HAYS COUNTY HISTORY
A dedication ceremony for the John Coffee “Jack” Hays Collection, a tribute to the Texas Ranger and namesake of the county, took place in the rotunda of the Gov- ernment Center on Thursday.
The collection includes a 30-inch-tall bronze replica of the Jack Hays statue on grounds of the Historic Hays County Courthouse. Texas artist Jason Scull created the replica in 2001.
The display hanging behind the statue includes a brief bio of Hays as well as two badges from his long career in law enforcement during the 1800s. Above the badges, the display features an archival print of a Hays portrait by legendary photographer Matthew Brady, whose photos featured prominently in Ken Burns’ popular documentary about the Civil War.
Kate Johnson, former Chair of the Hays County Historical Commission from 19932023, donated the collection.
The items in the collection “symbolize not only an extraordinary Texan, but also the enduring spirit of duty, courage and leadership that continues to inspire the lawmen and public servants of today,” said Johnson. “Both of these pieces are given to the citizens of Hays County, a tribute to our past, a celebration of the present and an inspiration for future generations.”
Hays County Sheriff Anthony Hipolito spoke about the legacy of Hays and the example he set for contemporary law officers in Hays County.
“Jack Hays is remembered for his leadership, his service and his willingness to step forward during a time when Texas was still finding its identity,” Hipolito said. “He was also known as a remarkable collaborator, someone who built strong working relationships with Mexicans and with Native groups alike.
“This statue is more than just a representation of one individual. It is a bridge between our past and our present. It reflects the journey of Hays County from its earliest days to the vibrant and growing community we see today,” Hipolito said.
Hays was appointed to the rank of captain in the Texas Rangers in 1840, according to guest speaker Wende Wakeman, a Texas Ranger Major in the Waco-based Company F.
“He quickly proved himself to be a fearless fighter and an exceptional leader,” Wakeman said. “Under his command, the Rangers became known for their courage, their discipline and innovation. Hays led them through countless skirmishes and into the crucible of the Mexican American War, where their valor left an indelible mark on its history. His leadership helped transform the Rangers from a frontier militia into an elite fighting force.”
However, not everyone attending the ceremony was as complimentary of Hays and the legacy he represents. In his remarks to the Daily Record before the ceremony, Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra said that Hays should be acknowledged in spite of the fact that a portion of his constituents denounce the actions of Hays.
“I was asked by many people not to be here, to protest, to rebel, to everything else,” Becerra told the Daily Record. “And I said, ‘No, this is my opportunity to speak to represent.’
“It’s important that we never forget where we came from, the past that we’ve all shared, the past that some of us have endured, the past that some of us were forced to move through,” Becerra said.
In his remarks to the crowd gathered for the ceremony, Becerra said Hays County must “look squarely at who we honor and why.”
Maria F. Rocha, a member of the Board of Elders of the San Marcos-based Indigenous Cultures Institute, which produces the Sacred Springs Powwow, questioned why Hays County would celebrate Jack Hays.
“All of the history about Jack Coffee Hays is seldom told, and our perspective of that history is that he was a person who killed Native Americans and Indigenous Mexicans,” Rocha said.
“And that was because at that time, Mirabeau Lamar issued a policy of complete extermination or expulsion of Native people, and that included brown people, Indigenous Mexicans. So Jack Coffee Hays had a mandate, and he was fulfilling it,” said Rocha.
