DUANE
Duane's take
The way the official marker tells it, here's the story of General W. W. Sterling.
Now, some men are built for a certain kind of life, and W. W. Sterling was built — quite literally — for the one he led.
Six feet four inches tall, an expert shot, an expert horseman. You don't stumble into a life like his. You grow into it, inch by inch and year by year.
William Warren Sterling was born on April 27, 1891, and from the beginning, ranching and law enforcement were his life's work — not a career path he chose so much as a calling he answered. He came up through the Texas Rangers, and he kept rising. Scout for the United States Army during the border troubles of 1914 to 1917.
Then came the first World War. Then the second, where he served as a colonel. The man had a way of showing up wherever history was being made the hard way.
In 1931, Sterling was appointed Adjutant General of Texas, a position he held through 1933. The marker is plain about what he did with that authority: he enforced the law, achieved order, and invoked equal justice for all. That last part — equal justice for all — that's not decoration.
That's the standard he was held to, and the standard the marker holds him to still. Off the field and away from the statehouse, there was a life worth knowing too. He married Zora Eckhardt, and together they had two daughters — Inez and Sara Ross.
W. W. Sterling died on April 26, 1960 — one day shy of his birthday.
Ranger, soldier, adjutant general. He spent his whole life in service to order and the law, and he did it on horseback, under fire, and on his own two very tall feet.
What the marker says
(April 27, 1891-April 26, 1960) Officer who rose from ranger to adjutant general. Ranching, law enforcement were his life's work. Six feet, four inches tall, he was expert shot and horseman. Scout for U.S. Army in 1914-1917 border troubles; served in two World Wars; a colonel in World War II. Adjutant General of Texas, 1931-1933, he enforced the law, achieved order, invoked equal justice for all. Married Zora Eckhardt; had two daughters, Inez and Sara Ross. Recorded - 1969