Ira Aten left this world in 1953, aged ninety years. In that time he had been a sheriff, range detective, ranch manager (of the XIT), and political leader. He even spent some time picking cotton. But from the time he took the Ranger oath, before his twenty-first birthday, it was as a Texas Ranger that Ira Aten saw himself, and it was as a Ranger that Texas saw Ira.
Ira Aten was a private man, and a modest one. He had stated that a man's memoirs should only be published after his death. He politely turned away writers who wanted to tell his story.
So you can imagine the the surprise of Harold Preece when, after writing a story of some of Ira's exploits for a national magazine, received a warm letter from the man himself. "You must be from Texas, too," wrote Ira.
Indeed he was. Harold Preece had grown up around Round Rock, just like Ira. Three members of his family had been Texas Rangers, including his grandfather.
Needless to say, Harold Preece and Ira Aten hit it off and for the final years of the old Ranger's life, corresponded often and at length.
Ira Aten passed in 1953, leaving Harold with one less friend and pile of letters filled with historical details no one else knew.
"Of all the letters I have from pioneers in my files, I value his the most. Of all the Rangers I have written about, I rate him highest."Harold knew those letters would be the basis of a book about Ira's life and adventures. In addition he would interview old-timers who knew Ira in those days, and do a writers due diligence in substantiating the old Ranger's recollections. His goal was for the book to have, "a complete and scrupulous authenticity."
Authenticity. That's the key word. Those times and places come alive.
Here's a listing of the chapters:
1 - BOOTS DOWN FOR SAM BASS
2 - RANGER ROOKIE
3 - TEXAS ALSACE
4 - DEATH ON A HILLTOP
5 - PISTOL SIGHTS & MAVERICK BRANDS
6 - MAKING HELL PAY TAXES
7 - THE MEANEST THING I EVER DID
8 - THE WORST OUTLAW SINCE SAM BASS
9 - PRAYER ON DEVIL'S RIVER
10 - BEAT TO THE DRAW
11 - BORN TO BUST BARB
12 - BUTCH CASSIDY'S RIGHT BOWER
13 - TWO ON A TRAIL
14 - BARBS SPROUTED BOMBS
15 - VOTING AT HELL'S BORDER
16 - ROCK & A ROPE
17 - WAR ON THE SALT GRASS
18 - COURTHOUSE KILLING
19 - DUEL AT DIMMITT
20 - RUSTLER ROUNDUP
21 - ARSON ON THE RANGE
22 - RANGER FOREVER
"A lawman til I die..."
