Texas Ranger, Captain Company "B"

One Riot, One Ranger

Perhaps the most famous incident of his career occurred at the Rusk State Hospital in April 1955. Eighty-one inmates of the Hospital had taken over Wards 6 & 8, attacked three trustees and two attendants, and took the unit physician, the assistant supervisor, and the hospital superintendent hostage. Bob Crowder was dispatched to the scene. After assessing the situation, Crowder agreed to talk to the inmates. He warned them that he was coming in armed since he was unwilling to become their next hostage. During the next twenty minutes Capt. Crowder reasoned with the inmates and assured them that their grievances would get a fair hearing. He then ordered them to release their hostages and surrender their weapons. The inmates followed his orders, bringing a dangerous situation to a peaceful end. Capt. Robert Crowder died of a heart attack on November 26, 1972 in Dallas, Texas.