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Frank Hamer: Del Rio Ranger and the End of Bonnie & Clyde

Before Frank Hamer became the Ranger who brought down Bonnie and Clyde, he cut his teeth in the rough border town of Del Rio, Texas. Back in the early 1900s, Del Rio was wild country — smugglers crossed the Rio Grande under moonlight, cattle rustlers drifted through the brush country, and a lawman had to be tough enough to stare down trouble without blinking.

Young Frank Hamer fit the bill.

Joining the Texas Rangers in 1906, Hamer quickly earned a reputation as a hard-riding Ranger who could track a man across rock, dust, and thorn scrub like a Comanche scout. One of his first deadly encounters came near Del Rio when he faced outlaw Ed Putnam in a gunfight, cementing Hamer’s reputation as a fearless border Ranger.

The lessons he learned in Val Verde County stayed with him for life — patience, tracking, and knowing the habits of desperate men.

Years later, when Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow tore across the Southwest robbing banks and killing lawmen, Texas turned once again to Frank Hamer. Calm and methodical, Hamer tracked the outlaw couple for more than 100 days across dusty backroads and small towns.

On May 23, 1934, near Gibsland, Louisiana, Hamer and his posse waited along a lonely roadside beneath the pines. When Bonnie and Clyde rolled into the ambush in their stolen Ford V-8, the long chase came to a violent end.

To this day, Frank Hamer remains one of the most legendary Texas Rangers ever to pin on a badge — and part of that legend was born right along the rugged banks of the Rio Grande in Del Rio, Texas.

Today we remembered and honored those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom. The American GI Forum Women’s Chapter, in conjunction with Queens for a Cause, proudly hosted the Memorial Day Wreath Throw Ceremony as we paid tribute to the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
Serving as Mistress of Ceremonies was City Councilwoman Carmen Gutierrez also a member of the American GI Forum Women’s Chapter. American GI Forum Women’s Chapter members Tina Martinez, Mary Mota, and yours in service, Claudia Lopez Cruz, were joined by former City Councilman Jesse Lopez, Trail Life Boys Scouts Troop, Bea Vallejo, Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez, Judge Sergio Gonzalez, and Mayor Alvaro Arreola as the community gathered to honor our fallen heroes.
A special thank you to Lil Miss Val Verde / Tiny Miss 4th of July Marie Nope, Lil Miss 5 de Mayo Yuliana Martinez, and Lil Miss 4th of July Levea Long for proudly attending and representing Queens for a Cause.
Thank you as well to DJ Sammy for providing the sound system and helping make this meaningful ceremony possible. 🇺🇸