Former Texas Ranger Haynie Joaquin Jackson, 80, of Alpine, formerly of Uvalde, died on June 15, 2016, of cancer at his home. A memorial service will be held on June 25 at 1 p.m. at the Pete P. Gallego Center at Sul Ross State University in Alpine. Jackson was born on Nov. 12, 1935, in Anton to Virah Alice (Jones) and James Holcomb Jackson. He attended Texas Tech University and graduated from Sul Ross State University in Alpine. He served in the United States Marine Corps prior to embarking on a career in law enforcement. He graduated with the 29th Highway Patrol school in 1957, which Jackson noted was the last school trained on motorcycles. He drove a 1937 Harley Davidson flathead motorcycle, with a difficult clutch. Jackson served 27 years as a Ranger, largely stationed in Uvalde and Alpine. When he retired in 1993, he was a senior member of the elite force. Established in 1823, the Texas Rangers are the oldest statewide law enforcement agency in the United States. The retired Texas Ranger made a notable appearance on the February 1994 cover of Texas Monthly magazine, in an article entitled “The Twilight of The Texas Rangers” posing in an iconic photo representing Texas Rangers. Jackson helped launch the early career of Sabinalborn singer Johnny Rodriguez by introducing him to music promoter Happy Shahan. Jackson was married to a professional singer, the late Shirley Jackson, who died in February of 2012. Jackson appeared in numerous motion pictures, including “The Good Old Boys” directed by fellow Texan Tommy Lee Jones; Jackson played Sheriff Wes Wheeler. The Joaquin Jackson Texas Ranger Facebook page states that actor Nick Nolte, after spending time with Jackson, reportedly modeled his role after him in the movie “Extreme Prejudice,” and Jeff Bridges also modeled his Texas Ranger character in the upcoming movie, “Hell or High Water” on Jackson. “Joaquin Jackson was a legendary lawman and one of the most famous Texas Rangers of the twentieth century,” said Jackson’s friend, actor Robert Duvall, according to a quote listed on the Facebook page Joaquin Jackson Texas Ranger. Duvall played Ranger Captain Augustus McCrae in the classic series Lonesome Dove. In 2005, Jackson published his memoir, One Ranger, which became a bestseller. For 10 years, he had a successful career as a public speaker. 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 Jackson, three grown children; and four grandchildren. One son, Lance Jackson, followed his father into law enforcement and currently serves in the United States Border Patrol. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Sul Ross State University, www.sulross.edu/giving and click “give online”, or the Former Texas Rangers Foundation, Texas Rangers Heritage Center, www.trhc.org/giving.html.
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