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Last Gangster in Austin: Frank Smith, Ronnie Earle, and the End of a Junkyard Mafia
Ronnie Earle was a Texas legend. During his three decades as the district attorney responsible for Austin and surrounding Travis County, he prosecuted corrupt corporate executives and state officials, including the notorious US congressman Tom DeLay. But Earle maintained that the biggest case of his career was the one involving Frank Hughey Smith, the ex-convict millionaire, alleged criminal mastermind, and Dixie Mafia figure. With the help of corrupt local authorities, Smith spent the 1970s building a criminal empire in auto salvage and bail bonds. But there was one a rival in the salvage business threatened his dominance. Smith hired arsonists to destroy the rival; when they botched the job, he sent three gunmen, but the robbery they planned was a bloody fiasco. Investigators were convinced that Smith was guilty, but many were skeptical that the newly elected and inexperienced Earle could get a conviction. Amid the courtroom drama and underworld plots the book describes, Willie Nelson makes a cameo. So do the private eyes, hired guns, and madams who kept Austin not only weird but also riddled with vice. An extraordinary true story, Last Gangster in Austin paints an unusual picture of the Texas capital as a place that was wild, wonderful, and as crooked as the dirt road to paradise.
224 pages, Paperback
First published April 19, 2022
About the author
Jesse Sublett
17 books22 followersJesse Sublett is an Austin, Texas musician, painter and author of 13 books, including crime fiction, true crime and history.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
August 19, 2022
An excellent book for current or former residents of Austin. It moves along quickly and clearly. Also, since the main body of the book is only 175 pages long, you can borrow an electronic copy from the library and read it in its entirety before the evil dwarves of Amazon, hell-bent on sucking the joy out of reading, come and yank it off your phone, with no possibility of immediate renewal.
For non-Austinites, probably of limited interest, because the world, sadly, has no shortage of locally-based blustering bullies in your own communities to read about, in case you are fortunate enough not to experience them first hand.
A while ago, I reviewed a comic novel written a hundred years previously by a Canadian, in which a fat and pompous bully becomes a successful right-wing politician. I thought that, at the time of its writing, such an idea was a novel form of social criticism. Today, it is a familiar description of a routine occurrence. So it is here, too, in the form of anti-hero Frank Smith. Poor guy! Born too early! In his day, he could only be a fear-inspiring head of a junkyard empire, but today he could easily hold a powerful state political office, at least.
I read this book at the same time as the pathetic bullet-headed liar Alex Jones was, here in Austin, whining and sniveling in court through his well-deserved humiliation at the hands of the parents of dead children whom Jones had previously labored mightily to torment. Because Frank Smith lived in the pre-Internet age, he could only torment the poor misfortunates who were unlucky enough to do business with him in person. Now, improvements in technology now allow psychopaths to generate misery for complete strangers thousands of miles away.
Still, there are many similarities between these two overfed wastes of human skin. For example, they both managed to charm people of exceptionally poor judgment, who even, decades later, will tell a complete stranger the reasons why the psychopath was not such a bad guy really, and how their fate was really a miscarriage of justice. Second example: They both professed a dislike of authority, when they really simply resented interference in their attempts to intimidate others. Finally, when they both finally got served the punishment they so richly deserved, they retreated behind transparently untrue contentions that they were victims of a hopelessly corrupt system.
If you are tired enough of this type of creature appearing in your news feed, you may wish to give this book a miss, but I thought it was reassuring to read that, psychopath-wise, there is nothing new under the sun, and that sometimes they get what is coming to them.
For non-Austinites, probably of limited interest, because the world, sadly, has no shortage of locally-based blustering bullies in your own communities to read about, in case you are fortunate enough not to experience them first hand.
A while ago, I reviewed a comic novel written a hundred years previously by a Canadian, in which a fat and pompous bully becomes a successful right-wing politician. I thought that, at the time of its writing, such an idea was a novel form of social criticism. Today, it is a familiar description of a routine occurrence. So it is here, too, in the form of anti-hero Frank Smith. Poor guy! Born too early! In his day, he could only be a fear-inspiring head of a junkyard empire, but today he could easily hold a powerful state political office, at least.
