Sumrall, Robert William

Parents and Siblings

 

Robert William Sumrall

RW Sumrall holding daughter Shirley

 

Facing Right (Always)

RW Sumrall holding dau Shirley, Son Robert Kent 

Robert William Sumrall

RW Sumrall & Cap'n Arch Miller (sans arm)

RW Sumrall Texas Ranger

RW Sumrall

RW Sumrall on horse

RW Sumrall 

RW Sumrall facing right with horse

Robert William Sumrall was born 28 November 1894 in Ballenger, Texas.  His father was a farmer.  He went to work on the Railroad laying ties at 15 and left home.  He then worked for Ira Yates as a ranch hand.  He was drafted into WWI and was assigned to the medical corps.  He went to France.  The second day after he was discharged, Captain Anders of the Texas rangers, Co. E. asked him to join the Rangers.  In 1927, he married Lula Vivian Holder and was  in Company A of the Texas Rangers under Captain Fox of Marfa, Texas.  He was living in Presidio, Texas.        

Escape from Coleman Jail - 8 March 1930 - Three men, Davis Trammell, Rieden  and "Shorty" burns, escaped from jail.  They attacked Deputy Bob Sumrall as he took them their lunch.  One man threw himself, head first into Bob's stomach.  Bob got a thumb in each man's mouth and held on. so they couldn't get his gun.  They worked loose and ran, but left Tramell behind.  Bob got off one shot as the men ran but missed.  Mrs. Sumrall was downstairs and heard the shot.  She got her gun and not knowing if Bob was dead,  ran to the staircase and shot Trammell on his way out the door.  The bullett hit his leg.  When Bob came down, he was a solid mass of blood but not seriously hurt.   Trammell went about 25 miles out of town to a relatives home before he realized he wouldn't live if he didn't get medical attention soon.  He was picked up on the way back to town.  The other two were picked up later that month.                 

Valera Bank Robberies - 20 December 1929 four bandits robbed the First State Bank in Valera, Texas taking $2,200, then attacked the Lonh Bank.  Deputy Bob Sumrall went to Santa Anna and go the deputy sherif there to go investigate a lead.  There robbers were caught off guard while dividing the loot.  The Texas Bankers Association granted Deputy Bob Sumrall a check for $5,000 as a reward for shooting the robber, Ollise Woods of Borger, Texas.   

Dope Peddler - 1927 - While stationed at Alpine, customs officials were trying to catch  dope smuggler.  In a gravel pit outside of town, Bob walked into some of the tents where people lived, only to find a gun pointed at his head.  The smuggler ran away and some talk about "if it had been me, he wouldn't have got away" but Bob said it didn't bother him.  He knew he would have been shot if he moved and felt anyone would have done the same.    While living at Presidio, a smuggler escaped from the prison in Huntsville.  Bob saddled up and went after him and brought him back.  bob lived in some old Fort apartments that had been built during the time the Indians and Mexicans war fighting.  The jail was a one room adobe building and Bob knew the man's friends would break him out during the night so he chained the smuggler to a big tree.  Texas paid Bob $27 for the capture.  

Invasion - While camping in tents along the Rio Grande River while on border duty, bob discovered a rattlesnake inside the tent.  He hightailed it out of the tent and spent the rest of the night on a rock.  

Danger - Bob said that the most dangerous assignment he had was being sent to Houston under Capt. Frank Homer, on a dock strike.  He then went to Ozona, Tex as Deputy Sheriff as a special officer for the Cattlement's association.      

Texas Ranger Service Dates