History

The History of Ranger

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Overview:
“Roaring Ranger” refers to a legendary oil gusher that struck in Ranger, Texas, in October 1917. This event marked a pivotal moment in Texas and American oil history, sparking the Ranger Oil Boom and influencing the early 20th-century U.S. energy industry.

From Farming Town to Boomtown:
Before the oil discovery, Ranger was a quiet farming community. Everything changed when the McCleskey No. 1 well—drilled by William Knox Gordon of the Texas Pacific Coal and Oil Company—hit oil at about 3,300 feet deep. The well erupted with a powerful flow of oil, earning the nickname “Roaring Ranger.”

Historical Significance:

  • The strike came as the U.S. entered World War I, providing critical fuel for the Allied war effort.

  • Ranger quickly became one of Texas’s most productive oil fields, producing millions of barrels in its early years.

  • The boom attracted thousands of workers and prospectors, rapidly transforming Ranger into a bustling boomtown with new infrastructure, housing, and businesses.

Legacy:
Though the boom slowed by the early 1920s, the Roaring Ranger oil strike helped cement Texas’s place as a major oil-producing state and contributed to the U.S.’s rise as a global oil power.

Establishment of Ranger College

Founding:
Ranger College opened on September 13, 1926, shortly after the oil boom ended, starting with 30 students. It was initially governed by a College Council, including Board of Education members and local citizens, and was officially recognized by the State Department of Education on March 23, 1927.

Ranger College Milestones

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  • 1925: Ranger Independent School District Board votes to establish a junior college.

  • 1926: Ranger Junior College opens with 30 students.

  • 1927: Official recognition by the State Department of Education.

  • 1950: Ranger Junior College separates from the public school system to become independent.

  • 1950s: Dr. G.C. Boswell becomes first president of the independent college.

  • 1960s: Expansion of facilities, including administration, classrooms, science labs, fine arts, business buildings, gymnasium, library, cafeteria, and student union.

  • 1970s: Curriculum expands to include vocational and technical training alongside transfer courses.

  • 1978: Ranger College football team wins NJCAA national championship.

  • 2005: Rodeo team resumes competition after 25 years; wins National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association men's team title in 2007.

  • 2013: Men's soccer team wins NJCAA Region V Championship and competes nationally.

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