Joaquin Jackson: Just a Ranger from West Texas

Howdy y’all, I’m Chip Schweiger, The Cowboy Accountant, and welcome to another edition of Way Out West with The Cowboy Accountant. The podcast that takes you on a journey through the stories of the American West, brings you the very best cowboy wisdom, and celebrates the cowboys and cowgirls who are feeding a nation. 

Joaquin Jackson was a notable figure in the world of law enforcement and public service as a Texas Ranger who served with distinction for over 30 years. During his career he became well-known for his work in crime fighting and his dedication to the Texas Rangers, a division of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Jackson was involved in numerous high-profile cases and became a respected figure in the law enforcement community. 

Later in life he wrote a memoir, "One Ranger: A Memoir," which provides an in-depth look at his career and experiences as a Texas Ranger. 

So, today on the show, I’m talking about the Joaquin Jackson I was fortunate enough to know. I’ll touch on how his book and public appearances helped shed light on the often-overlooked work of law enforcement officers and the unique role of the Texas Rangers in American history. 

And I’ll discuss why he perfectly met the public’s more traditional expectations of what a Texas Ranger should be.

After the episode you can check out the show notes at CowboyAccountant.com/podcast

[MUSIC]

Hi there, and welcome back. 

Whenever I talk about my involvement with the Former Texas Rangers Foundation, the conversation inevitably turns to one of the most iconic figures of the American West, Texas Ranger Joaquin Jackson.

The image that comes to mind for most people is of Joaquin, adorned with a Ranger’s cinco peso star badge, a double rig gun belt, weathered chaps, and holding a Winchester Model 1894 carbine while standing in the scrub of West Texas. 

That photograph, taken by Dan Winters, graced the cover of Texas Monthly magazine in February 1994. 

And the accompanying article, "The Twilight of the Texas Rangers," discussed how the history and traditions of this legendary organization clashed with modern realities. 

At the same time, the 6-foot-5-inch, square-jawed Jackson embodied the public's traditional expectations of a Texas Ranger, making the photograph immensely popular. It was even used on the cover of a book celebrating 25 years of Texas Monthly magazine.

But who was Joaquin Jackson?

Haynie Joaquin Jackson was born in 1935. He day worked as a cowboy on West Texas ranches, earned a basketball scholarship at West Texas State University,
attended officer candidate school in the Marines, and eventually joined the
Texas Department of Public Safety as a trooper. In 1966, he became a Texas Ranger.

As a ranger, Joaquin was assigned to a vast area along the Texas-Mexico border, often traversing regions only accessible horseback. 

And this suited his love for the arid landscapes of West Texas and its people, both Mexican and American. In fact, his Colt Commander Model 1911 pistol featured sterling silver grips with gold images of Montezuma’s profile, an arched banner, and a horse's head inside a horseshoe.

During his career, Jackson was involved in several high-profile incidents:

·       Carrizo Springs Jail Shootout, which ended a prison revolt.

·       The See More Kid, where he captured an elusive horse thief and burglar.

·       1988 Big Bend Shootings which is when he Investigated the shootings in Colorado Canyon and tried to understand the motives behind the attack on three river rafters.

He's also to be thanked for us enjoying the music of Johhny Rodriguez. It’s true. 

In 1969, Jackson discovered country singer Johnny Rodriguez while he was jailed. Impressed by Rodriguez's singing, Jackson informed music promoter James “Happy” Shahan, leading to Rodriguez's first gig. The rest, as they say, is history.

What people may not know though is that Joaquin was a natural in front of the camera, appearing in several movies:

·       The Good Old Boys (1995) as Sheriff Wes Wheeler

·       Rough Riders (1997)

·       Streets of Laredo (1997 miniseries)

·       Palo Pinto Gold (2008) as Sheriff Jackson

·       Poodle Dog Lounge (2008) as Archie

·       Hell or High Water (2016) inspired Jeff Bridges’ character Texas Ranger Marcus Hamilton

·       And his final movie Wild Horses in 2015, co-starring with Robert Duvall

Jackson retired from the Texas Rangers in 1993 with a simple, “saddle my pony, boys.” He then ran a private investigations firm in Alpine, Texas. 

His wife, Shirley Conder Jackson, passed away in 2012. And He later married Jewely Van Valin, who was by his side during his final days. Jackson had two sons, Don Joaquin and Lance Sterling, and two grandsons, Adam Michael and Tyler Joaquin. 

His oldest son, Don Joaquin, spent time in prison for auto theft and murder, a tragedy Joaquin painfully wrote about in his memoirs.

In retirement, he remained active with the Former Texas Rangers Foundation, his private security business, and his community in Alpine. 

I’m fortunate to have known Joaquin Jackson, having been introduced to him by my father-in-law, former Texas Ranger Phil Ryan. Joaquin was a gracious man who enjoyed cigars and golfing. 

In fact, one memorable occasion was when he gifted me a signed copy of his book, One Ranger. When I offer to pay for it, he replied in classic Joaquin Jackson style, saying, “Bullshit, you’re family.”

Sadly, Joaquin passed away at 80 years old on June 15, 2016, in Alpine. And I remember the day we got the news.

He was a kind, thoughtful, and rugged man who, despite witnessing pain and suffering, had an eternal love for the American West and believed in the basic goodness of humans. 

He admired the blended culture of Mexico and the United States in West Texas and often introduced himself humbly as “just a ranger from West Texas.”

To my friend always, Joaquin—you are missed by many, but we are better for having known you.

Well, that about wraps up another edition of Way Out West with the Cowboy Accountant, but before we go we’ve got one more thing.

 [BULL SOUND]

Yep, that distinctive call from Buster the Bull means it’s time for the cowboy glossary term of the week. And this week’s term is CHARRO. So a charro is a gentleman rider of Mexico.  

Charros often exhibit a very flashy style of riding and use ornate dress and gear.  

Jalisco and Guerrero are the main states in Mexico where the charro tradition originated. 

And if you get the opportunity, attend a CHARREADA which is a gathering of charros combining skilled riding, roping, and bull tailing, which is somewhat similar to a rodeo in the United States.

So, now you know. And I apologize to my Spanish speaking friends from my lousy pronunciation of a beautiful language!     

[OUTRO MUSIC]

And with that y’all, that’s all for this week’s show. And I truly, truly appreciate you riding with me. 

If you’ve enjoyed today’s discussion, please consider subscribing to this podcast so you’ll never miss an episode. It’s easy to do my just clicking that subscribe button or that follow button. And, be sure to check out our website at CowboyAccountant.com, where you can find the show notes, an archive of our past episodes and other cool resources for fans of the American West.

That’s CowboyAccountant.com

Until next time, mis amigo, we’ll see ya down the road.