Time of the Rangers: Texas Rangers: From 1900 to the Present

by Mike Cox

Texas writer-historian Mike Cox explores the origin and rise of the famed Texas Rangers in Time of the Rangers.

Starting in 1821 with just a handful of men, the Rangers' first purpose was to keep settlers safe from the feared and gruesome Karankawa Indians, a cannibalistic tribe that wandered the Texas territory. As the influx of settlers grew, the attacks increased, and it became clear that a larger, better trained force was necessary.

Taking readers through the major social and political movements of the Texas territory and into its statehood, Cox shows how the Rangers were a defining force in the stabilization and the creation of Texas. From Stephen Austin in the early days through the Civil War, the first eighty years of the Texas Rangers were nothing less than phenomenal, and the efforts put forth in those days set the foundation for the Texas Rangers who keep Texas safe today.

Genres: History, Westerns

512 pages, Paperback

First published August 18, 2009

About the author

I am the author of 15 nonfiction books, the most recent being "Time of the Rangers" (New York: Forge Books, 2009), the second of my two-volume history of the Texas Rangers. Also just out is "Historic Photos of Texas Oil," (Nashville: Turner Publishing), a coffeetable book containing some 200 vintage photos from the oil patch. My other books include a study of Texas disasters, three other books on the Texas Rangers, one true crime story, a biography, a memoir and three local histories, as well as numerous magazine articles, essays and introductions for other books. I have been an elected member of the Texas Institute of Letters since 1993.

My byline regularly appears in a number of national and statewide magazines and I have been an award-winning newspaper reporter for nearly 20 years, most of that time with the Austin American-Statesman.

Reviews

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent history of the Texas Rangers in the 20th and early 21st century. The author claims to present the good, the bad and the ugly about the rangers. He delivered on the first two but not so much so on the third. The strongest part of Mr. Cox's history was the tales of the pursuit and apprehension of outlaws. These tales are very engaging and thrilling. The next portion of the book is the love-hate relation the state has with the rangers. About every five years the legislature wants to reduce the ranger's budget and someone wants to get rid of them all together. While the later fails, the former usually gets its way. The last theme running through the book are the many accusations against the rangers. I found this being the most unsatisfying. There are many stories of ranger abuse and intimidation, but very little detail to convince the reader of the incidents' validity. One wonders did they occur or we're they hyperbola.

[Andy Parsons · Rating 4 out of 5]

A whistle stop tour of latter day Ranger history

Although lacking the length to really get into the history this book provides a great overview of 20th century Rangers and introduces topics that can be studied in greater detail in other tomes. Mike Cox is a good writer and the style is easy to read and not overly scholarly or dry like some works on the subject which consist of muster list after muster list. What is surprising is the sheer amount of political manipulation the service has suffered over the decades and watching the force trying to embrace 20th century law enforcement methods is excruciating. Much of the history is far from glorious or heroic but in amongst all of this there were always good men upholding the most noble Ranger traditions and sticking it hard to the bandits and outlaws of Texas.

[Yibbie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It’s a book of political wrangling and PR introspection, with only a few of the very biggest cases included, that ends with an unofficial PR stunt failure. I found it rather odd. More time was given to the movies, tv and radio shows, than to actual law enforcement. Perhaps it’s because the author was a PR man that the media gets so much more attention than the daily triumphs and failures of the rangers.
If you are interested in how the rangers got funded in this or that year, which politician or activist wanted them defunded, or how they got their distinctive badge, this might be the book for you. If you are looking for a book about their fight against the bad guys, this isn’t the book for you.

[Kevin Hughlett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good history of the Rangers in the 20th century. I did get a little bogged down with names and found myself having to go back and remember who certain people were. The best part of the book was the beginning up to the 1940s, and the merger of the Rangers with the DPS. The story at the end with the Comanche chairman was also magnificent!

[C Settles · Rating 5 out of 5]

The history of the Texas Rangers is the history of Texas. If you want to understand the Texas mentality and world view, this two volume set is a must read.

[David Savage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great history of the Texas Rangers, some very bad ass dudes!

[Jason Maples · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informational, just a slow read

[Jacob]

DNF

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

There's some great stories in here. But it's a bit sad to see, sometime around the '50s and '60s, the Ranger story become as much about the Ranger legend as the law enforcement. You eventually get more and more time spent dealing with radio, TV, and movie deals, lawsuits, sexual harassment, museum openings, fundraisers, politics, etc. There's no question that the Rangers are still as effective as they are unique, but in some aspects the legend becomes a bit tawdry in the modern age, at least in the telling.