TEXAS RANGERS VISIT PECOS.

1. J.H. Wilson memorabilia and gunfighter Sam Bass quilt. J.H. Wilson was made an honorary Texas Ranger in 1985. He had a ranch in Pyote was the THE Best Friend of any and all Texas Rangers...he could never do enough for them. He had an AMAZING collection of guns etc...including a gun belonging to Pancho Villa. The quilt pictured was made by Louella Seay, wife of Texas Ranger Joe Seay. Sam Bass wandered into her tent and politely asked for food and water and TOLD her who he was. She fed and watered the much sought after gunfighter....and then he admired the quilt she was making. He gave her a silk hankerchief and the story goes that she worked it into this quilt that is pictured.
2. One of about 10 or 12 lamps in the Orient Hotel (AKA museum) dining room....wish they were mine.
3. One of the memorial Texas Rangers Cross'...see text photo #8. They have planted 300 of these so far and are always researching...looking for graves of deceased Texas Rangers.
4. Part of yesterday's program.
5. Texas Ranger's text....what they're all about.
6. Ol' Texas Rangers enjoyin' the ceremony in the museum courtyard.
7. Texas Rangers book display...for sale at the museum bookstore.
8. Texas Ranger Memorial Cross Text...what it's all about.
9. Knives, guns, badges etc.
10. Ol' Rangers still enjoyin' themselves.

So...as always....I missed the BEST part of this celebration. It was Friday evening in the old number 11 saloon....which is part of the museum. It was built in 1896 by Texas Ranger R.S. Johnson...he added the Orient Hotel in 1904. The hotel was known as the best hotel between Ft. Worth and El Paso. There was a deadly shoot out and everything in the saloon...the bullet holes are still there. Anyways...there's nothing more fun than "bellyin' up to the original bar". The opportunity is infrequent.They have receptions and parties in the saloon every now and then. I was just too exhausted to attend Friday night....but I heard that it was QUITE the wingding!! OH! I missed lots of good eavesdropping I'm sure.
These retired Texas Rangers are SO proud and stalwart folks!
They are going to open an interactive Ranger museum in Kerrville...it will be hooked up to a different Texas public classroom once or twice a week.
Love, mary