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Major Wende Wakeman (left) is the first female Texas Ranger Major in the department's history. In this interview she discusses her career with Texas DPS, her role as Major of Company "F" and the unique friendships she has made along the way.
 Ranger Nicole Martin (right) began her career in law enforcement in St. Louis, Missouri. She completed the Texas DPS Fitness Institute and as of March 2024, is the only woman in DPS to earn the prestigious “Titan” award. Martin is also certified as an advanced EMT.
Discovering the Legend television series is a partnership project between TRHFM and City of Waco’s Communications and Marketing Division. The show airs on MyWacoTV and TV stations across Texas.
Over the summer, the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame had a wonderful intern from the Baylor University Museum Studies program. Katherine Dulevitz worked with our Exhibits Committee to develop, write, and install a new exhibit in our Morris Gallery (left). Cloak, Dagger, and Dynamite: The Fence Cutting Wars (1883-1888) covers the clash between landowners and ranchers as the use of barbed wire increased and the availability of water decreased.
 During her time at the museum, Katherine also helped to install an exhibit about Texas Ranger pulp fiction novels and the art that made them iconic (right). These posters were created for the 2023 Texas Ranger Bicentennial and were on display during the Texas State Fair. After the exhibit closed, the Texas Ranger Association Foundation donated the posters.
We are excited to continue to grow our relationship with Baylor’s Museum Studies program and look forward to working with their fantastic students again in the future. Thank you, Katherine!
 On Friday August 1st, Christine Rothenbush, Marketing and Development Specialist, was invited to sit down for a one-on-one live interview on the Zack Owen Show. Guest host Terry Hunt filled in for Zack. Together they discussed various aspects of the museum from upcoming activities and events, to exhibit updates and important collections artifacts, to researching Ranger history and family legacies, and more.
"Zack & Jim" was a popular morning radio show on the Waco-100 country station, hosted by Zack Owen and Jim Cody for 30 years. Now the legendary radio host brings his talents to YouTube. The show runs Monday through Friday from 8am to 10am CST at The Backyard Bar and Grill in Waco.
 Audrey Ladd, Operations Manager, spoke to Bryan Noon Lions Club about the history of the Texas Rangers. Along with telling the story of the Texas Rangers, Audrey brought some of the items from the museum collection. The items included replicas of the various guns used by the Rangers, surveying equipment the Rangers used when mapping the territories, and different Ranger badges, some of which were made from Mexican coins.
Founded in 1923, Bryan Noon Lions Club is located in Bryan, Texas.
Corey Lain (left) has been promoted to region chief of the Northwest Region. Lain began his DPS career in 2000 as a Texas Highway Patrol Trooper in Archer and Wichita counties. In 2009, he joined the Texas Rangers Division and was promoted to lieutenant in 2013. He later served as major of Company “F” in 2017. Before his current assignment, Lain served as assistant chief of the Texas Rangers Division. Lain is a graduate of DPS Command College Cohort 2 and the FBI National Academy (Class 274), and he currently serves as vice president of the Texas Chapter of the FBI National Academy Association. He also holds a Master Peace Officer certification.
 Jason Bobo (right) has been promoted to Assistant Chief of the Texas Rangers Division. Bobo began his career with DPS in 1999 as a Highway Patrol Trooper. He worked in both narcotics and auto theft investigations. In 2010, Bobo joined the Texas Rangers, where he has since served in a variety of leadership and investigative capacities. He previously served as the Team Leader for Company “F” Crime Scene Team and was a long-standing member of the Texas Rangers Major Crime Scene Investigation Team and the division’s Crime Scene Working Group. He contributed to statewide training, policy development and the implementation of advanced investigative techniques. Bobo is a certified crime scene investigator through the International Association for Identification and a graduate of the University of Tennessee’s National Forensic Academy.
 The Texas Ranger Museum was privileged to support the annual Mayor’s Summer Reading Challenge. This year’s challenge took place during June and July at all Waco-McLennan County Libraries. The challenge encouraged readers of all ages to log their daily reading, earn prizes, and discover the joy of reading all summer long. The challenge had a total of 4,168 registered participants, with 910 children achieving the 30-day prize to receive passes to the museum and learn about the history of the Texas Rangers.
Other sponsors for the Mayor’s Reading Challenge included Hawaiian Falls Waterparks, Main Event, the Friends of the Waco-McLennan County Library, and H-E-B.
It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of retired Texas Ranger Joseph Brantley Foster (left) on August 13th at the age of 81 years old. Born in Holland on October 12, 1943, Brantley joined DPS in 1965 where he served as both a trooper and narcotics officer. He promoted to Ranger in 1978 and was stationed in Mount Pleasant with Company “B.” Sergeant Foster specialized in both SWAT and Sniper duties. Retiring in 1993, Brantley’s dedication and contributions will always be remembered and celebrated.
 Please join us in remembering Lisa Anne Brooks (right) who passed away on Friday, August 22, her 63rd birthday. Lisa began her career with TRHFM as a part-time Customer Service Representative in 1978 working at the admissions desk. She was promoted to Visitor Services Manager, where she headed both admissions and gift shop for most of her 40+ year career. She retired in August 2022 to spend time with her grandchildren. Thank you, Lisa, your impact on the museum will outlast your years of service.
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