LIFETIME LEARNING CHOOSES ONE RANGER: A MEMOIR FOR 2011 WASHINGTON COUNTY READ

Lifetime Learning is inviting the residents of Washington County to participate in the 3^rd annual community “Read”.  The chosen book for this year is One Ranger: A Memoir by H. Joaquin Jackson and David Marion Wilkinson.  In the book, Jackson chronicles his 27 years as a Texas Ranger.  Books are available now at H-E-B, The Book Nook, and Nancy Carol Roberts Library.

“When his picture appeared on the cover of Texas Monthly, Joaquin Jackson became the icon of the modern Texas Rangers. Nick Nolte modeled his character in the movie Extreme Prejudice on him. Jackson even had a speaking part of his own in The Good Old Boys with Tommy Lee Jones. But the role that Jackson has always played the best is that of the man who wears the silver badge cut from a Mexican cinco peso coin—a working Texas Ranger. Legend says that one Ranger is all it takes to put down lawlessness and restore the peace—one riot, one Ranger. In this adventure-filled memoir, Joaquin Jackson recalls what it was like to be the Ranger who responded when riots threatened, violence erupted, and criminals needed to be brought to justice across a wide swath of the Texas-Mexico border from 1966 to 1993.” UT Press.

The purpose of the community read program is to provide a opportunity to encourage reading, teach an important part of Texas history, and discuss the importance of community service.  Although there will be proclamations and book reviews in September, the program officially kicks off October 1. It concludes on November 10 at 5:30 pm at Brenham National Bank with a reception and book signing where the public will hear from the authors.  In addition, Unity Theater will have a performance review of the book on November 1 at 7:00 pm.  Both the author reception and play will be free and open to the public.

The last two Community Read books, Final Salute: A Story of Unfinished Lives by Jim Sheeler and Twelve Mighty Orphans by Jim Dent were well received by the community.  One Ranger is as inspirational and should be an interesting book for readers in Washington County. For further information, go to www.brenhamlifetimelearning.org.