The following is a partial account of the life and times of Edgar T. Neal. This story will be the final chapter or Part III of the book, The Texas Rangers & the San Saba Mob. This series is the narrative for the application of a new Texas Historical Subject Marker for San Saba County. Endnotes are available upon request. Ross J. Cox, Sr. Part 8.
In 1938, Neal moved to Marshall Ford, Texas and was employed with Brown & Root Construction as Captain of the Guard. It was an important position. On the eve of World War II, the government was seriously concerned about sabotage, both foreign and domestic, as well as labor unrest. The dam was critical to the war effort as it supplied electricity to Camp Swift, Bergstrom Field, San Marcus Army Airfield, the rural area around Austin and 23 other cities. This job lasted nearly five years. 38
While living at Marshall Ford, Neal decided to run for sheriff in 1940. Although he had not lived in Travis County very long, perhaps he felt name recognition was on his side. Three of his sons resided in the area. Two were affiliated with the Austin Police Department - Jackson Leroy, and Thomas Elwood. (Thomas was a well-known captain before joining the FBI in 1935.) Another son, Damon Slater, was an exceptional preacher and evangelist in Austin. There were nine candidates for the office, and when the votes were tallied, it wasn’t even close. Neal finished next to last with only 366 votes. 39
After the WPA dam job, Neal’s old schoolmate, former Ranger and brother Mason from Fairview, Frank A. Hamer, wrangled him a position as assistant security officer for the Republic Oil Company in Houston. This job lasted thirty months. The next job he had was with the Harris County Sheriff’s Department. Apparently, he still had enough influence at age seventy-four to acquire work as a deputy sheriff, or at least for one day. The Victoria Advocate 29 June 1944, 5, reported:
Learns the Hard Way Houston. – Edgar T. Neal, a new deputy sheriff, received a quick education in the ways of criminals. One day after Neal had donned his badge, someone stripped his automobile of three wheels and tires.
The incident was embarrassing but Neal never gave up his pursuit as a lawman. 40
His last position was in Galena Park, Texas, where he was chief of police. It was a new town, incorporated in 1936, with about 1,200 residents. His wife worked as the city editor for the Galena Park News. It is unknown when he began work or how long he was employed, as the old city records were destroyed in several floods. On March 29, 1946, at the age of seventy-six, Edgar T. Neal died. In the end, the Old Scout was still a Texas lawman. He is buried at Memorial Park in Austin, Texas. 41