SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 156

WHEREAS, The Texas Rangers, the oldest state law enforcement agency in the United States, is hosting a kickoff event in commemoration of the legendary organization's bicentennial on January 13, 2023; and

WHEREAS, From the settlement of the Texas frontier to the struggle against lawlessness during the oil boom and the Prohibition era, the Texas Rangers have played a central role in the administration of justice throughout the history of the Lone Star State; the term "Rangers" was first applied to a group that was formed to protect colonists under Stephen F. Austin in 1823, and the establishment of the Texas Rangers was later formalized by his Permanent Council, which assigned to the unit the responsibility of guarding the frontier from Native American incursions until the end of the Texas Revolution; and

WHEREAS, After Texas won independence, the Texas Rangers were mobilized to a number of counties, and by the mid to late 1870s, their role resembled that of something between an army and a police force; they were typically called on to assist with cases that were considered beyond the means of local police, and by the turn of the 20th century, they had transitioned from their duties as a frontier militia to focus almost exclusively on law enforcement; the beginning of the century was rife with crime, and the Rangers spent several decades fending off raiders along the Mexican border, countering spies and saboteurs, and apprehending the various gamblers, horse thieves, cattle rustlers, smugglers, bootleggers, and other offenders that dominated West Texas at that time; and

WHEREAS, The Texas Rangers subsequently began operating under the administration of the Department of Public Safety, which was created by the Texas Legislature on August 10, 1935; only 36 personnel were initially assigned to the agency, but their newfound access to the department's resources, including a state-of-the-art crime laboratory, greatly enhanced the Rangers' investigative capabilities; newer and more advanced technologies would further facilitate their development into a fully modernized police force, and from 1935 to 1955, their annual workload increased from approximately 255 cases to more than 16,700; today, in addition to investigating high-profile crimes, the Rangers contribute to border security, tactical operations, and crisis negotiation and provide key support and intelligence to ensure that our state is protected at every level; and

WHEREAS, Over the course of two centuries, the Texas Rangers have cemented an international reputation that has grown with their depiction in multitudes of books, movies, television and radio shows, and pulp novels; the Rangers are inextricably linked to the history and mythology of the Old West, where they brought such notorious outlaws to justice as serial murderer John Wesley Hardin and train robber Sam Bass; their ranks have included a number of lawmen who achieved renown for their crime-fighting feats, among them Frank H. Hamer, John S. Ford, John Coffee Hays, and Captain W. J. McDonald, who is credited with the phrase that became the Rangers' creed: "No man in the wrong can stand up against a fellow that's in the right and keeps on a-comin'"; and

WHEREAS, The Texas Rangers of today are continuing a proud and storied tradition of service through their efforts to keep the peace and enforce the rule of law, and it is a pleasure to join in celebrating this significant milestone in the history of one of the most iconic institutions of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th Legislature, hereby commemorate the bicentennial of the Texas Rangers and commend its members, past and present, for their steadfast courage and dedication to duty; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the Texas Rangers as an expression of high regard from the Texas Senate.

Birdwell, Hughes, Middleton, Sparks

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President of the Senate

I hereby certify that the above Resolution was adopted by the Senate on February 14, 2023.

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Secretary of the Senate

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Member, Texas Senate

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Member, Texas Senate

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Member, Texas Senate

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Member, Texas Senate