Bill Thaxton

[sloanrodgers]

I know he was the best of them all and ranked a great Marty Robbins song, but who the heck was
Bill Thaxton? I've don't recall ever hearing of a ranger by this odd name.

Marty Robbins' Ballad of Bill Thaxton
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rYBPJBtph8&feature=PlayList&p=18DD54DA7BA7F48F&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=10

[Del Groves]

I did a google search. Take a look at this:

"Capt. William Thaxton (1861; 1862 - San Saba County, 31st Brigade, TST)"

Source: www.texasranger.org/ReCenter/Captains.pdf

[sloanrodgers]

Thanks Del, but I believe that 31st Brigade TST, was Texas State Troops or Confederate militia and not actually unruly
Texas rangers. I'm no expert on Texas Civil War units though, so I might be off base in my interpretation.

[sloanrodgers]

Yep, there seems to be a lot of confusion over this old Marty Robbins song. Most folks don't even know the real title (Sundown),
who wrote it (Bobby Sykes), which album (El Paso City) it was on or the origin of Ranger Thaxton. I guess the mystery adds to
the mystic of Robbins' work. Here are the haunting lyrics to Sundown.


www.6lyrics.com/sundown_ballad_of_bill_thaxton-lyrics-marty_robbins.aspx