Billy Jack “BJ” Rankin was born 7 February 1947, in Midland, Texas. He grew up in Rankin and graduated from Regan County High School in Big Lake. He graduated from the University of Texas in Austin 24 May 1969 and was sworn into the US Army Reserves on 25 May 1969 as a heavy truck driver in the 77th Transportation Platoon in Midland. He worked for Gulf Oil Corporation in Midland for one year before beginning his career in public school education in 1970, as a teacher/coach in the Grandfalls-Royalty ISD. In 1972, he moved to Bangs to take a teaching/coaching position.
In 1973, he married MaryAnn Stephens in Bangs, Texas. He got out of the TXARNG in 1975 when his initial obligation was up and after their son Chad was born. He returned to the TXARNG and CSC in 1976 prior to the birth of their daughter Paige. He attended OCS Class 21 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in May 1978. In 1979, he was named as the first ever Junior High School Principal at Bangs. In 1993, he was named as Superintendent of Schools in Bangs. LTC Rankin retired from public education in June 2003 after 33 years, 30 of which were spent with the Bangs ISD. In June 2004, he mobilized with 136th RTI to serve as Chief of Staff for the Training Assistance Group III support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Kabul, Afghanistan. He lived south of Bangs and devoted most of his time to raising Texas Longhorn cattle, and volunteering in several organizations. One of his favorite activities was scuba diving. The American Legion, Lions Club, and Brown County Retired Association were very important to him in his busy life.
Billy Jack was a member of the Bangs First Baptist Church where he served as an usher for many years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Nell Rankin. He is survived by his wife, MaryAnn, and his children Chad Rankin and wife Christina and Paige Gregory and husband Sam; grandchildren are Elise and Nolan Rankin, and Adaline and Marit Gregory; and a sister, Betty Lester and husband Kenneth.
The family requests that donations be made to the Cancer Society.
Funeral services will be held at 10:00AM, Friday, January 6, 2023, at the Bangs First Baptist Church. Burial with military honors will follow in the Bangs Cemetery under the direction of Heartland Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday evening from 5:00 until 7:00.
Condolences, memories, and tributes can be offered to the Rankin family online at heartlandfuneralhome.com.
