One Riot, One Ranger Fuels 200-Year Old Legend

One Riot, One Ranger Fuels 200-Year Old Legend

Author: Robert Riggs March 8, 2022 Duration: 38:12

Texas kicked off festivities on Texas Independence Day, to commemorate the 2023 Bicentennial of the Texas Rangers.

As the Rangers approach their 200th year of service, their legend is embodied in the following quote.

When Texas Ranger Captain Bill McDonald was sent to Dallas in the 1890s to prevent a scheduled prizefight, McDonald was greeted at the train station by the city’s anxious mayor, who asked: “Where are the others?” McDonald supposedly replied, “Hell! ain’t I enough? There’s only one prize-fight!” (credit: Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum).

The Texas Rangers are the oldest serving state law enforcement agency in the United States.

Texas Ranger Displays Drones Used For Crime Fighting Operations

Armed with the latest technology, Rangers wear distinctive white cowboy hats, white western-style shirts with silver badges crafted from Mexican Cinco peso coins, and cowboy boots.

The event started at the Dickies Arena on the grounds of the Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo with special help from Brad Barnes, the President/General Manager of the Exposition and Livestock Show.  

It concluded on Mule Alley, hosted by Craig Cavileer in the Fort Worth Stockyards at the Hotel Drover.

(L) Bob Sims buying mules to work the Texas oil fields. Mule Alley Fort Worth Stockyards circa 1940.
Artist’s aerial drawing of the mule barns at the Fort Worth Stockyards. Date Unknown.
Herd of Texas mules at Mule Alley at Fort Worth Stockyards circa 1939

One note: Mule Alley is where Robert Riggs’ great uncle Bob Sims bought mules for use in the East Texas oil fields in the 1930s and 40s.

Those places are steeped in Texas history. Fort Worth, known as “Cowtown,” is where the West began.

And there is nothing more Texan than the Texas Rangers.

You will like this episode if you are a fan of Taylor Sheridan’s TV series Yellowstone or 1883. 


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Robert Riggs has spent decades as an investigative reporter, and in True Crime Reporter, he applies that relentless, document-driven approach to the stories that haunt us. This isn't just a retelling of grim headlines; it's a meticulous walk through active case files, historical injustices, and the societal undercurrents that allow crime to flourish. Each episode feels like you're sitting across from Riggs as he lays out his notes, connecting dots between evidence, witness accounts, and the often-overlooked details that change a narrative. You'll hear the tension in the pursuit of truth, the weight of unresolved questions, and the quiet impact on communities and families left in the wake of violence. The podcast moves beyond the sensational to examine the cultural and systemic factors at play, offering a sober, deeply researched perspective. Listen for long-form narratives that build like a detective's board, where every piece of audio, every interview, and every document serves a purpose. It’s for those who want to understand the 'why' and the 'how' as much as the 'who,' presented with the clarity and authority of a seasoned journalist who knows the terrain. This is a journey into real stories, handled with the care they demand, and it naturally becomes an essential listen for anyone fascinated by the intersection of human behavior, justice, and the news.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

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