Today is the 110th anniversary of my maternal grandfather's birth near the middle of Texas. Cattle country. In the very small town of Tuscola. In a county which today has Abilene as its seat. His parents were from rural Bell and Red River Counties and lived in several Texas and New Mexico towns with their eight children.
As a boy, Grandpa met several of that dying breed of storytellers called cowboys. He saw the end of a fabled time soon to be memorialized by Hollywood. But Art didn't need a silent movie or a "talkie" film to get him excited about the Old West. He learned to love it early on. This is a favorite photo of Art as a teenager. I'm told he had red hair. I hope to see a color photo of young Art someday.
In later years I recall well-wishers giving him birthday gifts of vinyl records of "The Sons of the Pioneers" and other cowboy musicians. Art had a fine voice, and I remember (as a small ankle-biter) walking in on him singing a western ballad. Join me in wishing Art a Happy Birthday by listening to Roy Rogers and the Pioneers: