Texas Ranger Statue

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Texas Ranger Statue

Topic Author: Gordon Collier

Posted: 3:23 PM Jan 25, 2008

Replies Posted: 22 comments

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Texas Ranger Statue

It looks like plans for the Ranger statue that would have been built at the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum are all but dead in the water. I think that's a shame. It seems that anytime anyone comes up with an idea that's even slightly out of the ordinary there's no shortage of nay-sayers ready jump up and down and kick and scream until that idea is abandoned. That's Waco. This is nothing new. Remember the plans for a new coliseum and fair grounds...remember the water park on the river???

Here's some of the arguments that I've heard against the statue.

1. It would RUIN Waco's image.- Are you kidding me???? Ask anyone from outside of Waco what they think of Waco and what do you hear???? Branch Davidians....Basketball player murder...ring a bell??? Here's another one...

2. It'll just be a giant Grackle roost.- Oh, that makes sense. Birds might land on it so lets not build it. What's the next step? Cutting down all the trees in Waco. Grackles seem to be fond of them too. One more.

3. It'll make Waco a laughing stock.- Oh yea, like the row of defaced Cadillac made Amarillo a laughing stock. And the Sam Houston statue made Huntsville a laughing stock. And the giant giraffe and gorilla made Dallas a laughing stock.

Here's what the statue would have done, in my humble opinion. There's little doubt that at the very least, it would increased traffic at the Ranger Museum. I don't pretend to be a tourism expert but I would think that what's good for tourism at the Ranger Museum is good for tourism at the Dr Pepper museum, and the Cameron Park Zoo and the River walk. Oh, that's right, we don't really have much of a river walk. Why is that? I think it's because there are very few people in this town who are willing to chance and do something different. Probably because they're tired of getting smacked down every time they even suggest something out of the ordinary. Waco and Austin were very similar in size at one time. One of the reason I believe Austin has grown and prospered is because a long time ago the people of Austin decided that they weren't afraid of being different. They embraced change. The weren't afraid to think outside the box. They weren't afraid to be Austin. Now I'm not saying that I like Austin better. Far from it. I love Waco. That's why I live here. But I wouldn't mind seeing Waco prosper, maybe even grow a little bit. I'd like to see our tourism industry flourish. I'd like to see business thrive and more higher paying jobs come to town. The people of Waco deserve that. I'd like the heart of the city to reflect success and confidence. I'd like to see a thriving area along the banks of the Brazos. I think the Brazos Bell speaks volumes about what's actually going on down along the river. Sink...sank...sunk. Just like the plans for the Ranger statue.

Posted by: judy Location: Harker Heights
If we had such a problem with one statue,then I wonder if they ahd the same one when they put thatbig star in the middle of Lasaul street. you know the one that is hard to go around in heavy traffic.

Posted by: Ron Location: Waco
Judy. When the traffic circle was originally built I-35 did not exist. That was the one spot in Waco where Highway 77, Highway 6 (now known as Valley Mills Drive), and the old Dallas Highway (including LaSalle Avenue) met. As was the practice back then a circle was put in to control traffic rather than lights. Unfortunately, they put a huge tall pile of dirt in the middle where you could not see the traffic on the other side. Several years ago the State was going to remove the circle and install traffic lights. Yes, Waco did protest its removal (Save the Circle T-Shirts, etc). The State instead removed that big pile of dirt and replaced it with the Star of Texas, landscaped it, and changed the traffic flow. Now you can see across the circle and better judge the traffic flow. Yes, the protest that time was to remove something too tall and make it more architectually and visually correct by making it shorter. That is my take on it. Anyone else want to comment?

Posted by: judy Location: Harker Heights
Hey Gordon, here is something new to write about. What is the meaning behind the circle in Waco.,on LaSaul Street, and why is there a big star in the middle ? I have always wondered about this.I was also wondering if the made a fuss about it back then like they did about the statue? Thanks a big fan

Posted by: Rev. Bruce Boughton Location: Bellmead
Gordon, Fisr read what I put on Julies Blog about the drivers and I am glad that you both were ok. and about the statue I think all the city wants to do is let them idiots go all through the city, county and trim trees from the electric companies ruin our trees and leave big holes in them but that is supose to make Waco Beauiful.....Go Figure.....

