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Bridwell Texas History Series
One Ranger Returns
No Texas Ranger memoir has captured the public's imagination like Joaquin Jackson's One Ranger . Readers thrilled to Jackson's stories of catching criminals and keeping the peace across a wide swath of the Texas-Mexico border—and clamored for more. Now in One Ranger Returns , Jackson reopens his case files to tell more unforgettable stories, while also giving readers a deeply personal view of what being a Texas Ranger has meant to him and his family. Jackson recalls his five-year pursuit of two of America's most notorious serial killers, Henry Lee Lucas and Ottis Toole. He sets the record straight about the role of the Texas Rangers during the United Farm Workers strike in the Rio Grande Valley in 1966-1967. Jackson also describes the frustration of trying to solve a cold case from 1938—the brutal murder of a mother and daughter in the lonely desert east of Van Horn. He presents a rogue's gallery of cattle rustlers, drug smugglers, and a teetotaling bootlegger named Tom Bybee, a modest, likeable man who became an ax murderer. And in an eloquent concluding chapter, Jackson pays tribute to the Rangers who have gone before him, as well as those who keep the peace today.
253 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2008
13 people are currently reading
65 people want to read
About the author
H. Joaquin Jackson
5 books5 followersJoaquin Jackson was a Texas Ranger from 1966-1993.Joaquin Jackson was assigned to a wide swath of the Texas-Mexico border from 1966 to 1993. He was involved in a shootout at the Carrizo Springs jail that ended a prison revolt. He captured "The See More Kid," an elusive horse thief and burglar who left clean dishes and swept floors in the houses he robbed. He investigated the 1988 shootings in Big Bend's Colorado Canyon and tried to understand the motives of the Mexican teenagers who terrorized three river rafters and killed one.
While a Texas Ranger, Jackson was instrumental in starting the career of country singer Johnny Rodriguez. In 1969, a teenage Rodriguez was jailed and would often sing in his cell; Jackson, who overheard Rodriguez and was impressed by his voice, told his friend, music promoter "Happy" Shahan, about him, and Shahan then hired Rodriguez for his first singing gigs.
After retiring from the Texas Rangers in 1993 Jackson moved into private investigations, writing his memoirs, public appearances, acting and working as a technical advisor to movie and television productions.
Joaquin Jackson passed away at his home in Alpine, Texas on June 15, 2016. He was eighty-years old at the time of his death.
While a Texas Ranger, Jackson was instrumental in starting the career of country singer Johnny Rodriguez. In 1969, a teenage Rodriguez was jailed and would often sing in his cell; Jackson, who overheard Rodriguez and was impressed by his voice, told his friend, music promoter "Happy" Shahan, about him, and Shahan then hired Rodriguez for his first singing gigs.
After retiring from the Texas Rangers in 1993 Jackson moved into private investigations, writing his memoirs, public appearances, acting and working as a technical advisor to movie and television productions.
Joaquin Jackson passed away at his home in Alpine, Texas on June 15, 2016. He was eighty-years old at the time of his death.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 21, 2020
More stories from a celebrated Texas Ranger.
Full transparency, I did not read the first book, One Ranger. I imagine that people who did requested to learn more about his wife and sons. This book includes some pieces that they wrote about themselves and their relationship to the author. I did not read the first book, so that part of the book felt disjointed and not particularly relevant to the rest of the book, in my opinion.
The author also said something interesting about when he was one of the Texas Rangers called in during the United Farm Workers Strike 1966-67. He points out that he and the other Rangers were upholding the law. They weren't deciding if the law was right or wrong. If protestors were obeying the law, they did not deal with them. But if they broke the law by blocking the railroad's right of way, then they were arrested. Which in the end brought more publicity to the strikers, which helped them get better working conditions.
I could not help but think about the recent race riots when he said that. Personally I disagree, I understand his point of view, but people have done horrendous things by "just doing their job" and that doesn't absolve one from the ethics involved. If he truly wanted better working conditions for those United Farm Workers, he could have gotten a job working on their behalf. But THAT is only my two cents.