I read this book at the same time as the pathetic bullet-headed liar Alex Jones was, here in Austin, whining and sniveling in court through his well-deserved humiliation at the hands of the parents of dead children whom Jones had previously labored mightily to torment. Because Frank Smith lived in the pre-Internet age, he could only torment the poor misfortunates who were unlucky enough to do business with him in person. Now, improvements in technology now allow psychopaths to generate misery for complete strangers thousands of miles away.
Still, there are many similarities between these two overfed wastes of human skin. For example, they both managed to charm people of exceptionally poor judgment, who even, decades later, will tell a complete stranger the reasons why the psychopath was not such a bad guy really, and how their fate was really a miscarriage of justice. Second example: They both professed a dislike of authority, when they really simply resented interference in their attempts to intimidate others. Finally, when they both finally got served the punishment they so richly deserved, they retreated behind transparently untrue contentions that they were victims of a hopelessly corrupt system.
If you are tired enough of this type of creature appearing in your news feed, you may wish to give this book a miss, but I thought it was reassuring to read that, psychopath-wise, there is nothing new under the sun, and that sometimes they get what is coming to them.
July 17, 2022
I have been a huge fan of this man's writing since the Martin Fender Mysteries of the 1990s. I absolutely tore through this book in record time. unlike some books that I like to sit and Savor this was a Breakneck wild carnival ride of a book.
once the ride was in motion there was no going back, no slowing down and no stopping,.
Sublett brought to life the events that culminated in a showdown between good and evil in Austin and 1977 every minor character was fully fleshed out and given the leading man treatment. for me I'm repentant bad guy to the spine with Sheriff that supported him to the man who finally brought them both down it is a story you will not soon forget.
I would love to see a movie of this.
once the ride was in motion there was no going back, no slowing down and no stopping,.
Sublett brought to life the events that culminated in a showdown between good and evil in Austin and 1977 every minor character was fully fleshed out and given the leading man treatment. for me I'm repentant bad guy to the spine with Sheriff that supported him to the man who finally brought them both down it is a story you will not soon forget.
I would love to see a movie of this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 21, 2023
Fascinating book. It goes through the trial blow by blow, which some people might not find interesting, but I did.
October 14, 2026
A well-researched story of a few larger-than-life characters in Austin’s history. The tone has a very true-crime vibe. Probably will mostly be compelling to Austinites.
June 2, 2022
Frank Smith moved from Waco to Austin to become a criminal mastermind in the auto salvage and bail bond business. I moved from Waco to Austin in 1975 and although I never met Frank Smith I knew many people who did know him. I even had a "Free Frank Smith" t-shirt I bought from Eddie Wilson at his Raw Deal restaurant. Austin was a different place then, and I knew many of the used car dealerships and other small business were fronts for laundering drug money. I frequented the Alamo Hotel to hear Pat Mears and Lucinda Williams play, and knew that Lyndon Johnson's brother lived in that hotel. This is an interesting book about a specific time and place in history, but I don't know if people that are not involved in that era of Austin's history would be interested in this long winded story.
August 21, 2025
Austin sure was different 50 years ago. It's weird reading history when you remember the story from newspaper headlines last century. Sublett tells the story so well that, even knowing how it all comes out, I had trouble setting the book down. Of all this account's accomplishments though, it deserves special notice for its picture of Ronnie Earle, the DA for Travis County, a reminder that Texas sometimes elects excellent leaders. We already miss him.
On a lower plane, numerous scenes may remind the older, native Austinite of those days when it seemed like the city only had about five restaurants.
On a lower plane, numerous scenes may remind the older, native Austinite of those days when it seemed like the city only had about five restaurants.
December 28, 2022
If you live in modern Austin, Jesse Sublett's "Last Gangster in Austin" is a great look back at our city BEFORE it became the thriving tech hub,the hipster hot spot or however the city brands itself now. Sublett's work describes the Austin of the 1970s that was smaller and more provincial where state political heavy weights rubbed elbows and shared drinks with crooks and low-lifes.
