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Monday, January 22, 2018
Page #10
Texas History Minute followed with a popular radio program, Gene Autry’s Melody Ranch, which ran from 1940 to 1943 and from 1945 to 1956. He was nominated for an Academy Award in 1942 for Best Original Song for the 1941 melody “Ridin’ on a Rainbow” from the film of the same name. In 1941, the small community of Berwyn, Oklahoma, renamed itself Gene Autry in honor of the star who had spent some of his formative years in nearby Dr. Ken Bridges communities. Autry performed his radio show for the community at Dr. Bridges is a Texas native, the dedication in appreciation for writer, and history professor. He the honor. can be reached at Autry prided himself on his drkenbridges@gmail.com. patriotism. In 1942, during World War II, and at the height of his He was called “America’s Favorite fame, Autry decided he needed to Cowboy” and the “Singing do his part for his country at war. Cowboy.” Though he was not the He enlisted in the U. S. Army Air first western star of either movies Force, eventually becoming a Cor music, Texas native Gene Autry 109 transport pilot. He rose to the became a favorite across the nation rank of tech sergeant and flew from the 1930s through the 1950s. many difficult missions through He became so popular that a host the Himalayas to deliver supplies of communities across North Texas to allied Chinese troops fighting and southern Oklahoma scrambled Japan. to proclaim themselves his hometown. Autry’s heartwarming As World War II came to a close, songs and movies became a staple he began recording a string of his for generations of Americans and most iconic songs, popular helped craft the image of how decades later. In 1945, he released Americans see the Old West. “Don’t Fence Me In” and released “Here Comes Santa Claus” in Orvon Grover Autry was born 1948. One of his most popular outside Tioga in Grayson County songs was his rendition of in 1907. His grandfather was a “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Methodist preacher, and his parents Reindeer.” Autry initially were ranchers. They would all declined to record it, but his wife have a profound impact on his convinced him otherwise, outlook on life. The family moved believing that children would several times, eventually ending up enjoy it. The song shot up to the owning a ranch in southern top position on the charts for the Oklahoma. 1949 Christmas season. His Christmas songs were so popular He graduated high school in 1925 that they are inescapable part of and took a job as a telegraph the season even decades later. operator. He had an opportunity to play minor league baseball, but he In 1950, his radio show was declined and took up music adapted to TV as The Gene Autry instead. He often practiced guitar Show, which ran until 1956 on and singing while manning his CBS. After the early 1960s, he telegraph station late at night, a largely retired from performing to move that eventually cost him his concentrate on his business job. In 1928, he traveled to New interests. He owned several radio York to audition for a record label. stations and bred horses for He failed. He returned to rodeos. In 1963, he bought Los Oklahoma and picked up a job Angeles television station KTLA singing on a Tulsa radio station. for $12 million. He sold it for By the next year, Columbia $245 million in 1982. Records signed him to a contract. In 1961, he became owner of the Autry recorded 640 songs and Los Angeles Angels as Major wrote more than 300. Ultimately, League Baseball expanded to the more than 100 million copies of his West Coast. The team won the albums were sold. He appeared in division three times but never won his first movie, In Old Santa Fe, in the World Series while Autry 1934. He would appear in more owned the team. “Win one for the than ninety films, usually cowboy!” became a popular portraying a light-hearted singing rallying cry for Angels fans for cowboy. From 1936 to 1942, he years. was the top western actor in the country. Autry co-wrote “Back in He released his autobiography, the Saddle Again” with Ray Back in the Saddle Again, in Whitley in 1939. It immediately 1976. In honor of his stewardship became a hit, and Autry performed of the Angels, Autry became viceit for the rest of his career. This
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president of the American League starting in 1983. He founded the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum in Los Angeles in 1988.
in 1998 at age 91. His songs have been featured in nearly 200 movies and television shows, leaving a long legacy of music for fans around the world.
He died at his home in California
Chamber opens up nominations for 2018 Howe Hall of Honor class
The Howe Area Chamber of Commerce officially opened up nominations for this year's class of the Howe Hall of Honor. The inducation ceremony will take place downtown on Friday evening, Saturday, May 4 which will kick off the Founders Day weekend, as it has for the past three years now.
The chamber will accept nominations from now until Feb. 28 and at that time, the public will vote on two living and two deceased members of the top 10 nominated individuals. Those what wish to make nominations must do so by filling out the form here: https://goo.gl/oLKt6E