Posted by: Ted J Helm Location: West
SO WHAT!! If the head stones of 100 year old graves where moved with out the bones. Does anyone really think the bones care? Does anyone really think there are any families up set that the graves where covered over 40 years ago? WACO is so dumb! (city Counsel) The People of Waco need to wake up and tell the City Counsel to brig in business and Tourist not run it off. i.e. the Ranger Statue-? I just came back form seeing the Sam Houston Statue Wow! People where all around and do you know what people all around mean? TAX REVENUE and what do you do with TAX REVENUE? Roads, Parks, City service County Service's Pay rise for Teachers and Police better Schools and on and on. Development on I 35 between West and Waco Will bring in MILLOINS in taxes WAKE UP PEOPLE

Posted by: OGRE Location: Copperas Cove
I don't have any clue whether a 68 foot statue would do much for Waco tourism, But I do know that Ft Fisher is the home of the Texas Ranger Museum. The Texas Rangers are the most respected law enforcement agency in the world and are welcomed in places in the world where even the FBI has trouble sending people. I assert that they are deserving of such an homage, even though their professionalism and quiet pride of accomplishment would tend to shy away from such an honor. I know a couple of Texas Rangers and they really don't care for that kind of attention.

Posted by: Kristi Location: Waco
Gordon, I couldn't agree with you more--not about the statue specifically (honestly, I've never given it much thought), but about your general assertion that Wacoans are very closed-minded. I find this to be true in my everyday work as an interior decorator. I find that, in general, Wacoans are very afraid of new ideas and things that are "outside of the box", so to speak. This has been a major frustration of mine in my own business. I find that this mindset, on a broader scale, has held us back as a city, and has stood in the way of progress. I'm not sure what the answer is, but like you, I love Waco, and would very much like to see it grow and prosper. This city has so much potential.

Posted by: Ron Smith I think the idea would be great forWaco. If the nit-pickers who would kick this gift horse in the mouth, WHY haven't they did somethiung about the disgracefull Brazos Queen sunk across from the Fort Fisher site. Too many things get sent down the road to Temple because of this old money politics that control Waco. Hell yes I'm for it

Posted by: J Wright Location: Waco Texas
Do people think the Texas Rangers burned down the Branch Devidians? I thought it was the FBI with help with DEA. I know the Texas Rangers have a lot of history. That history paved the way for the life we have today. I ask you would you put a big statue of a police officer with a gun on? The Rangers are no different. Think about it! Thank You, Jim

Posted by: Lon Location: Waco
Gordon: I am so glad you put a blog about the ongoing problems with Waco. It was an act of Congress just to get a Hooters in Waco.(Act of the Hooters' attorneys) It is going to take alot of respected citizens(Like you and the news cast) of Waco to speak out against the Baylor,etc monopoly. We need more people willing to speak out against the politics running Waco. The lack of growth is ridiculous. I don't want to live in a town that is thought of as a bunch of crazy narrow minded hicks.

Posted by: Edward Location: Killeen
There is NO Blog for Robyn Kriel, so Gordon please tell her I think she is one of the best additions to KWTX in a long time. I have been watching KWTX for longer than I care to admit and your teams are the BEST!

Posted by: Sic em Bears Why not a statue of some Baylor Footballs coaches tipping a few cold ones back at Scruffy Murphys? You left that little news flash out of your blog. Maybe some lady bears holding a "j". Lots of good ideas here. Just lock your cars anywhere downtown near IH-35

Posted by: joe Location: lacy lakeview
ok, well the giant giraffe in oak cliff scared the pooh out of me the first time i saw it - not cause i thought it was real or anything stupid like that - it was just so awe inspiring and so friggin big - i almost ran into the guy next to me - so, i saw no giant statues along the interstate -

Posted by: Tony Location: Waco
Chris, I'm not sure how a Texas Ranger would be undignified by a 68' statue in their honor!?! Was Sam Houston undignified? AND, what is so wrong with "HOLDING A GUN"...are firearms not still a tool for the Rangers to continue "apprehending wanted felons; suppressing major disturbances; the protection of life and property; and rendering assistance to local law enforcement officials in suppressing crime and violence"? AND, are we (citizens of the U.S.) not still protected by the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. Constitution to "keep are bear arms"???

