A Brief History of Frank Hamer

[@Salieri47]

I'm a native Texan. There are still a few a few old school geezers around who refuse to acknowledge the real history of the Texas Rangers. Hamer was around when hard men had to make hard decisions, and the line between right & wrong was blurry and shifted often. I think honest history shows many of our heroes were flawed people, and sometimes bad decisions are justifiable, while other times they are just bad decisions. I like my history warts and all, let the truth be known.

[@AmmoMart]

Very well said, and completely true! My producer Matt has a master's degree in history and we sometimes talk about the lunacy of applying present day morals and standards of behavior to those of even 80 or so years ago. I believe to truly appreciate history you have to have the ability to look at things from their perspective. It's the difference between understanding, and knowing. Anyway, thanks for the view and the awesome comments!

[@eric4232]

Well said Sir!

[@bigwu100]

Amen brother. I want my history true. And true isn't always pretty, but it is true. I didn't like the fact that Clyde was sent to prison for stealing a chicken. As a small man you can imagine rough he had it inside. Those were some rough old joints back in them days. Texas especially. I've done time in midway texas across the river from Eastham prison, at Ferguson prison I was there in the early 80's and it was rough then. So you can imagine in the 20s and 30s. Law enforcement was mostly dictated by who had the money at the time. And sorry to say that made law enforcement basically murder for hire. Killers deserve what ever they get. As far as retribution goes. Don't pity no killers. Regardless. Because their Killin ways. Hamer was paid to kill and kill he did. He had blood on his hands and sometimes it was innocent blood. So by all rights he was no better than the animals he hunted. A modern day Tom Horn.

[@michaelslater6839]

Very well said indeed. However, I would add that Everyone who ever lived is or was, a “Flawed” person.

[@deaddocreallydeaddoc5244]

I agree. However, the problem of the historian today, the true historian, is the cherry-picking of warts and revising history to say it was all evil for political uses.

[@JumperSig]

My Grandfather knew Frank. He said Frank was a good and kind man. He was not a racist, and was kind to people. I was a boy when Frank passed on. I remember him in our house. He took his hat off, as he walked in. That is what I remember. We lived in Midland, Texas.

[@AndyVandy516]

I love the simple format. You didn’t over use superlatives. No click bait title. No forced enthusiasm. Just a great bit of info totally worth hearing. Thank you.

[@RalphKramden-il5pf]

Exactly.

[@dogsoldier0372]

I’m Northern Cheyenne & I don’t see why history would portray Frank Hamer as anything but a tough man who was able to do whatever was necessary to fulfill his duties as a TX Ranger & keep the law abiding citizens of TX safe from the constant & numerous threats Texans faced daily back then. The movie “Conagher” with Sam Elliot has a line “You’re a hard man Conagher” - “It’s a hard country kid”. That sums up the 1800’s & early 1900’s. Regardless of your race back then it was a very hard & dangerous existence.

[@mgee669]

I greatly enjoyed this story. Thank you for keeping these Legends alive. The United States is wealthy with very courageous personalities and they don't get enough credit. Good job!!

[@williamlewis9350]

I'm an 81 year old native Texan. When I was a young man, I started a 25 year career in LE as the only policeman in a small Texas town . At that time the closest help was the Sheriff's Department and it was over a half-hour away. I learned that for all practical day -to-day purposes I did not represent the law, I was the law. I by no means encountered anything like what is talked about in this story, but my early experiences helped/forced me to hone the skills that served me throughout my career. For those that are not old native Texans, I can tell you that if you live outside the metropolitan areas of our State, you can still find that rugged independent spirit still lives.

[@DRPaulk]

Although a dying breed, some of us have survived and ended up in big cities we don't care for. We see hard men there too. They are recognizable by that glint of steel in their gaze and their no-nonsense attitude. That and they go where they will when they choose, even today's gang bangers know them when they see them. If you're a bad man, you recognize these people not as threats but dangerous. If they are vigilant and unafraid of you, you know there's a reason why.

