Ramiro Martinez
Encyclopedia
Ramiro "Ray" Martinez is one of the two Austin Police Department
officers credited with killing sniper Charles Whitman
at the University of Texas at Austin
on August 1, 1966.
Ramiro Martinez became a narcotics investigator, a Texas Ranger
, and a Justice of the Peace
in New Braunfels, Texas
. In 2003, Martinez published his memoirs, entitled, They Call Me Ranger Ray: From the UT Tower Sniper to Corruption in South Texas.
Martinez was born in Kent County, Texas and attended Rotan High School in Rotan, Texas
, graduating in 1956. He enrolled in the University of Texas at Austin, but dropped out after one semester due to financial difficulties. He later joined the United States Army
and served three years as a combat medic. After his discharge from the Army, Martinez joined the Austin Police Department in 1960, graduating from the police academy in 1961.
Martinez was off duty on August 1, 1966 when the news of the Texas Tower sniper shooting aired on television. Martinez reported for duty and was told to assist with traffic control. Arriving on the scene, Martinez proceeded to the Tower, where later he and Officer Houston McCoy shot sniper Charles Whitman dead. TIME
reported on August 12, 1966 that Martinez had hit Whitman with all six of his pistol shots, however, the autopsy would later reveal that the shotgun, fired by Officer McCoy, killed Whitman.
In 1976, Martinez sued the producers of the made-for-TV film
The Deadly Tower for negative and racist depictions of his wife.
She was portrayed in the movie as a nagging Hispanic woman. In real life she is a blond haired, blue-eyed German. He received an undisclosed out-of-court settlement
.
Martinez left the Austin Police Department around 1968 to briefly run a restaurant in downtown Austin. He later joined the Texas Department of Public Safety
in 1969 as a narcotics agent. He served in that role for four years before joining the Texas Rangers
. Martinez was part of the task force that eventually brought about the indictment of George Parr, the so-called "Duke of Duval County". After retiring from the Rangers in 1991, he worked as a private investigator and later served four years as a Justice of the Peace
for Precinct 2, Comal County
.
Martinez self-published his memoir, They Call Me Ranger Ray, in 2005.
In the book, he discusses his actions during the Tower incident from his point of view, and his experiences as a Texas Ranger.
The City of Austin
proclaimed August 1, 2006 "Ramiro Martinez Day".
Martinez now resides in New Braunfels, Texas
.
Austin Police Department
Austin Police Department is the principal law enforcement agency serving Austin, Texas, United States. As of Fiscal Year 2010, the agency had an annual budget of more than $240 million and employed around 2,200 personnel, including approximately 1,600 officers...
officers credited with killing sniper Charles Whitman
Charles Whitman
Charles Joseph Whitman was a student at the University of Texas at Austin and a former Marine who killed 16 people and wounded 32 others during a shooting rampage on and around the university's campus on August 1, 1966....
at the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
on August 1, 1966.
Ramiro Martinez became a narcotics investigator, a Texas Ranger
Texas Ranger Division
The Texas Ranger Division, commonly called the Texas Rangers, is a law enforcement agency with statewide jurisdiction in Texas, and is based in Austin, Texas...
, and a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
in New Braunfels, Texas
New Braunfels, Texas
New Braunfels is a city in Comal and Guadalupe counties in the U.S. state of Texas that is a principal city of the metropolitan area. Braunfels means "brown rock" in German; the city is named for Braunfels, in Germany. The city's population was 57,740 as of the 2010 census, up 58% from the 2000...
. In 2003, Martinez published his memoirs, entitled, They Call Me Ranger Ray: From the UT Tower Sniper to Corruption in South Texas.
Martinez was born in Kent County, Texas and attended Rotan High School in Rotan, Texas
Rotan, Texas
Rotan is a city in Fisher County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,611 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Rotan is located at ....
, graduating in 1956. He enrolled in the University of Texas at Austin, but dropped out after one semester due to financial difficulties. He later joined the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and served three years as a combat medic. After his discharge from the Army, Martinez joined the Austin Police Department in 1960, graduating from the police academy in 1961.
Martinez was off duty on August 1, 1966 when the news of the Texas Tower sniper shooting aired on television. Martinez reported for duty and was told to assist with traffic control. Arriving on the scene, Martinez proceeded to the Tower, where later he and Officer Houston McCoy shot sniper Charles Whitman dead. TIME
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
reported on August 12, 1966 that Martinez had hit Whitman with all six of his pistol shots, however, the autopsy would later reveal that the shotgun, fired by Officer McCoy, killed Whitman.
In 1976, Martinez sued the producers of the made-for-TV film
Television movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
The Deadly Tower for negative and racist depictions of his wife.
She was portrayed in the movie as a nagging Hispanic woman. In real life she is a blond haired, blue-eyed German. He received an undisclosed out-of-court settlement
Settlement (law)
In law, a settlement is a resolution between disputing parties about a legal case, reached either before or after court action begins. The term "settlement" also has other meanings in the context of law.-Basis:...
.
Martinez left the Austin Police Department around 1968 to briefly run a restaurant in downtown Austin. He later joined the Texas Department of Public Safety
Texas Department of Public Safety
The Texas Department of Public Safety is a department of the government of the state of Texas. The DPS is responsible for statewide law enforcement and vehicle regulation. The Public Safety Commission oversees the DPS. Its five members are appointed by the Governor of Texas and confirmed by the...
in 1969 as a narcotics agent. He served in that role for four years before joining the Texas Rangers
Texas Ranger Division
The Texas Ranger Division, commonly called the Texas Rangers, is a law enforcement agency with statewide jurisdiction in Texas, and is based in Austin, Texas...
. Martinez was part of the task force that eventually brought about the indictment of George Parr, the so-called "Duke of Duval County". After retiring from the Rangers in 1991, he worked as a private investigator and later served four years as a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for Precinct 2, Comal County
Comal County, Texas
Comal County is a county located on the Edwards Plateau in the U.S. state of Texas. In 2010, its population was 108,472. Its seat is New Braunfels.Comal County is part of the San Antonio Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History Timeline:...
.
Martinez self-published his memoir, They Call Me Ranger Ray, in 2005.
In the book, he discusses his actions during the Tower incident from his point of view, and his experiences as a Texas Ranger.
The City of Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
proclaimed August 1, 2006 "Ramiro Martinez Day".
Martinez now resides in New Braunfels, Texas
New Braunfels, Texas
New Braunfels is a city in Comal and Guadalupe counties in the U.S. state of Texas that is a principal city of the metropolitan area. Braunfels means "brown rock" in German; the city is named for Braunfels, in Germany. The city's population was 57,740 as of the 2010 census, up 58% from the 2000...
.