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"ROY & DALE" Today I was thinking about a New Years Day long ago..Jan.1, l948..That is only 52 years ago. I was listening to the radio and the news announced that Roy Rogers had married Dale Evans (12/31/47) the night before..I went out on the porch and cried my little eyes out..I still remember it like it was today. I thought Roy was going to wait until I was big enough so he could marry me and here comes that "huzzy"(smile) Dale Evans and took him away from me.. I almost didn't get over it you see I was born in 1941 and was just not old enough for Roy. I was a tomboy and I always went to the movie on Saturday. Hoppy, Roy, Gene, the Cisco Kid, Lash and all the others were my heros'.I even knew all their horses and dogs names as well as Pat Brady's jeep "Nellybelle". I even saw Smiley Burnett and "Ring Eye" in person.And at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo the "Stars" were always there. In the 1940's they had magazines with just "Cowboys". I would buy those magazines and look at them from cover to cover, and over and over.. I told my son, Scott about my heartbroken news of Roy Rogers that New Years Day. At an antique paper show, Scott bought a picture of Roy and Dale with Trigger and Buttermilk.. He sent the picture to Roy Rogers and told him the story..Both Roy and Dale autographed the picture and sent it back. Scott gave it to me for Christmas one year as a surprise..And it was.. Now that Roy is gone, Gene is gone, and this year , this month we lost Rex Allen, Sr. and now the Lone Ranger it seems few are left.. On this day, I was just thinking about the "yesteryears" and the 6 1/2 year old broken hearted cowgirl and we have a different loss today, it is more final.
Written BY: Billie Veach |