Roll of Honor
Incident
In the early 1890’s, Catarino Garza formed a small army called Garzistas in South Texas to overthrow Mexican President Porfirio Diaz. Garza was a Texas resident who was well known as a newspaper editor and charismatic orator. Despite having almost 1,000 men under his command, his three attempts to invade Mexico failed and caused President Diaz to complain that the United States enforce its neutrality laws. The Garzistas challenged the U.S. Army on the federal level and Texas Rangers and county officers domestically. In February 1892 Garza slipped out of the U.S. and fled to Central America. The Garzistas became bandits and wanted men.
On March 20 several bandits were caught by Company E and one was killed. On March 22, Ranger Private Robert E. Doaty was ambushed and killed by the bandits. Doaty was with seven or eight rangers who came upon a band of Garzistas about 20 miles below Pena, on the Duval-Starr county line. Doaty was shot in the head and killed instantly. The rangers captured one horse and one horse was killed. No rangers were injured.
Texas Ranger enlistment papers report that Robert E. Doaty joined Company E of the Texas Rangers on March 1, 1892 in Alice, Texas and served for only 21 days before he was killed.
Census records and contemporary newspaper accounts report his last name as Doughty; however, his enlistment papers show he joined as Doaty. He was born around 1860 and was about 34 years of age. He was apparently not married since his mother, Elizabeth Gravis, signed for his pay of $22. His place of burial is unknown at this time, but most likely he was buried in the family plot at the San Diego Cemetery in Duval County near his mother and stepfather.
Pvt. Doaty, On today, the 130th anniversary of your death I would just like to say thank you for your service and sacrifice for the citizens of the state of Texas.
R.I.P. USBP
Anonymous United States Border Patrol March 22nd, 2022
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-TX-B5406389- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
134 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Private Doaty served with the Texas Rangers.
Thank you for your service to the Austin community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Private Robert E. Doaty is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In TX, 1,463 of 2,421 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 60.4% of this state's fallen. That is 6.2 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Texas Rangers, 104 of 122 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 85.2% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Robert E. Doaty's cause is highlighted.
How Robert E. Doaty Compares
Offender Outcome
Never apprehended
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Robert E. Doaty is highlighted in Mar.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Robert E. Doaty was killed by unknown weapon.
Others Who Wore This Badge
121 officers from Texas Rangers are honored on badge.nw. Showing the 16 most recent.
