Marker honoring Texas Ranger Zeno Smith to be dedicated Saturday

EAGLE LAKE – Eagle Lake will honor one of its native sons this Saturday, as it will dedicate a Texas historical marker honoring Texas Ranger Zeno Smith.

Known as “the last of the black hat Rangers,” because of the black hat he often wore, Smith will be honored at 2 p.m. Saturday. March 9, with a marker dedication ceremony at Prairie Edge Museum in Eagle Lake.

The program will include city and county leaders, members of the Colorado County Historical Commission, and more. Former Texas Ranger Joe B. Davis, President of the Former Texas Ranger Foundation, will be keynote speaker.

Following the dedication program, the marker will be unveiled at the historic Smith Meat Market building. Smith worked in the building as a child, along with his father and brother, in the family’s cattle and meat market business.

Refreshments will follow at Prairie Edge Museum.

The historical marker and the dedication ceremony are sponsored by the Eagle Lake Preservation Alliance, Inc., which restored the Smith Market Building. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Smith was appointed at Texas Ranger in 1935, and served as a Ranger until he retired in 1969. Following his retirement, he was a deputy sheriff in Wilson County until he died in 1972.

Smith was famous for his part in cleaning up gabling dens in San Antonio. He previously served as a ranger in Austin, Hondo, Lubbock, San Angelo, and Pleasanton.