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May 22, 2023 24 mins
An overview of the 200th anniversery celebration of the Texas Rangers
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(00:00):
Hi everyone, I'm Ktrh S.Sharaff Fryer and this is my Heart of
Texas. This is my opening podcastof talking about the Texas I know and

(00:25):
love, my own perspective of thebackstories, the people, the places,
the events that have and continue todefine this state and being Texan. My
perspective comes from growing up in asmall town of twenty five hundred people Hallettsville,
Texas, located within the original Stephenf. Austin Colony of long time

(00:47):
Spanish sometimes French, and in eighteentwenty one newly independent Mexican Territorial Texas,
where I grew up. Texas historyis tangible in the cemeteries and historical markers
and the generations of descendants even todaywho identify and testify as Texans. I'm

(01:07):
also talking, though, from amodern perspective of my six decades of living
and reporting in the ever growing urbanTexas of distinctly different and not necessarily at
odds always cultures and subcultures Austin,the metroplex, San Antonio, and Houston
where I am right now. Thispodcast will try to explore all that.

(01:30):
As John Steinbeck rode in nineteen sixtytwo when traveling across this big expanse Texas
is a state of mind. Sohow to define it? What is it
to live Texan? To be Texan? With a population now approaching thirty million,
there are probably millions of different opinions, not necessarily answers to that question,

(01:52):
but in my observation, being Texanhas always been a matter of choice.
People of all walks and dispositions chooseto come here and or then choose
to stay. That's the unifier inbeing Texan, calling yourself so and with
big Bride, because that choice fromthe get go was a dangerous and often

(02:12):
deadly choice to make. In fifteenthirty six, shipwrecked Spanish conquistador Caveza Debaca
called it a land of hardship andstarvation. He didn't choose to stay,
but left behind the flag and theland claim of Spain, his name on
Port Lavaca, Lavaca County, theLavaca River, and presumably some descendants of

(02:32):
his own, and the Spanish troopsand their horses accompanying him. Because those
horses, over hundreds of years,lured the warring nomadic natives of the Great
Plains, the Comanche, over hundredsof years. Tejas Spanish for the Native
Cato word meaning friendship was hostile ratherthan friendly, a harsh landscape of unforgiving

(02:59):
nature, weather and wildlife, andthe always unforgiving natures of human predators.
By eighteen twenty one, survival wasa unifier and being Texan when Stephen F.
Austin brought the first colony of mostlyAmerican settlers to south central Texas,
where I grew up the old threehundred they're called. They were expecting to

(03:22):
build independent, productive lives in anew frontier. But two hundred years ago
that choice was only made possible bythe actions of a now legendary group of
gunmen. It's where I start myheart of Texas with the Texas Rangers,

(03:44):
and pretty soon you're going to catchon. I at your friends. Who
are they? Those are the TexasRangers. Hollywood since nineteen ten has made
some two hundred films and TV showsportraying Texas Rangers with varying narratives. The
nineteen thirty three Lone Ranger radio programran over three thousand episodes, enshrining an

(04:08):
image of a good guy in awhite hat using silver bullets sparingly, an
image reversed in nineteen sixty seven withBonnie and Clyde, that gritty folk hero
classic film that portrayed a real lifeTexas Ranger on the screen. He was
from the nineteen thirties Frank Hamer,who waylaid and in a hail of bullets,

(04:28):
gunned down the murderous Barrow Gang truthfullyin Louisiana by the way. Then
in nineteen ninety three entered Chuck Norrisas Walker Texas Ranger, a kick ass
version of law dispensed by a whitehat in a Sinko peso badge. But
even myths, narratives, legends areborn out of some reality, just as

(04:49):
truth is born from fact, justiceborn from law, and always shaped by
perceptions of time and place. Thosefirst protectors know as the Texas Rangers,
arose from a harsh reality of thenineteenth century. So when they originally started,
they were just called rangers because Ieat Texas didn't exist where there were

(05:11):
ten men that Stephen F. Austinpaid out of his own pocket to protect
those original three hundred settlers from thecomanches and then ultimately the bandits and all
of that. But yes, theywere absolutely a militia. They were there
to do a job and that jobwas to protect those three hundred colonists and
whatever that intel. That's what theydid. I tell people they were the

(05:32):
law and order and a time whenthere was none, and they were men
at that point that were made upof all types of demographics. I mean
there were Indians, there were Mexicans, there were Latinos, they were obviously
Anglos, and even there was oneAfrican American as well. So they were