Full transparency, I did not read the first book, One Ranger. I imagine that people who did requested to learn more about his wife and sons. This book includes some pieces that they wrote about themselves and their relationship to the author. I did not read the first book, so that part of the book felt disjointed and not particularly relevant to the rest of the book, in my opinion.
The author also said something interesting about when he was one of the Texas Rangers called in during the United Farm Workers Strike 1966-67. He points out that he and the other Rangers were upholding the law. They weren't deciding if the law was right or wrong. If protestors were obeying the law, they did not deal with them. But if they broke the law by blocking the railroad's right of way, then they were arrested. Which in the end brought more publicity to the strikers, which helped them get better working conditions.
I could not help but think about the recent race riots when he said that. Personally I disagree, I understand his point of view, but people have done horrendous things by "just doing their job" and that doesn't absolve one from the ethics involved. If he truly wanted better working conditions for those United Farm Workers, he could have gotten a job working on their behalf. But THAT is only my two cents.
November 11, 2017
Fascinating autobiography (part 2) of a former Texas Ranger from the 60s to the 90s. Written in a colloquial style, easy to read and very interesting - full of stories of crime investigation, the pursuing of desperados and violent death, the book also includes alot of information about Joaquin and his family, as well as modern Texas history. Enjoyable, educational and full of history. My copy was sent to me by my Aunt Jennye, who is English but lives near Austin. She bought it at her reading club's 'meet the author' session, so my copy is signed by Joaquin himself, an added bonus.
September 26, 2018
I enjoyed this book as much as I did his first book, 'One Ranger,' although I was sad to learn that Joaquin has been dead now over two years. However, his character lives on in his two books and he is an example of what you would expect a Texas Ranger to be.
I went so far as to buy the movie, "Good Ole Boys," just to see him play the part of a local sheriff which he did quite well.
I went so far as to buy the movie, "Good Ole Boys," just to see him play the part of a local sheriff which he did quite well.
July 19, 2022
Among many other poignant and interesting stories of the life of a retired Texas Ranger, reading chapter 13 puts into a perfect perspective of the current crisis happening in our border. This crisis is nothing new, and existed before Texas was even part of the United States.
June 20, 2008
While on vacation in San Antonio I picked up this sequel to Joaquin Jackson's One Ranger. I had really enjoyed his first book - his down-to-earth anecdotes about his early life as a Texas Ranger, along with the "simpler times" the stories conveyed provided a fascinating look into this historic piece of Texas law enforcement.
So I could hardly wait to get back to my hotel to start reading One Ranger Returns, and I believe I finished it in about a day. Ranger Jackson's style of storytelling was still there, but the organization and structure of the stories seemed different. In the introduction Ranger Jackson mentions that he partners with a different co-writer, so the difference I noticed could be a symptom.
One Ranger Returns is a great follow-up to One Ranger, and highly recommended for any fan of Texana, the Texas Rangers, or merely the life of a fascinating individual.
So I could hardly wait to get back to my hotel to start reading One Ranger Returns, and I believe I finished it in about a day. Ranger Jackson's style of storytelling was still there, but the organization and structure of the stories seemed different. In the introduction Ranger Jackson mentions that he partners with a different co-writer, so the difference I noticed could be a symptom.
One Ranger Returns is a great follow-up to One Ranger, and highly recommended for any fan of Texana, the Texas Rangers, or merely the life of a fascinating individual.
May 26, 2011
One Ranger Returns
This was an amazing view of a completely different culture then we have now, even though I live in Austin, Texas this age seems like a distant and golden, rich time. Needless to say, but I will anyways, this book was pretty great! It was a unique and thrifty view of a much different time, and of a magnificent Texas Ranger. Joaquin express’s a great life story, that no one else could, in a way no one else could!
