By Chris Edwards
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On Monday morning, author and historian Ronnie Erwin presented Tyler County Sheriff Bryan Weatherford with quite a gift.
The Tennessee-based Erwin gave Weatherford a copy of his three-volume work Stars Over Texas, which serves as a tribute to county sheriffs from all the state’s 254 counties. As a history, the text includes information on counties that are now defunct, and includes photographs of all currently serving sheriffs, as well as information on the past sheriffs.
Weatherford said he was aware that Erwin had written the book but had no idea as to its magnitude. For Erwin, the project is a labor of love that involves more than 35 years of work, which includes the gathering of materials, research and compiling the actual book.
“I couldn’t tell you how many miles I had to travel, and how many places I ate at,” Erwin said. Erwin, along with his late wife Lynn, began, in earnest, with the purchase of a rare sheriff’s badge in Fredericksburg decades ago.
That acquisition, along with a budding collection of Old West paintings and prints by the visual artist Joseph Gish, launched a fascination with Texas sheriffs. When the idea came about to compile a book, Erwin said it was a way to place the real focus where it belonged.
“The real focus [of Stars Over Texas] is to honor the men and women behind the badges,” Erwin said.
Erwin admitted that when he and Lynn began collecting and researching the state’s sheriffs, the idea of putting a book together wasn’t in the picture. Over time, though, that changed, and before Lynn passed, she expressed a wish to have him finish the project.
The book is dedicated to her, and Erwin said that her spirit is what fueled the project.
“She had an unshakable belief that this work would be a meaningful contribution to the history of sheriffs and their commitment to our communities,” he said.
In their journey, the Erwins immersed themselves in state and county archives, libraries, and local history to uncover the historical facts – some nearly lost to history — to paint a complete picture of county sheriffs and leadership. Along the way, Erwin said he met some “wonderful people and had a wonderful time.”
Erwin was also able to create another book devoted to sheriffs in his home state, Stars Over Tennessee.
Erwin, who was a Texas transplant from Tennessee, for many years, said there are many connections between the two states, historically, and he was honored to document that, as well as a part of both states’ respective histories.
“I want this information to get out. I want the public to know,” Erwin said, and also, he added that readers will be able to see the loving and dedicated impact of his late wife all over the culmination of all that work.
Stars Over Texas, published by Entourage Yearbooks, is available from Ronnie Erwin’s website, www.RebelSprings.com.
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