(05:55):
a microcosm in a lot of waysof the makeup of the individuals the time.
But they were there performing the functionsthrough that time period of what was
being asked of them to do.And that was really through that eighteen hundred
period of time where they went movedfrom that militia to be in the frontier

(06:15):
defense to being really moving into themodern era of law enforcement itself. Even
as a new state in eighteen fortyfive, we still had need as we
still have needs today. Russell Molinais chairman of Texas Ranger twenty twenty three,
the official statewide commemoration of the TexasRanger by centennial. His initial idea

(06:36):
of honoring the Ranger heritage has expandedon many fronts, but is still rooted
in acknowledging history without rewriting it notan easy task in the cancel culture activism
of today, judging people by today'sstandard, when you call it, that's
really presentism. To look through thelens of today to the past is something

(06:58):
that's just not fair and do that. You have to go back to the
past and stay there and realize whatwas happening and how dangerous and what was
occurring where the comanches, what theydid to women and children and men was
something that they had been doing forhundreds of years. It wasn't as if

(07:18):
it just started when we showed up, So that was something that we didn't
create the way that they were.They were the way that they were,
and what we were doing at thatpoint in time was simply defending ourselves and
defending our property and defending our families. And that's what was occurring, and

(07:39):
no one really looked at it anyother way because they were living it.
Let's have that conversation not only aboutwhat happened that day, but what happened
the year before, the month before, the week before, the day before,
but then also what happened the nextday, the next week, the
next month, the next year,because that's how we can have a real

(08:00):
conversation around some of these events thatyou can't be proud about. And there
are events and ranger history that theyare not proud about, but they happened,
and we got to talk about itand learn from it and make sure
we don't repeat history. The frontiertimes obviously very different from what you and
I are experiencing today, and itwas oftentimes people are you know, subsisting

(08:26):
off of what they can grow andproduce, and the thought of someone coming
in and taking that all away fromyou is very scary because it could happen.
And so you have you know,ranging companies that are protecting people on
the frontier during that era. Soyeah, it's very scary. It's you
know, you're fighting for your familyand you're fighting for your own existence.

(08:50):
Lacy Finley is the executive director ofTexas Ranger twenty twenty three. Even also
is the full time executive director ofthe Texas Rangers Association Foundation, a nonprofit
support organization for the Rangers of today. I think you can say that they're
a very aware of the history andheritage that they are stepping into, and

(09:15):
they are aware of the weight ofthat badge when they put it on.
I believe in the Texas Rangers,and I love promoting them and talking about
all the good things that they dofor the state of Texas and for all
of us. I mean, theydo things that you and I would not

(09:35):
do on a daily basis, wemight not ever do in our lifetime,
and yet they sacrifice and do itevery single day. That's what they were
built for. And I respect that, and I have every bit of ounce
of love in my heart and whenI talk about them and promote them.
And we'll be right back with moredetails of the Texas Ranger Bicentennial co moration,

(10:01):
how the mission has expanded, andthe fundraising underway to move history forward.
Did I say fundraising? How Texan? And of course it includes food,
scooting, and swinging music all acrossthis state. The gale of fundraisers

(10:33):
for Texas Ranger twenty twenty three arewell underway. We've got some great entertainers
and the gallows are going to bereally special. We have some items that
will only be around for this yearbecause of the bi centennial, so very
unique items that will be auctioned offon a live aspect, as well as
some silent items. A sins ourbisint and artistical that he's used to serve

(10:56):
his weapon. But is that platonone of the weapons that Joe is ried
career and donated by census Rangers oneNinetown ninety five and five NINT ninety five,
But there's all Ninetown ninety five,one A Ninetown ninety five, nine
thousand, our crime nine ninety fiveany one. So the nine thousand dollars.
But our entertainers is something that we'revery proud of and our probably biggest

(11:20):
name we have is Laney Wilson.We actually signed her up prior to her
winning the Country Music Female Vocalist Awardas well as getting on Yellowstone and so
forth. But she'll be our headlinerin at Billy Bob's. We actually bought
out Billy Bob's September twenty third.But we have Kyle Park, we have

(11:43):
Jody Knick's band. We actually alsohave George Strait's band that will play in
San Antonio in August. Yeah,when you talk about the eight events,
you know why the number eight.So when you look at the Rangers,
there's actually six companies around the stateCompany A through F. So there's your
six and then you have the Hallof Fame and Museum in Waco, which

(12:05):
is the official repository for the stateof Texas and the Texas Rangers. So
that's our seventh. And then we'rehaving our grand finale in November in Austin,
which is headquarters. So hence whyeight is our signature events. But
we have many, many other eventshappening around the state, but those are
our eight signature ones. As thechairman, Russell Molina describes, fundraisers with

(12:31):
far reaching purpose. If you canimagine today, there doesn't exist a memorial
to the level that they deserve.It is two pieces of granite, often
a corner that if someone didn't pointit out to you that that was the
memorial for those who died, youwouldn't even know. Not only that,
but there's over a hundred Texas Rangernames not even part of that existing memorial.

(12:58):
So that's how the memorial itself becamethe key item from a funding perspective
to have one created, which wehave at construction. Actually I can say
has already started, which we're soexcited about. But it's a seventy seven
foot circle made out of the samegranite quarry that our state capitals made out
of so we have one being builtto the level that they deserve for not

(13:20):
only those who have passed, butthose who will pass and have it where
the family of those loved ones cango and know that the memorial will be
there for eternity, for those whohave died in the line of duty,
for the citizens in the state ofTexas. The fundraisers will also help multiply
the existing endowment that provides scholarships forthe children of working Texas Rangers for college

(13:43):
or other education after high school.And then there's the mobile exhibit that takes
Ranger history to us, the peopleof Texas. Yeah, so the idea
is that this traveling mobile museum willgo to schools, rodeos, livestock show,
sporting events, businesses for a numberof years, not just for a

(14:03):
short period. But we want tohave this educational component where we can bring
it to those who would like tohave it. And as I alluded to
earlier, it really tells the historyof Texas. So keep in mind the
Rangers themselves were thirteen years before Texaswas Texas. So we're the first bicentennial
of many bicentennials to come. Sothis historical aspect will become the platform.

(14:26):
Hence why we got different authors,historians, and academia involved to make sure
that we get the history completely correct. And we know it will stand the
test of time. And I loveit because we'll be able to reach the
people where they are. A lotof kids and families don't have the means
to travel to Waco and visit ourmuseum, but we'll be able to take

(14:50):
it to a community and kids willget to experience firsthand, not just Ranger
history, but Texas history. Andit's not just about the history part.
It's about getting to interact with areal ranger. It's about learning and what
real rangers do in modern times,and learning about VPS and what law enforcement

(15:13):
does in general. I wish youcould see when we're doing an event live
and I've got our rangers there,and I wish you could see when they
meet little children and the big sparklesand big bright eyes that kids get when
they get to meet a ranger,and it is. It's an absolutely magical

(15:33):
moment. Rangers don't necessarily like todo interviews, they don't like to talk
about themselves, and yet when theywalk into a room even I think with
as retirees, every eye in theroom probably turns to a ranger. I
have seen it happen time and timeagain. It never fails and it never
stops thrilling me. I mean,we've obviously been on the road a lot

(15:54):
this year doing different events, andpeople you can literally just see their faces
light up that they're getting to meeta real ranger. I know that our
rangers, you know, they it'salways I always kind of chuckle to myself
because I know it's not their favoritething to be in the limelight, but

(16:15):
it makes me so happy that theyget to know that they're loved and respected
where they can smile and enjoy amoment that they probably wouldn't have had otherwise.
The other night, when we wereat the Houston Stock Show and Rodeo,
we had thirty five rangers on stageright before the Jason Aldeen concert,
and the picture of the imagery isjust so fantastic because they're all rangered up.

(16:40):
You know, they have their whiteshirts and their hats, and you
know, they look look amazing.Thirty five of them lined up on that
stage and when the arm lowered toreveal them to the crowd, the crowd
went absolutely insane. There were seventythousand people yelling and cheering and standing up
for our Rangers, and it wasso loud that the glass in our booth

(17:03):
was rattling and congratulations, tell theTexas Ranger, Come on, Texas,
how loud can you get for whatabout their love and appreciate it? I

(17:26):
think it was. It was alittle overwhelming for our spouses that were there
watching it. They were they wereabsolutely I had one spouse that she was
crying and she just said, shesaid, Lace, I just I'm just
so proud. She said, I'venever experienced this, and I am just
so proud. And that made meproud that we were able to create a

(17:51):
moment like that for them, somethingthat they'll always remember. You have thirty
one current members in the Hall ofFame, and you will be inducting for
more this year and a two hundredyear history. That's a very rare field.
Well, it's special because their peershave selected them to be inducted into
the Hall of Fame, and thatis a big deal. That's a really

(18:12):
big deal. And this year iseven more special in that we're inducting two
living retired Rangers and that has neverhappened. They usually only induct you know,
fastunously. But we have two livingRangers, and I'll tell you right
now, we made the announcement lastyear at the Ranger Reunion. We surprised

