Jody Slaughter
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read

Pinkie Roden: The Bootlegger King

Updated: 2 days ago

Season: 1 \ Episodes: 2-3

In this episode, host Jody Slaughter delves into the life of Pinkie Roden, who built a West Texas bootlegging empire in Prohibition that lasted all the way into modern times. From moonshiner to political influencer, Pinkie's story is a blend of daring escapades, high-stakes chases, and a relentless pursuit of fortune. Seldom talked about today, Pinkie's mark is all over West Texas, if you know where to look.

Pinkie's Liquor Store. Brady, Texas.

Texas Historical Commission. [Historic Property, Photograph 4636-03], photograph, Date Unknown; University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas Historical Commission.

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Cold Open: We set the scene in Ector County, Texas, on May 21, 1951. A state liquor agent hides in a cornfield, eyes fixed on the back of Pinkie’s Liquor Store—a beacon of neon pink glowing in the vast, dry landscape. This isn’t your average liquor store; it's a hub of illicit activity, sitting just 20 miles from any town, strategically positioned on the border of a dry zone where liquor is outlawed. Enter Roy Maxey, a seasoned runner, navigating the treacherous world of bootlegging.

Chapter 1: Getting a Taste

Early Life: Thomas Watson Roden, later known as Pinkie, was born on March 28, 1911, in Chalk Mountain, Texas. With bright orange hair and freckles, he quickly earned the nickname "Pinkie."
Prohibition Era: Growing up in Somerville County, surrounded by moonshine operations, Pinkie’s early encounters with the bootlegging world began while working at a hotel in Glen Rose.
Leaving Glen Rose: Various stories about why Pinkie left Glen Rose as a teen, leading him to Fort Worth where he delved deeper into bootlegging.
Early Career: Pinkie’s rise in the bootlegging world in Sweetwater during the late 1920s.
Economic Collapse: The impact of the Great Depression on Texas and Pinkie’s operations.
First Arrest: Pinkie’s arrest, conviction, and subsequent pardon by Governor Ma Ferguson.
Post-Prohibition: Navigating the post-Prohibition era and establishing new bootlegging routes across West Texas.
Big Spring: Pinkie’s initial successes and setbacks in Big Spring, including the challenges of a dry referendum.

Chapter 2: Odessa

Odessa: Moving to Odessa and leveraging the city’s burgeoning oil boom to expand his bootlegging empire.
Farm Store: Establishing the infamous Farm Store in Ector County, equipped with advanced warning systems and surrounded by an 8-foot wall.
Bootlegging Operations: Detailed description of Pinkie’s sophisticated distribution network, decoy tactics, and methods for avoiding law enforcement.

Chapter 3: Taking their Shot

Investigations: The grand jury investigations in Lubbock and Amarillo, spearheaded by District Attorney Waggoner Carr.
House Crime Investigating Committee: Subpoenas, hearings, and Pinkie’s strategic testimony before the committee.
Corporate Structure: Insight into Pinkie’s complex financial arrangements and how they shielded him from legal repercussions.

Closing: Thank you for tuning in to the WTX Podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe and leave a review. Part 2 will be out soon.

Media:

Tom "Pinkie" Roden, date unknown

Pinkie, a West Texas Legend, by Walter Harold Gray & Don Hudgpeth, 2000, p 54.

The Somervell County Moonshine Bust. Courthouse lawn, 1923. Somervell County Historical Society

Governor Miriam "Ma" Ferguson with Texas Rangers on the Capitol steps. 1925.

Jordan Company. [Texas Rangers with Governor Miriam "Ma" Ferguson], photograph, 1925-01-20/1927-01-17; University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Austin History Center, Austin Public Library.