[@greywindLOSP]

Well done sir, thank you! We need a squad of Frank Hamers today!

[@bigwu100]

Oh no we don't. Frank Hamer was a necessary evil at the time. We just need the guts to enforce the laws we got. To all our lawless . Regardless of thier wealth.

[@carycary5824]

Clyde was a ruthless killer and Frank knew this not taking any chances when confronting Bonnie and Clyde. They got what they deserved. Great video. Thanks!!!

[@richardgreen7811]

In 1972 I graduated from General Motors Institute (Flint, Michigan) in the discipline of Business Administration and began a career that continues today. My first geographical assignment as a District Manager was all of West Texas and the Southern half of New Mexico. The geography of my District was from Big Springs, TX to El Paso and from Albuquerque South to the border. My District was bigger than the State of Michigan. There are not enough hours in the day to convey what I saw and what I learned. I did learn quickly that Texas is actually 5 separate states (Texas = Dallas / Ft. Worth - East Texas = Tyler area - Panhandle (obvious) - South Texas = Houston - and West Texas = El Paso to Big Spring. The people continue to be focused, self reliant, and fiercely proud of their heritage. I hold them in deep regard.

[@wallacerose7499]

Flint native here , 49er my father graduated from GMI, Tool&Die GM . GMI now Kettering University! You be interested how that part of flint has evolved ! Thanks for your insight of Texas! Is that where you are from?

[@richardgreen7811]

@@wallacerose7499 Assigned to the Dallas Zone (Buick Division) after graduation. I've kept in touch with Flint. Astounding that, viewing Google Earth Pro, the entirety of the Buick facilities are gone. I worked in the admin. building on my work sessions. I worked briefly in the plants. The Buick compound was over a mile long (North/South) and had its own railroad yard and Electromotive Train Engine. After the OPEC disaster in 1974, I was laid off for 6 months then brought back with Pontiac Division for the balance of my career there (Chicago Zone, then Memphis Zone, then LA Zone, where I resigned in 1987 to go to Toyota). Amazing, is that after being recruited, I immediately found 2 GMI classmates at Toyota.

[@richc767]

Enjoyed this. I did watch the Highway Men. Good research and thank you again

[@maxpinson5002]

I've seen the shooting scene Costner should have had a 38 super 1911 instead of a SAA. Hamer didn't shoot first. The deputy jumped the gun

[@stevemalone2010]

Outstanding story telling, enjoyed!

[@azmaddog6]

My mom's cousin (a female) played cards on regular basis with Frank Hamer. I loved listening to her stories.

[@joebuchanan3808]

Just an excellent video and presentation. Thank you sir, I hope you do more videos like this.

[@TXBassAngler24]

I believe the Revolver that you spoke of that Frank Hamer considered to be the greatest Revolver ever made was a S&W Triple Lock.

[@texaswader]

Glad you caught that. I sort of cringed when he said Remington Triple Lock lol.

[@wccross4147]

I enjoyed this video immensely. Very factual,l and I appreciate how you were able to include the context of how someone of the day handled themselves and their problems.

[@davidmclen3834]

My Grandfather was a Texas Ranger. There is a picture with him, Maney Gault, James Allred (Texas Governor) and about seven other Rangers. This photo was taken in the Governor’s office. For years it hung in the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame Museum in Waco, Texas. I really appreciate your faithful and accurate presentation of the story of Frank Hamer and the Texas Rangers.

[@lawrencelewis1036]

Sir, I must say you speak clear as a bell, and a very good story teller.

[@mineown1861]

There's a tendency to view history through rose tinted glasses , so I appreciate your straightforward relating of Frank's tale . An interesting life , from the wild west to modern America. Thank you.

[@rayb9053]

Awesome! A very well balanced and fair description and analysis. Thank you so much for bringing Frank Hamer to life for me!

