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This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame is a State-sanctioned monument to commemorate Texas Rangers who made significant contributions to the development of the service or gave their lives in the line of duty under extraordinary circumstances. Inductees are selected by a committee of serving and retired Rangers.
The Museum is planning a celebration dinner in the Fall. More information will be available online and in our future newsletters.
John Knox Memorial Center is celebrating its 15th anniversary of its massive renovation from a bond election. Originally built in the 1980s by the Knox Family, this iconic banquet hall has been rented for weddings, quinceañera, retirements, conferences, fundraisers and so much more.
 Above: Knox Center in 2007 featured barnwood and stone walls but no windows to admire the park grounds.
Below: After the renovation, Knox Center was opened up and a wall of windows added for natural light and panoramic views of the Brazos River.
 Reopened in January 2011, the renovations were highlighted by a new panoramic view of the Brazos River and McLane Stadium. Additional features included surround sound speaker system, outdoor deck, limestone pillars and wood flooring. It is a 6,000 square foot space. We encourage you to check out this affordable and iconic event space.
 As 2026 begins, the Texas Ranger Museum wishes to look back at some of the exciting items that have come through our doors this past year. The New Acquisitions case, located in the front lobby, features items such as a Mauser M1932 Schnellfeuer pistol, a baseball card for Texas Ranger first baseman Nathaniel Lowe from the 2023 World Series, and a knife owned by Texas Ranger Clayton McKinney. We wish to thank our dedicated donors for helping to preserve Ranger history and ensure there is always something new at the Texas Ranger Museum.
 Over the course of two weeks, the Museum collected gifts and non-perishable food for Meals on Wheels Waco for its 15th annual "Big Texas Christmas Present" gift drive. Guests could drop a donation in exchange for admission to the Museum. We are amazed at the generosity of our community. We received many blankets and cozy socks, jigsaw puzzles, warm coats, canned goods, pet supplies and so much more! Meals on Wheels Waco brings hot lunches to 1,500 homebound seniors in the area and these gifts will be a treasured addition to their holiday meal.
On December 12th, the Waco District leaders from across the region gathered at the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum for the Family Investigations and Alternative Response Challenge Coin Ceremony.
 This ceremony recognized outstanding service, leadership, and dedication from those who work every day to protect and support Texas families and communities. Each challenge coin represents trust earned, responsibility carried, and a commitment to service beyond the spotlight.
We were honored to witness these moments of recognition and to celebrate the people who make a lasting difference through their work. Congratulations to all who were recognized.
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RETIRED TEXAS RANGER
Salvador “Sal” Barrera Abreo
September 12, 1955 – December 9, 2025
Ranger Service 1994-2007
Salvador Barrera Abreo passed away on December 9, 2025. Salvador, lovingly known as Sal, was born in Big Spring, Texas on September 12, 1955. From a young age, Salvador dreamed of becoming a Texas State Trooper.
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In 1979, he joined the Texas Department of Public Safety as a trooper after completing the Texas DPS Academy. He continued to advance his education, earning a degree in criminal justice from the University of Texas El Paso in 1989, becoming the first member of his family to graduate from college—a milestone that brought him lasting pride.
Following his early success as a trooper, Salvador was promoted to Sergeant Investigator within the Narcotics Division in 1986. This period included some of the most memorable and thrilling years of his career. In 1994, Salvador was selected to serve in the Texas Ranger division.
Abreo was an investigator on the infamously unsolved Austin yogurt shop murders, where four teenage girls were brutally murdered in a North Austin yogurt shop in 1991. He received a Director's Citation for his participation in the taskforce that solved the murder cases, which had been unsolved for eight years. He spent 28 years in DPS, retiring from the Rangers in 2007. Abreo served as Bastrop County Constable from 2016 to 2019.
Last year, the Museum joined the newly formed "Library and Cultural Enrichment" division of the City of Waco. This year, the new Bledsoe-Miller STEAM Center will open under the division and leadership of our Executive Director Roberto Zapata.
 Join us on Friday, January 16, 2026, at 10:00 am as we celebrate the ribbon-cutting of the Bledsoe-Miller STEAM Center! The event also will feature a brief program, building tours and refreshments. Parking is limited so complimentary shuttles are available from Heritage Square.
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