|
|
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 236
|
|
WHEREAS, Citizens of Navasota are coming together at their |
|
city hall on March 2, 2013, to celebrate the dedication of a |
|
handsome new statue of Frank Hamer, the legendary Texas Ranger |
|
and former Navasota city marshal; and |
|
WHEREAS, Francis Augustus Hamer was born in Fairview on |
|
March 17, 1884; after working as a blacksmith and as a cowboy, he |
|
enlisted with the Texas Rangers in 1906 and served along the |
|
South Texas border, where he earned a name as an expert marksman; and |
|
WHEREAS, In 1908, Hamer left the Rangers to become the city |
|
marshal of Navasota, which at the time had a reputation for |
|
wildness, and this imposing young peace officer brought law and |
|
order to the community; he left Navasota in 1911 to become a |
|
special officer in Harris County, and in 1915, he rejoined the |
|
Texas Rangers; and |
|
WHEREAS, Over the next 17 years, Hamer cemented his |
|
legendary reputation, fighting arms smugglers, bootleggers, and |
|
bandits along the Rio Grande and restoring order to oil boom |
|
towns, such as Mexia, Gander Slu, and Borger; he retired from |
|
active duty in 1932, at the rank of senior captain; and |
|
WHEREAS, Two years later, Captain Hamer was appointed to |
|
the position of special investigator for the Texas prison system |
|
and charged with stopping the crime spree of the notorious bank |
|
robbers Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker; after a three-month |
|
pursuit, he trapped and killed the pair near Gibsland, Louisiana, |
|
earning a special citation from the United States Congress for |
|
his efforts; he died in 1955 and was buried in Austin Memorial |
|
Park; and |
|
WHEREAS, Created by noted Texas sculptor Russell Cushman |
|
and forged at the Omega Bronze foundry in Smithville, the |
|
life-size statue of Captain Hamer depicts him standing tall, with |
|
his rifle resting on his shoulder; and |
|
WHEREAS, During a turbulent period in their history, |
|
citizens of Navasota benefited immeasurably from the determined |
|
efforts of Captain Frank Hamer, and this impressive sculpture is |
|
a fitting tribute to one of the Lone Star State's most famous |
|
lawmen; now, therefore, be it |
|
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, |
|
83rd Legislature, hereby commemorate the dedication of the |
|
statue of Texas Ranger Captain Frank Hamer in Navasota and extend |
|
to all those involved in bringing this project to fruition and to |
|
all those in attendance sincere best wishes for a memorable |
|
event. |
|
Schwertner |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
President of the Senate |
|
|
|
|
|
I hereby certify that the |
|
|
above Resolution was adopted by |
|
|
the Senate on February 18, 2013. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
Secretary of the Senate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
Member, Texas Senate |