[@2140BlackCreek]

Excellent presentation, thank you. In the early 60's I was in college in St. Louis. I worked briefly for a local radio station that had a local personality, a retired St. Louis cop, that would relate stories on an evening radio program. One program he told of when new on the police force in 1935 he was detailed to welcome Frank Hammer at the train station. He was then to escort him to his hotel and make sure to buy him dinner. "Let him order anything he wants," the chief said, "As he has rid us of Bonnie and Clyde". He related that Hammer was a rather quiet man but pleasant to be around. When they get to the restaurant he assures Hammer to order anything he wanted as it was on the St. Louis Police Department. Frank paused in thought then said, "I'd like a slice of lemon meringue pie and a beer." A man of simple tastes.

[@rapidrrobert4333]

Well done sir.

[@327Federal]

Brilliant analysis. Thanks for the info.

[@garyreadler4886]

I really enjoy these historical videos. I have watched the movie several times and enjoyed it. It was interesting how Bonnie and Clyde were viewed by the general public, and In my opinion the media probably had alot to do with that, even without internet. Great job thanks for your work on these videos.

[@markchambers2812]

I’m drawn to learning more about history about this subject, I appreciate you bud 👍

[@hughbo52]

Great story, well told.

[@tscottshea]

You are an excellent story teller. I enjoyed this very much. Thank you!

[@kentuckyjustice1408]

I really liked "The Highwaymen." Very entertaining. I appreciate your interest in this time period and the "activities" in it. Good video! Two thumbs way up from this old Kentucky law man. 👍 God bless the USA! 🇺🇲

[@bgro555]

Great delivery! I want more stories, I cant get enuff of your history lessons. Thanks for this one for sure!

[@mwilkinson5474]

Excellent video. Manos ariba!

[@pauldetimofeev8305]

Hands up 🙌

[@maptinkler]

Great video and well spoken, thank you! After the War Between the States, my great aunt told us that lawlessness in Alabama was purdy much everyone for themselves! She said that her grand parents (my great great grandparents) would travel by ox and wagon to the closest town once a month for supplies. They would only travel in a group or a caravan, due to what they called "the highwaymen" (not related to the movie!) robbing people. The Yankees were in control of law and order during that time of Reconstruction, but often never available, or not concern.

[@bmfilmnut]

I greatly admire Hamer and, in my opinion, he was one of the greatest lawmen, if not THE greatest. That said, there are some minor but surprising errors in this video and one of the most profound events in Hamer's life wasn't even mentioned. Even so, well done and thanks for posting this.

[@sfbfriend]

Excellent Sir, thoroughly enjoyed.

[@eric4232]

I appreciate your vid it is to the point and plain spoken. Thank you.

[@slikrickabn1190]

Quickly becoming a fan of this channel!

[@stevenrafters7817]

Very well done and informative

[@joed7932]

VERY INTERESTING. GREAT SHOW.

[@johnraines4825]

My friend, Bill Patterson, does an excellent job in portraying Frank Hamer in reenactments.

[@ChrisElsasser]

Great Narative and production quality.

[@jeffreybaker4399]

While in the Army, I met a young woman from Texas named Hamer. I asked her if she had ever heard of Frank Hamer. Her, amusing, reply was a very calm, "Yes. He was my great uncle." She did well for a young soldier and, as I heard it, went on to a successful career in the civilian equivalent of our military specialty.

[@flintrichards945]

Smith and Wesson made the triple lock not Remington but still a very interesting video thank you.

[@marciocumpiancumpian2075]

Good afternoon from Brazil. After watching the movie with Kevin Costner, I did some research on KZbin about Franck H. Thank you for sharing your research with us. God bless you and your family.

[@AmmoMart]

I glad you appreciated the video and the movie. Isn't ironic that Bonnie and Clyde will likely live forever in American Folklore, but the good guys remain obscure? I just had a thought, does Brazil have any similar stories? If so, point them out in the comments, I would love to research them. Thanks for watching and see you next week.

