WWHA News

Texas Ranger L.R. Hughes Receives Ranger Cross

6/5/2010

Memorial Day 2010 was a fitting day for the dedication of a Texas Ranger cross at the grave of L.R. Hughes, a member of Company E of the Frontier Battalion. Lorenzo R. "Lowe" Hughes was an Alabama native who joined the command of Lt. N.O. Reynolds as a private in 1878. He had achieved the rank of corporal when receiving his honorable discharge on August 31, 1880. He chose love over duty as he married young Elizabeth Belle Mason shortly thereafter. Sadly the twenty-eight-year-old Hughes died of unknown causes on January 26, 1881 and was buried in the Bagdad Cemetery near Leander, Texas.

Former Texas Ranger Jim Gant of Georgetown Texas told the audience about the Former Texas Rangers Association at the L.R. Hughes Ranger Cross dedication.

WWHA member Chuck Parsons shared briefly the history of the Frontier Battalion and the role of L.R. Hughes as a Ranger.

The Ranger Memorial Cross was sponsored by the Former Texas Ranger Association (FTRA) and the Martin Wells Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT). Karen Thompson, DRT State Historian, did much of the work arranging the program. Thompson opened the program with some remarks about the effort to mark the graves of Texas Rangers. Alan W. Ford, a family member, provided information about the family followed by Jim Gant, a retired Texas Ranger. WWHA member Chuck Parsons spoke briefly about the Frontier Battalion and shared what little is known about Ranger L.R. Hughes. The program included a rendition of "Amazing Grace" by Lila Aud of the Leander Presbyterian Church and the Ranger prayer by Gant.

Among the nearly fifty in attendance were WWHA members Harold J. Weiss of Leander, Doug and Stacie Dukes of Liberty Hill, Candice DuCoin of Round Rock, Pat Parsons of Luling. Following the conclusion of the dedication program a reception was held at the home of Karen R. and David L. Thompson in Leander.

Chuck Parsons