(18:33):
them with the announcement and it wasagain one of those just a brilliant moment
because I know both of those men, Johnny Acock and John Martin. You
know, they even told me theywere like, lace this is you know,
we don't deserve this. We're justWe're just rangers. We're just doing
our job. And when you startto know the Rangers in general, you

(18:53):
can see that they all have servantshearts. They are always of service,
and that is a common thread amongall of the Rangers. They wouldn't be
doing this job if they didn't believein serving and protecting. They are very
quiet heroes, nonetheless, and Iwould say that they would never use that
word ever about themselves, but Idon't mind using it. I do think

(19:18):
that they're heroes, and I thinkthat the things that have done over the
course of their careers, you know, every single one of them have something
that they can be proud about.To be a part of the Ranger Division
and the Ranger heritage growing up inWest Texas where law enforcement is respected by
necessity, proudly calls herself an ambassadorfor the Texas Rangers. My grandfather used

(19:41):
to tell me, it's not braggingif it's true, and that's how I
feel. It's not bragging about theRangers because it's all true. Houston businessman
and entrepreneur Russell Molina, famous namehere, also acknowledging heritage of family,
tenacity, independence. You could sayTexas itself as you alluded to. My
grandfather started Melina's canteena in nineteen fortyone with my grandmother in Houston and still

(20:07):
exists still in the family, oldestMexican restaurant, family owned and what we've
been able to do in regards tohelping out not only employing people, but
giving back to the community and havingan entrepreneurial spirit that really got ingrained in
me is something that we take veryvery much a lot of pride in as
a family, and so we couldn'tbe prouder to call ourselves Houstonians Texans.

(20:32):
When you start to look at thespecifics of how Texas and why Texas is
the way it is, have togo back to Stephen F. Austin in
eighteen twenty one and bringing those originalfamilies here and think of the tenacity,
the grit, the survivability, skills, the conquering what was actually such a
hostile environment. That is part ofwho we are today and the rich history

(20:59):
that we had, and then themen of the Rangers who then continued that,
and of course all those other folkswho then started immigrating and coming to
Texas because they knew and heard thatit was a place that if you come
to and you work hard, thatpeople will help you succeed. And that
is truly the spirit of Texas.And there was something that Sarah Carter and

(21:22):
Fox I did a podcast with herthe other day, and she said something
that really resonated with me. Ifthe United States had a heart, Texas
would be that heart. And Itruly believe that. And it's because of
the history of where we come from. And that's where I think it's so
important that we do as much aswe can to inform those that not only

(21:48):
already or here, but just haven'tbeen exposed to that aspect of it.
But certainly to those who are movinghere. It's our job and our duty
as Texans to inform them for whyan entrepreneurial spirit lives here. Why Texas,
if it would stand on its own, would be the ninth largest economy
in the world. Why all ofthese things that we have going on here

(22:14):
we need to continue them going onand not go try to destroy or dismantle
it. And it really goes backto who we are, where we came
from, and that is so importantto me. We'll be right back.

(22:34):
When I decided to launch my Heartof Texas podcasts, focusing this initial recording
on the legendary Texas Rangers, Imade some immediate discoveries. First how vast
the history and importance of them overtwo hundred years. Secondly, how big
the undertaking of commemorating this by centennialWith so many moving parts expanding daily,

(22:57):
it seems Yeah, Texas is bigstate with big heart, big ideas,
and no limits really on who orhow many join in Texas. Always see
anything about Texas as personal. Itis alive and well, and the flame
is just getting larger and larger asI go through and travel the state and

(23:18):
seeing the good that's occurring by whathas been started here and how we now
need to continue it Texas Ranger twentytwenty three dot org. It's where you
go to join and learn more aboutthis statewide organizer of the Texas Ranger by
centennial. You'll see all manner ofways you can enjoy and contribute to this
particular ongoing effort. I chose tofocus on Texas Ranger twenty twenty three because

(23:42):
it was an amazing overview of theTexas Rangers collectively. But it's just one
of so many celebrations and stories thatdeserve to be told of the larger than
life individuals who are part of TexasDNA. The Immortal thirty two who rode
to aid the Alamo Defenders and diedthere, Frontier Rangers, Bigfoot, Wallace,

(24:06):
Lone Wolf, Gonzalez, Jack Hayes. The list is long, even
up to present day Hall of Fameinductees. So many stories, and I'll
try to weave some of them intofuture podcasts. If Texas truly is a
state of mind, it's going totake a lot of podcasts to explore the
Texas mindset. I'm hoping I'll beable to give you enough variety of people

(24:27):
and things to develop your own Tillnext time. I'm Katiri to sharaff Fryar
with my heart of Texas
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