[@marciocumpiancumpian2075]

@@AmmoMart It's really incredible how some outlaws become more famous and idolized than the men of the law. In Brazil there are many similar stories, but I think Lampião and Maria Bonita are the most famous.

[@AmmoMart]

Thanks for that information. I will do some research on them. I really appreciate it.

[@maxhengst2252]

I wish more people would know about him. He was the best law enforcement officer in the history of the United States.

[@hankandlefty]

Well done. Look forward to more.

[@cheesenoodles8316]

Great video. Frank Hamer, I believe also known as Pancho.

[@kenycharles8600]

Thank you for this presentation.

[@WillieVET]

If we do not learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it. Great story.

[@KernArms]

Good job! Great video man. Just the way it was in those times.

[@gurugoguzhanson]

Thanks for the fascinating story. I sometime hear the "it was better in the old days" and "people were better in the old days" but my grandparents also told me horror stories from the old days and two world wars, not one but two world wars. I think we are better today and that is how it should be, they wanted us to be better. We just need to be careful of not creating our times horror stories.

[@AmmoMart]

How fitting for everything going on in the world and the country today. I don't think people realize that the standards of behavior we accept today, have only been around for maybe 100 or 125 years. The "good old days" is code for people got away with more. Thanks for the view and I hope you continue to enjoy the channel.

[@Salieri47]

Well said. We live softer lives now, which is normally a good thing.

[@brianquiggle6675]

Outstanding talk. Thank you.

[@joshuawooledge6945]

Thank you for sharing

[@UrsulaPainter]

Thank you for great overview. Frank Hamer was someone who faced his world with a considerable sense of right and wrong and real justice.

[@RANDOMPEPSIBOTTLES]

Highwaymen is a great movie. Watched it and now im engrossed in this era of history. From california.

[@Bravosierra6]

You’re better off in kali. Texas is overrated-pass the word.

[@chuckwestfall9186]

Excellent video! Thank you.

[@robertberryhill4033]

Great show

[@oleboy7615]

I’m a firm believer that “law men” should be able to do whatever it takes to stop bad guys. Obviously, you don’t want the innocent to be harmed, but as far as I’m concerned, once one crosses the line of the law to hurt others they forfeit their rights as law abiding citizens. I have no problem with brutal techniques, or violating the “rights” of violent offenders. Fight fire with fire. The ends do justify the means under these circumstances. Sometimes, no matter what you do, you just cannot “keep the peace”. Sometimes you have to make peace, which is why they named the Colt the “Peacemaker”. No one loves the warrior until the enemy is at the gate. Only hard men can do the things necessary to make peace. Frank Hamer is a legend.

[@layneshinpaugh8653]

Excellent presentation. Very Interesting. All of the great lawmen of that era and the old west had major contradictions. It was called survival.

[@noyfub]

Great Video.

[@althompson2503]

Excellent !

[@1boortzfan]

Sir you are a great storyteller.

[@Copperheadroad1]

to my knowledge Frank Hamer used a model 81 Remington for the Bonnie and Clyde ambush. Remington only sold the gun with a five round detachable box magazine. You could buy 10 and 20 round magazines that were made by the Police Supply Company of Saint Joseph Missouri. Do a search of the police supply company of Saint Joseph MO to learn more. I like you videos. Keep them coming

[@senorboardhead]

Didn’t S&W make the triple lock revolver ?

[@Yelladog78]

Yes it was S&W not Remington

[@Qayoss]

Well done!

[@jazzman5598]

Really fine vid. Thanks

[@BirdDogey1]

I live in Texas Hill Country and recently read Boessenecker's bio on him. Fascinating person. His guns are in the Texas Ranger museum in Waco. A must see.

[@johnraines4825]

Excellent video. Very informative. I've had an interest in the Frank Hamer story. Any book recomendations? I hope that the Costner film will be released on dvd. I don't stream. I really would like to see it.

[@ryanmorris4406]

I live in Snyder and the history of Frank Hamer here is impressive. His wife seemed to have an impressive life before Frank calmed things down. The Johnson ranch, where Frank was intermittently employed, and where he met his wife, is still impressive. The Manhattan hotel still stands. Texas is better off for men of action and conscience, like Mr Hamer, regardless of the attitudes of the eras in which they lived. The book Texas Ranger by Bossenecker is worth reading if you have not already done so.

[@Bobry47]

I am from Roumania,i,m so interested to know more about this Man.thx😊😊😊😊

[@HSmith-uk9hl]

That's an excellent account of Mr. Hamer's life. Very interesting. Perhaps you could so something similar for Tom Three Persons.

[@juliewoods6534]

I enjoyed your report. Some back fill on Texas law enforcement. It was not until the 1970s that Texas required any type of training to be a law man. The car B and C were driving was obviously stolen and as such remained the property of the owner. It took many years for the family to have it returned. My grandpa took my dad and uncle to see the "death car" when they were kids. He said it was all fixed up, painted and shiny. As far as the weapons B and C used almost all were stolen from state National Guard armories. Clyde also was able to fuse together two magazines from a BAR to make the first banana clip.I am a retired LEO and find the history of law enforcement interesting.

[@donnaramage-tc2fg]

One of my personal heroes

[@brendanmcnally9145]

Very Nicely done. But you left out Hamer and Coke Stephenson's showdown with LBJ! Did you read Caro's book? Anyway I really enjoyed your telling and share your fascination with Frank Hamer

[@JamesThomas-gg6il]

The motorized bandots were part of the reason for the NFA along with certain other prohibition era gangs, however you didnt mention the one actual weapon that made the prive of the tax stamp to aquire a machine gun with the treasury depts permission. Funny how money makes it not so dangerous anymore. That was the Thompson submachine gun. Just thought id throw that out there, and the fact that most weren't bought legally by the gangs , either stolen or black market procurement. Same as now, it's not the guns but the criminals. Good job on the video.

[@brianniegemann4788]

True enough, but there is one positive thing about gun registration. It narrows down the list of suspects the police have to investigate. 90% or more of gun owners are law abiding citizens whom the police can safely skip over.

[@JamesThomas-gg6il]

@@brianniegemann4788 then why are they always trying to pass new laws to make us all criminals...all gun laws are unconstitutional.

[@rongarrett1366]

The actor who played the son on "The Danny Thomas Show" was Rusty Hamer from Louisiana.

[@d-rayphelps1630]

One Riot, One Ranger....... I have quite a collection of books about The Texas Rangers. Hamer loved through law enforcement on horseback to automobiles. Imagining the changes that he saw.

[@bullseyedixon5660]

THANK YOU SIR

[@johngrobe1226]

Concur that the movie the highwaymen is worth your time. No better depiction of what it feels to hunt human beings out there.

[@sheerwillsurvival2064]

With every hero they have a dark side and a shining side . It’s part and parcel of the whole

[@LewisSkeeter]

Great video. Thanks. Was it a S & W Triple Lock?

[@sunnysss2489]

These guys were the last of their breed . Hamer Mani and the rest of the Rangers were fearless guys that got shit done . May they rest in peace 🙏

[@walter1932]

Ranger Hamer apparently never forgot the kindness of the Black sharecropper & paid it forward fighting the KKK in Texas. I enjoyed The Highwaymen. I’m surprised a full length movie hasn’t been released on Ranger Hamer.

[@LanceIngram-cg3ej]

There are few men like Frank Hamer then and now. He maintained his humanity during a time that was violent and lawless. Any preconceived notions that I held was dispelled by the truth of his real character. He was a good man during a time when good guy's were at the wrong end of the barrel.

