Ballinger

Duane's take

Here's the official marker's account, the way Duane tells it. Now, a lot of Texas towns start with a story nobody quite expected, and this one is no different. The place you're passing through, or maybe heading toward, was originally called Hutchins City.

Plain and simple. But the Santa Fe Railway had plans, and when a railroad has plans, names have a way of changin'. The town was renamed Ballinger, after Judge William Pitt Ballinger, born in 1825 and gone by 1888.

He served the railroad as an attorney and held an official role in the townsite itself. That's the kind of man towns get named after out here. But here's the thing about Judge Ballinger.

He wasn't just a railroad lawyer. He was, by the marker's own word, a distinguished Texas statesman, and he'd earned that distinction the hard way. He served as a veteran of the Mexican War.

Then the Civil War came along, and Ballinger was right in the middle of it. He helped establish the defenses of Galveston. He served as Confederate receiver of enemy aliens property.

And when the end was near, he was sent to negotiate peace for Texas. That's a life that fills up a town's name rather well. Today, Ballinger sits as the county seat of Runnels County, a farm and ranch center with industries in dairying, meat products, and leather goods manufacturing.

And it hasn't forgotten how to put on a show. There's an annual rodeo, livestock exhibitions, and quarterhorse shows. A railroad lawyer, a war veteran, a peace negotiator.

And now, every year, the horses run and the crowd cheers in a town that carries his name.

What the marker says

Originally called Hutchins City. Promoted by Santa Fe Rwy. Named for Judge William Pitt Ballinger (1825-1888), railroad attorney and townsite official. Distinguished Texas statesmen, veteran of the Mexican War. In the Civil War helped establish defenses of Galveston, served as Confederate receiver of enemy aliens property, was sent to negotiate peace for Texas. Ballinger is county seat, and farm-ranch center. Industries include dairying, meat products, leather goods manufacturing. Has annual rodeo, livestock and quarterhorse shows.