This book felt more like an intriguing, winding plot than an autobiography. The stories are the essence of one of a kind, and all a very different view than a normal mindset. The book shows a different golden age of Law that I think was what Justice should be. It showed a lot of my great state’s history, Texas Ranger’s history, and the history of a legendary man. I love the History, story, and legends of this great book.
This was an amazing view of a completely different culture then we have now, even though I live in Austin, Texas this age seems like a distant and golden, rich time. Needless to say, but I will anyways, this book was pretty great! It was a unique and thrifty view of a much different time, and of a magnificent Texas Ranger. Joaquin express’s a great life story, that no one else could, in a way no one else could!
This book felt more like an intriguing, winding plot than an autobiography. The stories are the essence of one of a kind, and all a very different view than a normal mindset. The book shows a different golden age of Law that I think was what Justice should be. It showed a lot of my great state’s history, Texas Ranger’s history, and the history of a legendary man. I love the History, story, and legends of this great book.
February 17, 2009
In the early 1980's I saw the great action film "Extreme Prejudice" directed by Walter Hill and starring Nick Nolte. A great modern day western about a Texas Ranger. Well, this books is the loose basis of that Texas Ranger. The real life Ranger is the author, H. Joaquin Jackson.
This book is the second book of the real life adventures of Ranger Jackson. The first non-fiction book was called One Ranger.
This is a superb memoir of Jackson's life and his service to the Texas Rangers. It reads more like a Novel than an autobiography...and that's a good thing.
--Beau Smith
The Flying Fist Ranch
This book is the second book of the real life adventures of Ranger Jackson. The first non-fiction book was called One Ranger.
This is a superb memoir of Jackson's life and his service to the Texas Rangers. It reads more like a Novel than an autobiography...and that's a good thing.
--Beau Smith
The Flying Fist Ranch
June 15, 2012
One Ranger Returns fits right in with the first book, One Ranger, seamlessly picking up the thread of H. Juaquin Jackson's life. I found this book to be just as captivating and discovered even more about H. Juaquin, his life, his devotion to family, friends, country and law enforcement. It's a great read. Both One Ranger and One Ranger Returns are so well written and left me wanting to read the next edition. Thanks Juaquin for sharing a part of yourself and your life with all of us. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the life and times of a living legend... A Texas Ranger.
Doran W Ingrham
Inactive US Marine
Retired Risk Management Specialist
Doran W Ingrham
Inactive US Marine
Retired Risk Management Specialist
April 17, 2008
Ranger Jackson's first book was such a hit, he came back and wrote another. This one adds new episodes from his career as a Texas Ranger - the iconic Texas Ranger, according to Texas Monthly - and in retirement as a private investigator.
Joaquin Jackson will be foreever associated with his retirement as the ranks of the Texas Rangers were opened to female law-enforcement. He skirts the issue in this book, even though one of the women named a Texas Ranger remains a Texas Ranger after 15 wearing the star.
Joaquin Jackson will be foreever associated with his retirement as the ranks of the Texas Rangers were opened to female law-enforcement. He skirts the issue in this book, even though one of the women named a Texas Ranger remains a Texas Ranger after 15 wearing the star.
May 4, 2009
Not near as good as the first one. A bit depressing even. Joaquin Jackson changed authors for this book. The first author tended to focus on stories and put coversations into the wrting to make it interesting. This author focused on the grisly details of each case to the point you were depressed and repulsed. I.E. The details on Henry Lucas, way overboard. I could have gone my whole life and done without knowing all that.
July 12, 2009
I liked the book...although I thought that his stories were written and told better in One Ranger. Still, he's an interesting individual who has very interesting stories that take me back to Texas and bring the Texas Rangers to life in a wonderful format. I've been trying to get a friend of mine to read these books but he wants them on his Amazon Kindle and they're not in that format yet.
July 6, 2009
I read this book after reading the first installment. It was almost as enjoyable as the first, but I think there was a wider variety of stories in the first book. All in all a very interesting account of life as a Texas Ranger.
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December 23, 2008Not as great as the first, but still really good!
September 14, 2012
Not as good as the first but still a page turner
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews