Francis Augustus Hamer was a prominent American lawman and Texas Ranger active during the early to mid-twentieth century. Renowned for his toughness, marksmanship, and investigative skill, Hamer acquired status in the American Southwest as the archetypal Texas Ranger. Over his career, his contributions to law enforcement earned him a lasting legacy, culminating in his induction into the Texas Ranger Hall of Fame. Hamer is most widely recognized for leading the 1934 posse that tracked down and killed the notorious criminals Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. His leadership in ending the crime spree of Bonnie and Clyde remains one of the most famous exploits in American law enforcement history. Biographer John Boessenecker has characterized Hamer as one of the greatest American lawmen of the twentieth century.
