On this day, Sept. 6, in 1988, Lee Roy Young Jr. was sworn in as the first African-American Texas Ranger in the modern history of the force’s 165-year existence.
Young grew up in South Texas dreaming of joining the legendary law enforcement agency popularized by TV, movies and books.
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The Rangers were created by Stephen F. Austin in 1823, to protect about 600 settlers against Indians. Over the years, Texas Rangers kept the law in lawless Texas, protected the borders from Mexican bandits and Comanche raids, and hunted down outlaws John Wesley Hardin and Bonnie and Clyde.
The Ranger culture has evolved since the rugged days epitomized by “One Riot, One Ranger.” Young, who had a forensics background, learned to use hypnotism to retrieve witness memories for investigations. He retired in 2003.
– Scott McCabe
