving to make the arrest. Frank hamer, texas ranger by hanschristian vortisch one riot, one ranger. Website designed at homestead list your business for free. In his bid for justice, a courageous lawman aims dead center when he is called home to settle. A texas ranger hall of fame ebook interview with glenn elliott texas ranger, retired. He first joined the texas rangers in 1906 as a young man, and most of the book is about his adventures in keeping the peace and enforcing the law. Now, in texas ranger, historian john boessenecker sets out to restore hamers good name and. The new york times best seller frank hamer, last of the old breed of texas rangers, has not fared well in history or popular culture. Texas ranger texas ranger audiobook, by james patterson. Eighteenyearold napoleon augustus jennings came to rexas in 1874 and joined a special force of texas ranger charged with border patrol under the command of l.
The history of law enforcement seems to be told by people who have, at best, minimal understanding of, and at worst, malicious contempt for, this great profession. Books the texas ranger museum store stocks a wide variety of books on the history of the rangers and the old west. See the complete walker, texas ranger series book list in order, box sets or. A novel based on the life and times of frank hamer, texas ranger. Dedicated to frank a hamer, the famous texas ranger. Frank hamer historical records and family trees myheritage. The epic life of frank hamer, the man who killed bonnie and clyde. Face of danger texas ranger justice by valerie hansen and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Across the ranchlands and cities of his home state, rory yatess discipline and lawenforcement skills have carried him farfrom local highway patrolman to the honorable rank of texas ranger. Elmer kelton began the publication of texas rangers series in 1999 when the debut novel the buckskin line was published. Now, in the new york times bestselling texas ranger, historian john boessenecker sets out to restore hamers good name and prove that he was, in fact, a classic american hero from the horseback days of the old west through the gangster days of the 1930s, hamer stood on the frontlines of some. The walker, texas ranger book series by james reasoner includes books walker texas ranger, hells half acre, and walker, texas ranger blo walker, texas ranger western series, 3.
One aspect of his life was the pursuit and capture killing of outlaws bonnie and clyde. Francis augustus hamer march 17, 1884 july 10, 1955 was an american law enforcement officer and texas ranger who led the 1934 posse that tracked down and. The series follows rusty shannon, who joins the texas rangers following a tragedy, and andy pickard, a man rescued by rusty from a comache war. Hamer, texas ranger, son of frank and lou emma francis hamer, was born in fairview, texas, on march 17, 1884. John boessenecker now restores this incredible ranger to his proper place alongside such fabled lawmen as wyatt earp and eliot ness. The book starts out much like a walker, texas ranger episode would. Full text is unavailable for this digitized archive article. Hamer was called again to ranger duty in 1948 by governor coke stevenson to help check election returns in jim wells and duval counties during that years u. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Hays colorful reputation and a host of nicknames earned during battles.
See more ideas about bonnie n clyde, bonnie parker and bonnie clyde. Frank hamer, 1884 1955 frank hamer 1884 1955 texas texas frank hamer was born on month day 1884, at birth place, texas, to tbd hamer and dick hamer born cherokee. I bought this after visiting the ranger museum in waco, and it is a good read. A true story of abduction by indians on the texas frontier, winner of the tcu texas book award. Texas ranger by john boessenecker overdrive rakuten. The series consists of nine original books with texas standoff making the last stand of the series.
Renowned for his toughness, marksmanship, and investigative skill, he acquired legendary status in the southwest as the archetypal texas ranger. Now, in texas ranger,historian john boessenecker sets out to restore hamers good name and prove that he was, in fact, a classic american hero. Texas rangers images of america series by chuck parsons. From the horseback days of the old west through the. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. From the horseback days of the old west through the gangster days of the 1930s, hamer stood on the frontlines of some of the most important and exciting periods in american history. The comanches, never numbering more than 15,000, kicked out the spanish, apaches, mexicans and texans from the great southern plains, the. The texas rangers were unofficially created by stephen f. Books about the texas rangers books buckingham books. Two brothers have recently gotten out of jail after walker arrested them two years ago. The purpose of this interview is to discuss the texas rangers in general and the career of ranger glenn elliott in particular. In duval county, parrs men were armed and station near the bank where the election results were being held. There was only three books and so far ive only gotten the first one done, but i look forward to the other two at this point. Gwynne the book tracks the rise and fall of the comanches, the creation of the texas rangers, and the closing chapter of manifest destiny in early texas.
The epic life of frank hamer, the man who killed bonnie and clyde 9781250069986 by boessenecker, john and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. The olguin clan were known outlaws and lived in a no mans land on pirate island which was situated in the middle of the rio grande river between texas and mexico. That is not the whole story and the book is excellent. Order of texas rangers books texas rangers is a series of western novels by american author elmer kelton. Austin in 1823 with the permission of the mexican government to protect white settlers in the texas territory from. Travis hamer personal collection travis hamer personal collection. The texas rangers feature prominently in wild west folklorean exhaustive accountwill find a place in the permanent history of texas and the texas rangersbooklist the first of its kind, this book documents texas ranger units since the services 1823 inceptionthe most comprehensive book to datea wonderful, onestop reference for historianslibrary journal. Stoker legend tough patriarch who runs the huge lone star ranch and keeps his sons in line.
A tough case in waco has jeopardized yatess chances at promotion, and he decides to take time off to recharge with his family in their smalltown hometown, redbud. As you all know, i am endlessly fascinated by that transitionary period where the old west met the modern era, and frank hamer lived that transition intensely. Your purchase helps support our nonprofit educational and historical. Known commonly as frank or pancho, he grew up on the welch ranch in san saba county. At this time the south texas region was home to hundreds of outlaws and riffraff, and some three thousand mexican guerrillas under juan cortina and others were raiding settlers on both sides of the rio grande. Biography gives an eyeopening look at the texas ranger. Fantastic new book by john boessenecker tells the true story of this. The epic life of frank hamer, the man who killed bonnie and clyde by john boessenecker.