Description
by Ray Martinez
On a hot summer day almost 40 years ago, fate and bravery dramatically altered the life of Ramiro “Ray” Martinez, then a young officer with the Austin Police Department. Martinez, another officer and a civilian made their way to the observation deck of the University of Texas Tower on Aug. 1, 1966 and ended the carnage by infamous sniper Charles J. Whitman. Before being killed by Martinez and Officer Houston McCoy, Whitman’s gunfire from atop the UT Tower left 14 dead and 31 wounded. Martinez continued his career in law enforcement and became a Texas Ranger. After retiring from the Rangers, he served as a Comal County justice of the peace. He now has written an autobiography titled “They Call Me Ranger Ray.”