In this case instance tells the tale of Frank Smith who operated both Austin's largest auto salvage operation and its largest bail bond business and all this took place AFTER Smith went to prison in the late 1960s on Federal charges of being the centerpiece of an enormous auto theft and fraud ring in Central Texas. Frank Smith in Sublett's book would face his ultimate downfall when he 'went to war" with the Raab family's auto salvage and auction business. ASB, that operated down south by Bergstrom AFB (now Bergstrom Intercontinental airport). When trying to burn down the Raab's business failed he sent in some goons (crooke cops from up in Fort Worth) to rob the place after Smith had dropped off $15K in cash for some junked cars. The robbery was a shit show with pistols vs shotguns ending with the pistol bearing robber taking 20 gauge load of bird shot in the chest.
The ensuing investigation and prosecution by then rookie Travis County DA Ronnie Earl would end up getting Smith a life sentence.
Its a hoot looking up the old addresses listed in this book and seeing what is there now as a way of seeing how nmuch Austin has changed in 50 years.
In this case instance tells the tale of Frank Smith who operated both Austin's largest auto salvage operation and its largest bail bond business and all this took place AFTER Smith went to prison in the late 1960s on Federal charges of being the centerpiece of an enormous auto theft and fraud ring in Central Texas. Frank Smith in Sublett's book would face his ultimate downfall when he 'went to war" with the Raab family's auto salvage and auction business. ASB, that operated down south by Bergstrom AFB (now Bergstrom Intercontinental airport). When trying to burn down the Raab's business failed he sent in some goons (crooke cops from up in Fort Worth) to rob the place after Smith had dropped off $15K in cash for some junked cars. The robbery was a shit show with pistols vs shotguns ending with the pistol bearing robber taking 20 gauge load of bird shot in the chest.
The ensuing investigation and prosecution by then rookie Travis County DA Ronnie Earl would end up getting Smith a life sentence.
Its a hoot looking up the old addresses listed in this book and seeing what is there now as a way of seeing how nmuch Austin has changed in 50 years.
August 4, 2022
Very entertaining tale, especially as I live in Austin. It's interesting to hear about underworld activities which you wouldn't think would happen in our hometown. I'm glad Frank Smith went to jail as did others but how much gangster activity stills goes on here? It seems unlikely that it was eliminated. I didn't know that much about Ronnie Earle but now I admire him greatly. Ike Rabb, who was the chief object of Smith's wrath was a remarkable person and I greatly admire him too.
August 6, 2026
3.5/5
I had to restart a couple of times because I got busy and couldn’t get back to it for a week or two, but even so, it’s an interesting read about a “different” Austin.
The attempted robbery the book is centered on took place less than a mile from my house, which is crazy to me.
Always fun learning about the history of the city I have called home for 19 years.
I had to restart a couple of times because I got busy and couldn’t get back to it for a week or two, but even so, it’s an interesting read about a “different” Austin.
The attempted robbery the book is centered on took place less than a mile from my house, which is crazy to me.
Always fun learning about the history of the city I have called home for 19 years.
January 29, 2023
As a long time Austinite I enjoyed reading this book. It does a good job of shedding light on a gangster that was once a staple of the city. The story takes place shortly before my time in Austin so it was great to learn more about the city’s history.
July 20, 2023
An interesting read about a part of Texas history I didn't know existed. The author does a good job of making the characters really come to life. My one complaint would be that the book is a little too short, but from the author's note it appears that was a contractual obligation.
July 8, 2022
Austin grew up!
If you are not an old long time Austinite, this book will help you understand some of the reasons why things are the way, and the way they do things here!
If you are not an old long time Austinite, this book will help you understand some of the reasons why things are the way, and the way they do things here!
July 14, 2022
I love a book set in Austin. This one is big on the names and crazy real life bad guys. Lots of fun to read.
Read
July 24, 2022The book held my interest. I am disappointed that Goodreads does not list the edition from Audible.com, which is the one I read.
October 14, 2022
Being in Austin and from the area this was must read for me. Great book!
December 16, 2022
Audible. Well written historical fiction about a powerful bad guy and people in power who he had to protect him.
January 27, 2023
Well written and interesting book about corruption and crime in Austin——that is, the Austin before it became what it is today.
April 10, 2023
Would make a great movie
July 6, 2022
Gangster
A well thought out book about justice Austin style. It brought many memories of the people and place in Austin. Enjoyable read!
A well thought out book about justice Austin style. It brought many memories of the people and place in Austin. Enjoyable read!
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews