Butch Remembers “The King of the Cowboys”

By: John “Butch” Dale

There are very few western movies in theaters nowadays, and like many of today’s flicks, they are full of extreme violence, gore, cursing, and sex. Where are the good guys in the white hats? We need Leonard Slye back on the screen. You remember him, don’t you? Well, you likely know Leonard by his acting name…Roy Rogers, the singing and yodeling “King of the Cowboys.”

Roy was born in Cincinnati in 1911. His family lived in a tenement apartment and moved to a farm in 1919. When there wasn’t enough money, Roy dropped out of high school after two years and worked in a shoe factory with his father. During the Great Depression the family moved to California, where Roy worked in construction and picked peaches. However, during this time he learned how to play the guitar, and practiced his singing and yodeling, eventually forming a group called the Sons of the Pioneers. His big break came in 1934 when Decca recorded his song “Tumbling Tumbleweeds,” followed by “Cool Water,” both of which became big hits.

Roy appeared in a few westerns as an extra, but in 1935 took on the leading role in “Under the Western Stars.” From that time on, he and Gene Autry, another singing cowboy, became box office attractions. Most of us baby boomers remember Roy from his 1950s TV show, which also featured his wife, Dale Evans, along with sidekick Pat Brady (driving his jeep Nellybelle), and of course Roy’s wonder horse, “Trigger.” I also enjoyed reading Roy Rogers comic books when I was getting a haircut at Slim’s barbershop in Darlington. And my little brother Gary just HAD to have a Roy Rogers “Double-R-Bar Ranch Chow Wagon” lunchbox, too! All I had was a plain black one…not fair!

Unlike the movie and TV cowboys today, Roy never drank, smoked, or swore. He and Dale were also very devoted and outspoken Christians throughout their marriage. In addition to their daughter, they adopted four other children and became advocates for the adoption of homeless and handicapped children, and also sponsored several children’s charities. Roy was always thankful to the Lord for his life and his success as an entertainer. He was always grateful for his many fans, and loved to talk with them and sign autographs. He loved horses and ranch life, and his faithful horse Trigger appeared in every movie and TV show. When Trigger died, Roy didn’t have the heart to bury him, so he had him stuffed and placed in his western museum.

An interviewer asked Roy about today’s westerns compared to the past. He replied, “It was a healthier era then. There were things people held kind of sacred and didn’t platter all over the screen. Some of these pictures today I wouldn’t even want Trigger to watch. And the violence–why, I don’t think I ever killed anybody in any pictures. We’d catch somebody, we’d chase him and run him down and maybe rope him, and then whup him in a fistfight, but that’s about it.”

Roy Rogers passed away in 1998 at the age of 86 from congestive heart failure, and his wife Dale Evans died three years later. They both were clean-cut heroes of the West…to kids and adults alike, champions of right and wrong morality…and just plain good human beings who we admired.

“Happy trails to you, until we meet again, Happy trails to you, keep smiling until then. Who cares about the clouds when we’re together? Just sing a song, and bring the sunny weather…Happy trails to you…until we meet again.”

Happy trails, Roy and Dale….We miss you!

– John “Butch” Dale is a retired teacher and County Sheriff. He has also been the librarian at Darlington the past 32 years, and is a well-known artist and author of local history.