Rememberin' Roy

will ghormley · November 01, 2011, 05:08:33 PM

This Saturday would be Roy's 100th Birthday. Like many others who visit this forum, I am who I am today, in part because of who Roy was. Years ago, I wrote a little story and thought it would be appropriate to share it now.

http://www.willghormley-maker.com/RememberingRoy.html

Will

panhead pete · November 01, 2011, 05:54:37 PM

Great story Will,

Between Roy and Boy Scouts, I learned all of the important stuff before I was 15.

Happy Trails Indeed,

PhP

KidTerico · November 01, 2011, 07:51:55 PM

Will beautifully written and I can fully relate to it. Thanks for showing. KT

bedbugbilly · November 01, 2011, 09:45:20 PM

Will - great story!

You know, when we were kids, shows like Roy's helped us learn the difference between right and wrong, good and evil and we had fellows like him, Hop Along, etc. that we looked up to as "guiding lights". It's a shame when you think about the crap on TV today and what kids are learning from it - and unfortunately they have parents who don't know much better. A person could go on and on - from every day folks all the way to politicians but there's not much use of jawing about that. A person just has to wonder where all the "white hats" went and where they are - God knows, we sure could use some now.

At any rate, thanks for sharing Will - and Roy, Happy Birthday! And thanks for all of your good influence on us - we're better people for it.

Dusty Drifter · November 02, 2011, 09:30:29 PM

Will,

Growing up a PK myself, your story brought back some memories. I got the "look" from my Dad from the pupit on more than one occation. I also had a flash-back to about age 5 or 6, going around in my cowboy get-up (genuine vinyl chaps and vest and all) and telling everyone my name was Roy Rogers.
When my two boys were small I found a DVD set of old Roy Rogers movies and bought it for them. They're teens now but I still come in and find them watching those old movies from time to time. I think it's great that with all the other slick, high-tech stuff they watch, ol' Roy still has something that they can enjoy.
Thanks Will and Happy Birthday Roy!

Texas John

Drayton Calhoun · November 03, 2011, 01:08:57 AM

Will, a hero is a hero, be he celluloid or flesh and blood. All we can do is lead and teach by example and from all I can tell from you is that you lead and teach the right way. My wife and I are raising three grandsons, it is a trial considering what they came from and my lack of experience as a parent, all we can do is try.

GunClick Rick · November 03, 2011, 01:50:58 AM

I have some cool pics i'll show if i feel better by then.Got some blood pressure problems and a bad tooth pull from a dentist here in town.I cain't never win when it comes to health care providors

Had an infection when i got there and they decided to give me another,i been sick man!

Dalton Masterson · November 03, 2011, 08:22:57 PM

Very good Will.
I heard an ad today on my XM radio that they are playing Roy all day Saturday on channel 82 (I think its 82). Might have to have a good listen while I do some work!
DM

Drayton Calhoun · November 04, 2011, 12:45:28 AM

Quote from: GunClick Rick on November 03, 2011, 01:50:58 AM
I have some cool pics i'll show if i feel better by then.Got some blood pressure problems and a bad tooth pull from a dentist here in town.I cain't never win when it comes to health care providors Had an infection when i got there and they decided to give me another,i been sick man!

You take care of yourself Rick, docs had my BP meds all screwed up and I wound up passing out from LOW blood pressure!

Long Juan · November 04, 2011, 03:02:23 PM

Will, that's just great. The biggest thing I like about having discovered western action shooting and related activities rather late in life is being associated with folks who believe in the same values taught to me by my father more than 60 years ago. I "discovered" the cowboy code shortly after getting into western action shooting and realized it states very well the values in life that I think are important and have tried to teach my children and my grandson. What you say about Roy fits perfectly. I enjoyed Roy as kid myself also, together with many other TV westerns reflecting the same values. We were fortunate to grow up in a time, and to relive it now, when those were the values important to people and taught to youngsters. Thanks for reinforcing and sharing with us your experience.