[@jasonashley4579]

My last great uncle passed away in 2020 at 99 years old, he was at the Union Station in Kansas city Missouri the day of the Union Station massacre, he'd take us to see all the bullet holes when we were kids.

[@texaswader]

I thought you did a very good job on your story of Frank Hamer. There is much more about Ranger Hamer that you didn't touch on though. 6th generation Texan.

[@tiredlawdog]

I haven't looked into the Hamer story as thoroughly as you have, but I think the Gov. of Texas Ma Ferguson gave Frank and Gault a highway patrol commission to cover them being las officers. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[@cherjohnson5807]

Thank you

[@Wildkat-1]

Hamer used a Remington model 8 in .35 cal. ..Gault & Alcorn used Rem. model 8 in .35 & .25 cal. Ted Hinton used a B.A.R. ...Prentis Oakly used a Winchester 30-30 model 94....Henderson Jordan used Winchester 1907 .351 cal. ....! Jordan was Beinville Parish Sheriff , he got the tip on where B&C would be on the ambush day..! There was a Dallas FBI agent that helped Hamer !

[@Hotrodford]

You showed the wrong Fairview,Texas on your map. Frank was born in Fairview, in Wilson County Texas south of San Antonio. Fairview in Wilson County was the hometown of twenty-seven Texas peace officers, including twenty Texas Rangers.

[@knight16]

Great video! I really enjoyed it! The only thing I want to say is as far as I can tell He did not buy his BAR the governor let him go and get one from the state armory. I don't know if you could buy one or not but I have also heard that Clide stole his from military stocks

[@brianniegemann4788]

Bonnie and Clyde achieved such notoriety (and popularity) because they robbed banks during the Great Depression, and small-town /rural people hated the banks. The banks were foreclosing on more and more farms, homes and businesses as the Depression got worse. The reason for the disgusting scene at the end of Highwaymen was a form of the celebrity obsession so prevalent today.

[@cwf081166]

In 1934 the average man didn't think about purchasing a Thomson, Colt Monitor or a BAR especially when the were more economical choices in the Sear Roebuck catalog.

[@scarter176]

That’s why all this current day bullshit is happening now .Hamer was just trying to do a tough job in a tough time.

[@Texasrecollections]

You missed a great visual. A few years ago my pardner Russell Cushman, a Hamer fan, created a full size bronze. It is in front of city hall Navasota

[@larryoneal9944]

Fine job. I'm curious. Have you had second thoughts about your tatoos?

[@ComeAndTakeItTX1835]

Bonnie and Clyde went to Eastham to break out Raymond Hamilton. After eventually being caught again, Hamilton escaped death row at Huntsville. Later while on the run in Collin county he and Ralph Fults, kidnapped my great uncle JC as a driver of his ‘34 Ford coupe. They stayed together for a few days, JC running to get food and such. Before they let JC drive away, Raymond gave him a magazine and 30.06 round from a BAR, as a reminder to not live a life of crime. My cousin still has them.

[@jasonaffeldt7838]

KZbin would not let me give your video a thumbs up!! Commies!!! Take care.🇺🇲🌲🔥🔪

[@robertallen6848]

Thank you frank for your service he should have been making 6 figures greatful for your service

[@kenthatfield4287]

You did a great job. And you're right but it wasn't just Texas. the greatest generation is called that for a reason. They had sand.

[@steveharris7323]

Remington Triple Lock?🤔 I am familiar with the S&W Triple Lock.

[@carycary5824]

Back in the 70’s I think, the NRA magazine, The American Rifleman, it stated that Frank Hamer killed with the first shot to Clyde’s head was with a .257 Roberts rifle. I guess this was misinformation. The article was touting the .257 Roberts cartridge.

[@mikedriggers3635]

I believe you meant a S&W triple lock.

[@kennardjohnson7875]

1911 colt and 1895 Winchester.