Published: October 20, 2009 10:02 am      

Captain Jack: History in Focus

Historical commission takes on the legend of Jack C. Hays

Kyle — History came to life this past weekend as crews filmed the first-ever documentary about the county’s namesake, Jack C. Hays.

The Hays County Historical Commission (HCHC) is producing the 30-minute video that was filmed Friday through Monday at two area ranches.

Hays, or Captain Jack as he was known to his fellow Texas Rangers, led many battles in the Mexican War. The documentary will show re-enactments of key battles, including the Walker Creek Indian Fight, which was filmed at the Rutherford Ranch in Buda. Other scenes were shot at the Halifax Ranch in Kyle.

During the gold rush of 1849, Hays left Texas for California, where he became the surveyor general.

The script was written by Gene Shelton, a Texas author who has published four books, including one on Hays entitled Captain Jack, The Story of John Coffee Hays.

The director of the video is Richard Kidd, who has 40 years of experience in documentaries, film, event management and museum installation. He is a member of the Hays County Historical Commission and director of the Documentary Film Unit, which has produced several oral histories.

Jack C. Hays will be played by Scott McMahon, who is a historical re-enactor at Washington on the Brazos. Other re-enactors were chosen to work on the film to create a more accurate scene.

There has never been a documentary on Jack Hays, historical commission officials said.

The current project is supported by Hays County and funds have also been provided through private donors and foundations. The budget for the film is about $50,000, the HCHC’s Shelley Henry said.

“I think we’re pretty lucky to be able to do this,” she said. “I don’t know of very many historical commissions that have been able to do this.”

Once completed, plans are to provide copies of the film to all county schools as well as to the Texas Ranger Museum in Waco, Henry said.

The HCHC is also working to restore the old Hays County Jail in San Marcos. HCHC officials said there is a possibility that the jail will be transformed in to a Jack C. Hays museum, where the film will play.