TribBlog: Chuck Norris, Texas Ranger

After years of playing one on TV, Chuck Norris is now a Texas Ranger in real life, at least honorarily. And so is his brother, Aaron Norris. The Texas Public Safety Commission voted in October to make the Norris brothers, who made the TV series Walker, Texas Ranger from 1993 until 2001, honorary Texas Rangers. Today in Garland, Perry officially bestowed the title on the Norrises. Here's the text of the speech Perry's office provided:

Thank you, Chairman Polunsky and thank you for your years of service to our state in the area of law enforcement.
 
I think you’ll agree with me when I say that Texas is a law and order state and, if we have anything to say about it, always will be.
 
Throughout our history, we have been blessed with peace officers who have devoted their lives to public service and keeping their fellow Texans safe.
 
Of all the icons that people associate with our state, from the rugged cowboy to the oil-soaked wildcatter, perhaps no other image is so truly Texan as those chosen to wear the cinco-peso badge of the Texas Rangers.
 
The tools of the trade have become more sophisticated over time, with computers, cell phones and laser sights but today’s Rangers are just as ready to put a stop to trouble as their predecessors some 187 years ago.
 
“One riot, one Ranger” is as true today as it ever was. Although today’s Rangers spend their share of time behind a desk they are skilled in the time-honored art of law enforcement from investing criminal endeavors, to securing our international border.
 
As the drug cartels have turned up the heat on the other side of that border over the past few years, we have invested significant state resources to secure our border looking to local police departments, county sheriffs, game wardens and even Texas Military Forces.
 
However, when it was time to take the fight to the bad guys, there was only one choice to lead our efforts so we formed our Ranger Recon Teams.
 
It is reassuring to know that our Rangers are on the job especially in light of ongoing reports of deteriorating conditions with kidnappings, assassinations and terroristic acts just miles from Texas communities.
 
So Texas will keep doing the right thing: spending hundreds of millions of Texas taxpayer dollars and directing our most potent resource at the border problem Texas peace officers and Texas Rangers.
 
On behalf of 24 million Texans who sleep soundly under the mantle of your protection I want to say thank you for your courageous service.
 
I also want to thank a man who has brought renewed attention to our Ranger corps, with his portrayal of an iconic Ranger a character who was observant, meticulous, and honorable in every way.
 
People may whisper about his super powers, but the greatest power of Chuck Norris is his integrity and his commitment to training the next generation in self-reliance, hard work and honor.
 
Throughout his years as Walker, Texas Ranger, Chuck had the support of his brother and executive producer, Aaron.
 
Together, they helped elevate our Texas Rangers to truly mythical status.
 
It is for their service that I am proud to name them Honorary Texas Ranger Captains.
 
Congratulations and thank you for all you have done for Texas and continue to do for young people all across this nation.