John, aka Long Juan

GunClick Rick · November 04, 2011, 07:46:30 PM

GunClick Rick · November 04, 2011, 07:48:44 PM

northwestgrizzly · November 05, 2011, 01:50:28 AM

Happy B-day Roy.....growing up I used to get into fights because kids would make fun of my name...once...its Dale. I liked watching Roy Rodgers movies but inevitably the comparison of names would come up with mine and Dale Evans.

will ghormley · November 05, 2011, 09:40:57 AM

Hey Rick,

Thanks for postin' the pics. I hope that means you are feelin' better!

Will

GunClick Rick · November 05, 2011, 03:00:34 PM

Thanks Will a little bit, my head still hurts and still some swelling from the dental proceedure.

The black and white pics are of my aunt by marriage when she was 8 years old,her mom and dad ran dogs with Roy back then,the one of Dale in the camper is when she was pregnant and didn't want her picture took,those pics from 1956.
Her and my uncle went to see Roy with her mom and dad and spent a good part of the day with him,in that one picture he is looking at the black and white ones,that's my aunt and her mom and dad.That one pic of Roy and my uncle that lived in Ventura,Ca. at the time is pointing at the camera and tellin Roy,by god that nephew of mine thinks you walk on water Roy,Roy told him"well tell the little booger to come see me"..

Which i had planned on doing when i got my new motorcycle and was gonna ride down and show it to him,he liked motorcycles.I went campin one weekend and the next weekend i was gonna go not realizing how sick he was,i got back from campin and he had passed away so me and a friend loaded up and went to the services.One sad day!!!!

One thing that was really eary, there was a small buiding on the church grounds and up against the wall was a bench,sitting on that bench was a feller that impersonated Roy! he was good too,sittin there listening to the Sons of the Pioneers sing "The Last Round-Up" and chokin up and barely makin the song~~

The magazine Cowboy Legends has bueatiful write ups and pictures i advise everyone to run down and get a copy of this one!!

GunClick Rick · November 05, 2011, 03:05:22 PM

GunClick Rick · November 05, 2011, 03:11:52 PM

The picture of the van is Dale Evans on the passenger side.The church was overflowing and tave and speakers set outside.Dale made the comment that she "was very surprised by the turnout and was very happy so many showed"

Roys family in the closed for the time beein old museum~

GunClick Rick · November 05, 2011, 03:37:11 PM

Will,i finally got my eyes focused enough to read your story.DADBURN that was good!!!!!

Them old black and white tvs were slower than a kids christmas!I tried to run under the pews once,but the preachers duaghter blocked me with her legs and it was her i was sneakin away from..I believe i have that set of records around here too,they are transparent blue color,if i find them they are yours..

Oh yea,can you realise how massivley scalding and brain numbing it is to find out later in life you were born just a couple of miles from Roys house!!! And you watched your hero thinking you could never ever be able to see in person the guy in that awsome invention,the tv,that is was like another whole world but in actuality i could have drove a couple hundred miles south and could have probably ridin Trigger himself!!!!!!

And that when i was watching my mom and dad knew it!!!!!!! And could have takin me anytime!!!!!! AAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GunClick Rick · November 05, 2011, 04:28:27 PM

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROY YA PILGRIM~

Dalton Masterson · November 05, 2011, 09:44:38 PM

My wife's mom grew up in Cody, Wy, and her uncle in Billings made boots for Roy. One time Roy was up there, and she was at her uncle's. There were a group of kids around him, and he was showing off his horse. When they left, it was only her and him. She said "Mr. Rogers, you are a liar."
He said "What do you mean?"
She said, "Thats my horse, Taffy, not Trigger..."
It became their little secret.
She still tells that story.

BTW, I was able to watch my wife's great uncle Mike work on a pair of boots for about an hour, and I learned more in that hour than I had ever learned about leather before. He is pretty much what inspired me to make "real" holsters, and not what I had made previously.

I did get to watch some RR movies today on the Western channel. The wife had the XM unit in her car and was away, so I couldn't listen today.