Frank Hamer – Stopping Bonnie & Clyde – Legends of America
Okay, buckle up, because we’re about to dive into the wild life of a true Texas legend: Frank Hamer. This guy wasn’t just your average lawman; he was the real deal. A Texas Ranger through and through, Hamer’s name is forever etched in history as the man who finally brought the infamous Bonnie and Clyde to justice. But there’s way more to his story than just that one famous takedown.
From Ranch Hand to Ranger
Born Francis Augustus Hamer (pronounced "Hay-mer," by the way) on March 17, 1884, in Fairview, Texas, Frank grew up in a big family on a ranch. His early life was all about hard work, wrangling calves, and learning the ropes around his dad’s blacksmith shop. But young Frank had a thirst for knowledge too. He was fascinated by Texas history, especially the stories of the Texas Rangers and the Native American tribes who called the land home.
Now, here’s where the story takes a turn. At just 16 years old, Hamer found himself in a situation that would change his life forever. He and his brother Harrison were working for a rancher named Dan McSwain. McSwain, knowing Frank’s skill with a gun, casually asked him if he wanted to make some extra cash—$150, to be exact—by "solving" a problem he was having with another rancher.
Frank, thinking it was a joke, quipped, "Who do I have to kill?" Turns out, McSwain was dead serious. Hamer quickly realized the gravity of the situation and told McSwain he wasn’t interested in killing anyone. McSwain’s response? A chilling threat: "If you let one word of this out, I’ll kill you!"
A couple of days later, while Frank and Harrison were plowing a field, McSwain ambushed them. He shot Frank in the back and head with a shotgun. Despite being wounded, Frank managed to draw his pistol and return fire, hitting McSwain. Both survived the initial encounter, but the stage was set for a showdown.
After recovering from his injuries (and carrying some buckshot in his back for the rest of his life!), Hamer confronted McSwain. The confrontation ended with McSwain dead.
Life on the Pecos and a Budding Lawman
In 1901, Frank and Harrison moved to Sheffield, Texas, and started working as wranglers on the Pecos Ranch, owned by Barry Ketchum. Barry was the brother of the notorious outlaw Tom "Black Jack" Ketchum.
By 1905, Frank was a cowboy on the Carr Ranch. He volunteered to help the local sheriff, Dud Barker, catch a horse thief. Sheriff Barker was so impressed with Frank’s skills that he recommended him to the Texas Adjutant General, saying he’d make an excellent Texas Ranger.
Becoming a Texas Ranger
Sure enough, on April 21, 1906, 22-year-old Frank Hamer officially became a Texas Ranger. He was assigned to patrol the border in South Texas. Hamer and his brothers upheld the laws of Texas. His older brother Estelle and younger brothers Harrison and Flavus also became Rangers.
Taming a Boomtown and Beyond
After a stint with the Rangers, Hamer took on the challenge of becoming the City Marshal in Navasota, Texas. This wasn’t your typical sleepy town; Navasota was an oil boomtown overflowing with violence and crime. Shootouts were a daily occurrence, and lawmen didn’t last long, often bought off or intimidated. But Hamer was different. He cleaned up the town.
From Navasota, Hamer went on to work as a special investigator for the mayor of Houston, a deputy sheriff in Kimble County, and then back to the Texas Rangers. He spent time patrolling the Rio Grande border, dealing with everything from smugglers and bootleggers to bandits. He even worked for the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.
Family Life and Close Calls
Hamer wasn’t just a tough lawman; he also had a personal life. In 1917, at 33, he married Gladys Johnson Sims, a widow with two daughters. Together, they had two sons, Frank Jr. and Billy. Their marriage wasn’t without its drama. Gladys and her brother had been accused (but never convicted) of murdering her late husband. The Hamers were ambushed by Gus McMeans, a relative of the slain ex-husband. Hamer was wounded, but he shot McMeans through the heart.
Battling Bootleggers and the Klan
During the Prohibition era, Hamer worked as a federal agent, trying to stop bootleggers from bringing illegal liquor into the United States. He was involved in numerous raids and shootouts. After Prohibition, he rejoined the Texas Rangers and was stationed in Austin.
Starting in 1922, Hamer led the fight against the Ku Klux Klan in Texas. He’s credited with saving 15 people from lynch mobs throughout his career.
He exposed the Texas Bankers’ Association “reward ring” for dead bank robbers, which resulted in innocent people being killed to collect the reward.
The Sherman Riot
In 1930, Hamer and a handful of Rangers were tasked with protecting the trial of a black rape suspect, George Hughes, in Sherman, Texas. When a lynch mob attacked the courthouse, Hamer shot and wounded two mob members. The mob burned the courthouse and used dynamite to blow open the cell where Hughes was held. Hamer and the other lawmen escaped, leaving Hughes to be killed by the mob.
The Hunt for Bonnie and Clyde
In 1934, Hamer was hired as a special investigator for the Texas prison system to track down Bonnie and Clyde. The infamous outlaws had been terrorizing the country, killing law enforcement officers and civilians alike. Their crimes were generating huge media attention, embarrassing officials across multiple states.
The Texas prison system got involved after the Barrow Gang broke into the Eastham Prison Farm and freed several inmates. During the escape, two guards were shot, one fatally. Texas prison administrator Lee Simmons hired Frank Hamer to restore the prison system’s reputation.
Hamer joined forces with retired Texas Ranger Maney Gault and began studying the gang’s movements. He figured out that they moved in a circle around Dallas, Joplin, and northwest Louisiana, staying close to state lines. Hamer knew that Clyde wouldn’t be taken alive and that he’d have to use deadly force to stop them.
After a three-month search, Hamer and a team of Texas and Louisiana law enforcement officers ambushed Bonnie and Clyde on a rural road near Gibsland, Louisiana, on May 23, 1934. The posse unleashed a barrage of gunfire, killing the outlaws in a hail of bullets.
Life After Bonnie and Clyde
The killing of Bonnie and Clyde made headlines across the nation. Hamer was praised for his role in bringing them down. However, he shied away from the attention, refusing interviews and even skipping a "Hamer-Gault Hero Day" celebration in Austin.
Afterward, Hamer worked for various oil companies and shippers, helping prevent strikes and breaking up mobs. He even returned to Ranger duty briefly in 1948 to help monitor election returns in a U.S. Senate race.
A Lasting Legacy
Frank Hamer retired in 1949 and lived in Austin until his death on July 10, 1955, at the age of 71. He was buried near his son Billy in Memorial Park Cemetery in Austin.
Throughout his career, Hamer was reportedly involved in over 50 gunfights. He was wounded 17 times and left for dead four times. He’s credited with killing between 53 and 70 people.
Frank Hamer was inducted into the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame, solidifying his place as a true legend of the Lone Star State.
Frank Hamer wasn’t just a lawman; he was a force of nature. He was a symbol of courage, toughness, and unwavering dedication to justice. His story is a reminder of a bygone era, a time when the line between right and wrong was often blurred, and it took a special kind of person to stand up and make a difference.