Liberty County will soon bid farewell to one of its most esteemed Texas Rangers, Brandon Bess, as he steps into retirement after a distinguished career dedicated to protecting and serving. For more than 30 years, Bess worked his way up through the ranks of the Texas Department of Public Safety, first starting as a state trooper in Chambers County, then a criminal investigator before earning a place with the Texas Rangers.
For 10 remarkable years, Ranger Bess has been a steadfast presence in Liberty County, upholding the law and becoming a beloved figure among the community and his peers. His journey with the Texas Rangers reached a milestone in 2021 when he was promoted to a Cold Case investigator for Company A, highlighting his expertise and unwavering commitment to seeking justice for unresolved cases.
Beyond his professional accolades, Ranger Bess has played a crucial role in strengthening the bond within the law enforcement community through his involvement in the annual Ol’ Farts Fish Fry Texas DPS reunion. This much-anticipated event has become a tradition in Liberty County, drawing hundreds of retired Texas Rangers and state troopers each year to reminisce, share stories, and celebrate their camaraderie. Bess’s contribution to organizing this event underscores his passion for maintaining a sense of unity and respect among current and retired law enforcement officers.
Bess is a native of Kirbyville, Texas, and a 1990 graduate of Kirbyville High School. After earning a degree in criminal justice from Kilgore College in 1993, he joined the ranks of Henderson Police Department. In January 1995, he became a patrol deputy for Rusk County Sheriff’s Office, though it was a short stint as 10 months later he was soon offered a job as a trooper for Texas Highway Patrol.
“I was a volunteer firefighter in Kirbyville when I was in high school, so I was around a lot of law enforcement officers, working accident scenes, and it piqued my interest. I always wanted to be part of DPS, knowing what troopers do. It’s a family, a tradition that dates back 200 years. It’s the ultimate law enforcement agency to be involved with worldwide. DPS is the best, still is, always will be,” he said.
Seeing the hotrod Mustangs that were used by the Texas DPS in the 1990s cemented his decision as he “wanted to drive fast and hard in one of those black and white Mustangs.”
While he jokes about his initial interest in law enforcement, the truth is that he felt an overwhelming need to serve.
“There are a lot of professions that serve and it’s probably the same for them all. My reason is the same as firefighters, police officers, doctors and other professions. You do what you are called to do. It’s what you were meant to do. It is not an option,” Bess said.
Reflecting on his storied career in law enforcement, Bess recalled times when he was involved in manhunts – some by helicopter and on horseback, doing undercover work, intercepting large quantities of illicit drugs, giving talks to students and teachers at local schools, traveling the world for investigations, and helping other agencies with homicides, armed robberies and other major crimes.
“It’s amazing just thinking back to some of those cases. My brain is flooded with memories,” he said.
While every year brought its own challenges and rewards, the last few have been the most rewarding because he was able to bring resolution to cases that had been written off as unsolved for years.
Retired Texas Ranger Company A Major Grover “Frank” Huff, who also recently retired, said Bess really excelled as a Ranger once he became a cold case investigator.
“He was very successful in attaining closure for families. I am proud of what he was able to do in that role,” Huff said. “The cases were unsolved not because of a lack of effort by other investigators but because of advances in technology. Sometimes cases also get shelved for a lack of evidence, and new cases never stop coming.”
As Ranger Bess prepares to embark on the next chapter of his life, retirement doesn’t mean stepping away from his lifelong dedication to serving the community. He is set to join forces with retired Texas Ranger Tony Leal, working for Leal’s private security company, PPI Security. This new role promises to leverage Bess’s extensive experience in law enforcement, ensuring his skills continue to contribute to the safety and security of the community in a different capacity.
“It’s tough to give up,” Bess said of his law enforcement career. “I’ve always said I wanted to retire while I was still having fun and enjoying the work. A lot of folks stick around too long until they get burned out. I haven’t felt any of those things. The opportunity to go to work for one of my heroes – Tony – meant it was just time.”
His friends and peers in law enforcement – Liberty County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Billy Knox, Major Huff, Rangers Ryan Clendennen, Josh Benson and John “Sully” Sullivan – were asked to share their thoughts on Bess.
Knox and Bess started in law enforcement around the same time, with their paths crossing many times.
“When I first met him, and he won’t even remember this, I was a reserve in Chambers County. He was in license and weights. Both of our careers, even though he worked for DPS, were similar. When he got promoted, I got promoted; when I got promoted, he got promoted. When he became a Ranger, I was still an LCSO investigator. We worked a lot of cases together because he was the counterpart for the state. We have been good colleagues and have become friends outside of work. He has truly been respected in law enforcement,” said Knox. “He is a good guy and a true believer in God. I am not going to miss him because I will still be seeing him. I just want to say that he has been an asset to all the sheriff’s offices and police departments in our area.”
Texas Ranger Josh Benson, who was assigned to Liberty County in 2021, regards Bess with a mixture of respect and affection. Benson’s testament to Bess’s approachability, wisdom, and generosity, especially in times of crisis, underscores the depth of Bess’s impact.
“Brandon has been amazing. I have called him often for advice on navigating sensitive issues. He is someone I lean on. He has a gift for dealing with people in general. He has an ability to connect with people. Ranger Sullivan and I were packing his office the other day and found a ton of things from people regarding the impact he has made in their lives. He finds a friend with everyone. He’s very down to earth, very knowledgeable and I benefited from the opportunity to work with him,” Benson said.
Ranger Sullivan, who was assigned to Liberty County only recently, said Bess leaves very big shoes to fill and will definitely be missed.
Ranger Ryan Clendennen, assigned to Polk, Tyler and Jasper counties, worked with Bess on multiple occasions as Rangers in neighboring counties. When Bess and Clendennen were interviewed by Bluebonnet News in 2018, they spoke about the ease between them as they investigate crime scenes, with each naturally knowing and recognizing their own strengths and their partner’s strengths.
“There will be folks that forget what Brandon has said over the years, and some folks that will forget what he has accomplished as a Texas Ranger, but I doubt those people will ever forget how Brandon made them feel when he was around. Ranger Bess always brings out the best in those around him and I consider myself a better human being for having the chance to call him my partner and friend.”
Bess plans to remain in Chambers County, where he lives with his wife of 25 years, Mary Beth. The two have three children – Marshall, Walker and Mattie.
Editor’s note: Bluebonnet News will next highlight the career of Texas Rangers Company A Major Grover “Frank” Huff, a longtime resident of Liberty County.
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Watching Ranger Bess on True Crime tonight for his involvement in the Mary Catherine Edward’s case. What an awesome guy! Happy retirement Sir!