What we have here is a diminutive, but wonderful, and Extremely Rare / Unique circa 1949 Texas Ranger Badge of the MKT RR Missouri Kansas Texas Railroad aka KATY Lines, Superintendent of Special Service, C.T. Taylor Wallis.
Clifford Taylor Wallis had a decades long Texas Law Enforcement career, starting in the 1920's, with a stint as a Texas Ranger in the 1930's, a Southern Pacific Railroad Police Special Officer 1930's - 1940's, and culminating with his career as the Superintendent of Special Service for the MKT RR starting in 1949. Accompanying this Badge is the Carry Wallet Wallis carried the Badge in, and his Convention Attendee Ribbon for the 56th Annual International Association of Chiefs of Police, which took place in his hometown of Dallas the year that he attained "Chief" status.
The badge is made of Chrome Plated Nickel, with black painted details. The only marking on the Badge is the Patent number on the pinback: 2066969. The Carry Wallet is made of Black and Brown Leather, the impression of he Badge pressed deeply into it, after years of carry, with a steel snap marked HICKOCK GERMANY. The Convention Medal is made of stamped and struck brass, with blue pained details, a paper insert with Wallis' name, and the planchet is maker Marked:
METAL ARTS CO
ROCH
NY
Clifford Taylor, C.T., or Taylor Wallis, was born in Westhoff, Texas in 1899. Not much is known about his early life, he shows up as having been a Sailor in the US Navy during WWI, 1918-1919. By 1930 Wallis shows up in the US Census as a Special Officer with Southern Pacific Railroad. We can assume he did some Law Enforcement moving around South Central Texas before that time, based on some of the badges that came together from one of his descendants.
The high point of his career appears to be when, in 1949, Wallis was appointed Superintendent of Special Service of the MKT RR Missouri Kansas Texas RR, aka the KATY Lines. This collection came with his, very small, Shield Type (ca 1940-57) Texas Ranger Badge with his MKT Rank on it, in its original carry wallet.
Wallis passed away in 1980, and this collection of his badges, along with a "Ma Ferguson" era Texas Ranger badge (keeping that one in my Texas Ranger Collection) came from a descendant of his in 2022 and they are being offered individually here for the first time in October 2023.
The high point of his career appears to be when, in 1949, Wallis was appointed Superintendent of Special Service of the MKT RR Missouri Kansas Texas RR, aka the KATY Lines. This collection came with his, very small, Shield Type (ca 1940-57) Texas Ranger Badge with his MKT Rank on it, in its original carry wallet.
Wallis passed away in 1980, and this collection of his badges, along with a "Ma Ferguson" era Texas Ranger badge (keeping that one in my Texas Ranger Collection) came from a descendant of his in 2022 and they are being offered individually here for the first time in October 2023.
