Joaquin Jackson

Legendary former Texas Ranger Joaquin Jackson, 80 died Wednesday, June 15, 2016 at his home in Alpine, Texas after a short but courageous battle with cancer.

Jackson served 27 years as a Ranger in Uvalde and Alpine, Texas. When he retired in 2003, he was the senior member of the elite force. Established in 1823, the Texas Rangers are the oldest statewide law enforcement agency in the United States.

"Joaquin Jackson was a legendary lawman and one of the most famous Texas Rangers of the twentieth century," said Jackson friend, actor Robert Duvall. Duvall played Ranger Captain Augustus McCrae in the classis series Lonesome Dove.

In 2005, Jackson published his memoir, One Ranger. The book became a bestseller and for the next 10 years he had a successful career as a public speaker.

Over the years, Jackson appeared in numerous motion pictures, including The Good Ol' Boys with fellow Texan Tommy Lee Jones. Jackson was also the model for Nick Nolte's character in the motion picture Extreme Prejudice. Jeff Bridges also modeled his Texas Ranger character in the upcoming movie, Hell or High Water on Jackson.

Joaquin Jackson was born in 1935 in Anton, Texas. He attended Texas Tech University and was a graduate of Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. He served in the United States Marine Corps prior to embarking on a career in law enforcement.

Jackson was a longtime director of the National Rifle Association, a member of the Screen Actors Guild, numerous law enforcement organizations, and he was a member of the Masonic Lodge. He is survived by his wife Jewel, three grown children and four grandchildren. His son, Lance Jackson followed his father into law enforcement and currently serves as a major in the United Stares Border Patrol.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 25, 2016 at 1:00 p.m. at the Pete P. Gallego Center at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Sul Ross State University or the Former Texas Rangers Foundation.

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