Naturally self-effacing and deferential, Captain John ReynoldsHughes is not as famous today as his publicity-hogcontemporary Captain Bill McDonald. Yet, Texas Rangers of thelate-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries considered him anauthentic hero, a straight-ahead lawman that did his job and left thetalking to journalists. Hughes became a ranger in 1887, serving inthe celebrated Frontier Battalion. In 1900, he won appointment ascaptain in command of Company D. During his long career he servedprimarily along the Texas-Mexico border where his word becamelaw. State offi cials subsequently promoted him senior captainmoving his headquarters to Austin. Hughes retired in 1915-havingserved as ranger and captain longer than any man on the force.This State House Press reprint of Border Boss makes this Texasclassic available to a new generation of readers and introduces themto one of the bravest rangers who ever sported the cinco peso.