LONE STAR LAWMAN
Ranch Life with My Uncle Texas Sheriff
As a very young boy and adolescent, summers were spent with frequent trips to visit my Uncle and Aunt Emsley in Uvalde and Eagle Pass Texas. My father Anton Sukup-his brother in law- was very dear to my Uncle, and together they relished their times together often hunting on his ranch. I still have fond memories of him riding his horse, wearing a six-gun on his hip-you don't forget things like that. Later on he wasn't able to ride and converted to a rusty old Jeep; together they could ride in cedar tree covered vastness. There was an occasion where he took us across the border to Piedras Negras, for an authentic mexican food dinner. He loved the mexican people for their work ethics and befriended many in his law professional career, later on hiring several for ranch duties. This I believe led my Uncle to introduce my parents to his friends near Mexico City-wealthy land owners whom I later painted their hacienda (see Gallery) -whom they together would visit.
Recalling his "ranch dogs", his favorite at the time was a big hound he had named "LBJ"; leader of his pack of city castaways; whom often just migrated onto the ranch. Wild Peccaries roamed all over the place it seemd, often chased by his hounds having caught the scent undistracted by anything. He and my Aunt enjoyed authentic Southwest simple retirement living -just the way they both liked it-having no children of their own, the hounds were theirs alone, emerced in glorious wide open spaces and brilliant sunsets.
William Hugh Emsley, Texas Sheriff
His bronzed leather face, scared hands and forearms spoke of former cattle ranching days. Ranching and livestock production were the primary sources of income in Uvalde, and many of these ranches were owned by descendants whom my uncle knew very well; keeping in good stead with them was essential for a county Sheriff reelection.
Sometimes gruff and unapologetic, double-tough I’d say of him. His handshake was as hard as railroad steel. He often hugged me to my delight and told me to be a good boy and stay away from trouble makers. I recall as a young boy going to the Uvalde county jail with my father where my uncle took me to see what he called a “bad man.” That impression has never left me. In good measure, I learned a lot about character, integrity, and life from my dad and him-these ‘men of steel’.
There’s a home movie of him sitting on a couch his arm around me in our living room in Fort Worth. I was so proud sitting next to a real Texas Sheriff in his starched white long-sleeve shirt, his pressed slacks with silver buckle tooled leather belt, cowboy boots, gleaming badge, and his ever present six shooter on his hip. Kids marveled at the western movie heroes at the Saturday matinee. I had a real one.
Oil derricks, horses and cowboys were scattered across rural 1950 Texas. For this was the era of the ‘men of steel’-hardened by the Great Depression and WWII, the 50s offered renewed hope for many including my father-a jack of all trades; on again off again oilfield worker, mechanic, just whatever he could to make a living for us. Oil and beef production were king and so was the Texas Sheriff.
This image is today as it was then and remains iconic Texas. The rural Texas Sheriff was lord of an intricate society; an elected government official of far reaching power at a time of little civilian oversight and law enforcement accountability. Where people outside the profession rarely interfered nor understood the inherent danger and risk of the Sheriff nor the toll it took on them and their families in order to prevent crime. It was a time of public trust in the law enforcement agencies, for it was he alone to determine how best to respond to local crime and how to prevent it. Much has changed since my uncle William Hugh Emsley was Sheriff of Uvalde County in the late 1950's and early 1960’s with the advancements in technology. I doubt he ever heard the word ‘technology’ or gave a tinkers damn for any newfangled gadget-his Motorola two-way being the exception. We all seem enamored today with the latest convenience and technology, giving little thought to the old time lawmen out there keeping us safe from harm in scorching summer heat, blowing dust storms, or bitter cold Texas winters.
The 1970s were upon him, my dad and the other old timers, with changes of social attitudes-action heroes, and so-called celebrity rock and sports stars. I sit here in 2020 wondering how they felt deep inside, as I fondly gaze upon an old photo of my uncle surrounded by two other Texas lawmen. One cannot hardly imagine how these men would feel today in a time of accelerated change in the law enforcement profession. I find comfort knowing the one thing hasn’t changed. For you see the overwhelming majority of our law men and women’s display of courage, compassion and bravery everyday on the evening news. God bless them and keep them safe.
I saw him age rapidly after his years as Uvalde Sheriff when he lost the election to his deputy, a much younger man, which hurt him deeply Daddy told me. Too old and weathering these storms of change, he and my Aunt retreated away from urban city life, where they owned a small ranch in Eagle Pass Texas. Being ex-lawman, he rode security on horseback on a two hundred thousand acre private ranch nearby; that is until his health succumbed him into his trusty Jeep Willys-his ranch dog LBJ never leaving his side.
The Years Pass
At his passing I found no commemorative plaques nor letters of recognition for his years of public service. His being elected president of the Southwest Texas Peace Officers’ Association along with a formal invitation addressed to ‘The Honorable Hugh Emsley-Sheriff of Uvalde” from his friend Governor John Connally to his second gubernatorial inaugural ball in Austin, were unspoken words of just who this lawman was to so many. This prompted a visit sometime ago to Uvalde, where that morning having breakfast at a local cafe', I noticed a table with four 'ole timers, and thought that they just might have known my Uncle. They sure did and spoke so highly of Sheriff Emsley telling me "he was plenty tough, but a good man". Thanking them for their time, this led to an inquiry about my Uncle and his former public service at the Uvalde Sheriff Office and the Courthouse, where I was met with indifference by those to whom I spoke with. Nothing here to even recognize him. Very hurt and disappointed I left never to return here as I had so many times so many years ago.
A few years ago, my wife and I recently stopped by to see him and my Aunt at their North Texas gravesite. The grass was overgrown and weeds surrounded his tombstone near collapse; my eyes swelled with tears. At my behest to the local funeral home and grounds keeper, within a few weeks the weeds were gone and his tombstone now stands proudly erect, just like this Texas Sheriff did so many years long ago. How those summers long ago with Uncle Hugh were filled with emense pride to be in his presence and other lawmen.
Epilouge: Lives Where No Peace Will Ever Come.
The tradgedy of a deranged mass murder's rampage of 2022 in Uvalde is known worldwide, where the Texas House of Representatives, Texas Rangers, and Federal authorities heavily criticized Uvalde local enforcement for their lack of immediate response and numerous misconduct. These vicitims loved ones are left emotionally scarred forever, their lives where no peace will ever come. How these parents stood ready and willing to give their own lives to save their children, but were restrained by cowards. Uvalde forever stained with blood of the innocent, shame on these cowardly lawmen concerned for their safety -they live, and not these children and teachers. And to this very day these vicitims families are left fighting for justice and accountability of city law enforcement and city officials after the city's official investigation. As if anything could ever bring bring back their loved ones and restore peace to their lives.
I'm not entitled to judge, that right belongs solely to these victims families, but I can't help it-I do. I find no relief from pent up negative emotion from penning this blog, for I can't escape the horror of Uvalde, and how it has effected so many. I have the benefit as his nephew of knowing the character and resolve of my Uncle for upholding law and order as Uvalde Sheriff. Had this tradgedy occurred during his employment, he and his Deputy together would have, at great personal risk and without the least hesitation, breached that classroom, neutralzing the murder, saving the lives of nineteen precious Robb Elementry School children and two teachers. No doubt in anyone's mind who knew him - like the four 'ole timers sitting at that table Cafe'.
RAS.