Rambling Boy

Lonn Taylor recently came across two books that he now considers required reading for anyone moving to the Big Bend -- The Story of the Highlands, by Frank Reeves, and Memories of a Ranch Wife by Lottie Evans Woods. On this edition of the Rambling Boy, Lonn tells us about the books, their depictions of West Texas ranch life.

This week on the Rambling Boy, Lonn tells us some anecdotes from Marathon's rowdier past, and that it's rowdy image is no more.

This week on the Rambling Boy, Lonn tells us some anecdotes from Marathon's rowdier past, and that it's rowdy image is no more.

On June 1, 1966, the newly-formed farm workers' union based in Rio Grande City voted to strike for higher wages. Lonn Taylor was there. On this edition of the Rambling Boy Lonn tells us about his role in the strikes, which involved racing buses of strike-breakers down winding roads and surprising picket-line conversations with Starr County Sheriffs.

On June 1, 1966, the newly-formed farm workers' union based in Rio Grande City voted to strike for higher wages. Lonn Taylor was there. On this edition of the Rambling Boy Lonn tells us about his role in the strikes, which involved racing buses of strike-breakers down winding roads and surprising picket-line conversations with Starr County Sheriffs.

Texas Brags was a series of illustrated booklets that covered Texas-based topics between 1944 and 1972. Think of it as a lighthearted version of the Texas Almanac. In this edition of the Rambling Boy, Lonn Taylor digs into the history of the Texas Brags booklets and the history of it's founder -- John Hayward Randolph. The latter proved to be pretty difficult but was aided by an old Marfa resident.

Why, in 1892, did an Irish immigrant name a Marfa hotel after the patron saint of England? Lonn Taylor tells us the answer -- and the the history of the hotel -- in this edition of the Rambling Boy.

Deep in his collection of historic documents, collector Marty Davis finds a receipt paid to one Jacob Brodbeck. The receipt is for a quarter-share in the profits of an airship patent, designed by Brodbeck, and is dated August 15th, 1865 -- 38 years before Orville and Wilbur made their famous flight at Kitty Hawk. On this episode of Rambling Boy, Lonn Taylor tells the story of Brodbeck -- a German immigrant, amateur inventor, and potentially, the father of Texas aviation.

On this edition of The Rambling Boy, Lonn gives ten reasons for telling the story of Marfa's Hispanic community.

On this edition of The Rambling Boy, Lonn reflects on funerals after attending a memorial service for Joaquin Jackson, a former Texas Ranger, author and actor, who died on June 15, 2016.