Posted by: Chris Location: Waco
Let me get this right? You say people would have thought of Waco as "Ranger City?" I doubt it. They would take what they know about the Branch Davidian tragedy and then add "home of the 70-ft gun-toting statue". Then we would be known as the "Crazy city who wants to make people forget about the Davidians so they built a 70-ft tall concrete grackle roost downtown - THAT IS HOLDING A GUN!" You have got to be kidding. Respect the dignity of the Rangers - don't be goofy.

Posted by: Tony Location: Waco
I guess we'll never know the impact...the statue has officially been rejected! Too bad for Waco and citizens like myself that wanted the statue. I guess the Grackles will have to stay in the trees and continue to defecate all over everybody's vehicle that dares to park in an attempt to find shade.

Posted by: Ruth Location: Waco
I Think the statue is a Great Idea! Waco is Proud of the Ranger Hall of Fame being in our Town and would like it. I would like for one of your reporters go to Huntsville, Tx especially at night and Look at the Huge Statue of Sam Houston,with its bright lights shinning on it.It is beautiful and is right on the side of the interstate. I love going through Huntsville, just to see that statue. You have to love your city as much as I do I guess to understand.

Posted by: mikey Location: in the country
Ron hit the nail right on the head. I say animate the statue. Have him placed closer to the river, twist, bend over a little, and throw up in the river. Thats what the rest of the world thinks about Waco. Then on the other hand if the folks at Buzzard Billys were real Cajuns they could whip up a recipe for grackle. That could feed the growing homeless population of downtown. Thanks to several organizations, Waco has become the homeless capitol of Texas. We have the burned down buildings and wine and 40oz. bottles to prove it.

Posted by: Escapewaco I grew up in Waco and had moved away then back home again. When people ever gave me a hard time about being from here I always had an answer, " I have an excuse for being different, whats yours". For those who talk Grackles, whats their natural preditor, should we put some in place? When compared to Dallas or Austin, we Wacoans get from one side of town to the other in about 15 min. What's the hurry? It's a lot cheaper to live here, we are about 100 miles north or south the larger cities. We really have it good here and a large Texas Ranger would not hurt a thing. We are not the big cities, we are Waco. It's home. Lets show the travlers who we really are. We could work on the music scene a little.

Posted by: Bill Location: Waco
Gordon: Please don't say the staue is dead yet. Watch the Waco City Council meeting in eight days.

Posted by: Ron Location: Waco
1. That is why everyone in Waco is so sensitive about this statue. We have been smacked down by the news media with so much negative publicity, that no one wants to add another ding to the city's reputation. 2. Waco has already tried to cut down all the trees in town. Remember what Midway park used to look like before the city mowed down every tree on the hills? 3. I agree with Keith Cavey, but what you don't have with Amarillo, Huntsville, and Dallas is all the unfair and unwarranted negative publicity this city has received. I am Waco born, raised, and will die here with ALICO still being the tallest building in town. I want to see Waoo grow too, but the big money families and Baylor want to keep Waco small and irrelevant. It has been that way since the depression. When that changes, Waco will change. Risk takers? The Waco City Council and manager don't want that. When they turn I-35 into pay HOV lanes, who will stop anyway?

Posted by: Keith Cavey Location: Waco
I especially have to agree with you on #1, Gordon... when I was on vacation recently, the first question I was always asked when I told people I was from Waco was, "Do you run into any Branch Davidians down there?" I swear, it happened every single time I introduced myself. I don't think a Ranger statue could possibly ruin the city's image any worse than it already is.