Newspapers / The Kings Mountain Herald … / Aug. 16, 1972, edition 1 / Page 12
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PAGE 12, KINGS MOUNTAIN MIRROR, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 1972 CrossroftfLs Intprvww Tex Ritter - A Living Legend By TONY TOMPKINS I sat quietly in the front row, waiting for the cowboy idol of my youth'to appear, and my mind seemed to wander back to my childhood and the many movies that I had seen him in. When he did appear on the stage, I knew, without a doubt in my mind, that I was witnes sing a living legend of the co untry music world. He was born Woodward Ma urice Ritter on January 12, 1907 in the town of Murual, Panola County, Texas which happens to be in East Texas. When he grew up, he attend ed the University of Texas and later on went to Northwestern University to study law. Then the old acting bug got to him and he packed his bags and went to New York to do a Broadway play called “Green Grow the Lilacs.’’ He stayed on Broadway to do another play titled “The Roundup.’’ The latter play was based on a play called “The Sheriff’’ and it also was a hit. He next tried his hand on radio where a Hollywood pro ducer, Edward Finney, liked what he heard and decided to star Tex in a western series for Grand National pictures. The year was 1936 and Tex made his debut in “Song of the Gringo” in which he sang his famous renedition of the song, “Rye Whiskey.” Other films in this series were, "Headin’ for the Rio Grande,” Arizona Days,” "Trouble in Texas,” (withRita Hayworth), "Hlttln’ the TraU,” "Sing Cowboy Sing,” “Riders of the Rockies,” "Mystery of the Hooded Horsemen,” "Tex Rides with the Boy Scouts,” “Frontier Town,” “Rollin’ Plains” and "The Utah Tra il.” Obtaining better distri bution through Monogram, producer Finney and star Tex continued to turn out first rate films from 1938 to 1941. “Westbound Stage,” “Rain bow over the Range,” “Ari zona Frontier” and “Roll, Wagons Roll” featured exce ptional production values in these series. His “Song of the Buckaroo” featured ac tress Jinx Falkenberg. In this movie, an old friend of Tex’s, CarsonRobinson wrote a song titled “Texas Dan,” which Tex sang in the movie. It was quite a hit. Tex continued to ride hlgh- 1941; starred with Wild Bill Elliott in a Columbia series; 1942; starred with Johnny Mack Brown and Fuzzy Kni ght in a Universal series; 1944; starred with Max Ter- hune in "Cowboy Canteen” and also starred with Dave O’Brien and Guy Wllkersonin PRC’s "Texas Ranger” ser ies. He sang himself into the ranks of the motion picture Herald’s Top Ten Western Stars in his 1936-38 series, a position he was to hold on to for seven consecutive years. Tex also sang the title song to such movies as "The Mar shal’s Daughter,” “Trooper Hook,” “Wichita” and “High Noon.” His renedition of the “High Noon” ballad in 1952’s classic film won the song the Academy Award. More recently, he has guest starred on "Zane Grey Thea tre,” "Shotgun Slade,” "The Rebel” and starred in Screen Gem’s musical western TV series "Tex Ritter’s Ranch Party” in 1959. Tex married and is still married to one of his leading ladies, the beautiful Dorothy Fay. Well, the legend of the cow boy movies and the musical world came on stage Sunday to a standing ovation. He smiled and then began to sing “The Wayward Wind” Tex was dressed in a bright blue western suit, with a light blue shirt and red western tie. Of course, he wore his white ste tson hat and black cowboy boots. He broke into bis fa vorite song of “Boll Weevil,” which he promptly interrup ted twice to tell some funny tales of his past. Other songs were the "Deck of Cards,” also his latest song, "Lor- ena’ ’ which is a Civil War ballad and is beautiful done by Tex, and be finally closed with “HUlbUly Heaven.” His band, which is called the Boll-Weevils, is comprised of Johnny Walker on lead gui tar; J.R. Williams ofGreens- boro, N.C. on drums, and Bill Merritt, a Kentucky boy on guitar who also acts as em cee for the group. They are one of the finest trio’s I have ever heard. OBITUARIES Stowe Mrs. Martha Stowe, 89, of 825 N, Piedmont Avenue in Kings Mountain died Saturday at 5:30 p.m, in Kings Moun tain Hospital after several years illness, A native of Gaston County, she was the widow of Charles Stowe and former owner of Stowe’s Cash Grocery. She is survived by 2 daugh ters, Mrs. Margaret Spivey of Kings Mountain and Mrs. Herman Yawn of Rock Hill; 2 sons, John Stowe of Shelby and Charles Stowe of Kings Mountain, Also surviving are 11 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. Funeral services were held Monday morning at 11;00 at the Kings Mountain ^ptist Church and were conducted ^ by the Rev. James Wilder. * Burial was in MountainRest Cemetery. Harris Funeral Home was In charge of arrangements. and were conducted by the Rev. Ansel Center, Jr. and assisted by the Rev. Leonard Huffstetler. Burial was in the Bethel Ce metery. Harris Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Boles Payne Tex Performs at Crossroads Sunday ( Walter Vess Photo) Tex Ritter Is also one of the seven living members of the country Music Hall of Fame Award Winners. He also is a member of the Grand Ole Opry and still makes records for Capitol Records, a job he has held for 31 years. His warm smUe and pleas ing personality makes him come on strong to his fans and as I finished my interview with this famous legend, I si lently thank God for giving me one more chance to see him. He has made many per sonal appearances in North Carolina and here’s hoping he makes many more. Yes, I saw and I love this famous western legend and I know that someday, Tex Rit ter will really find his place in his own "HUlbUly Heaven.” Miss Ivy Bright Payne, 55, of 200 Thornburg Dr., Kings Mountain, died Sunday morn ing at 11; 30 in Kings Mountain Hospital after several weeks Ulness. She was a native of Kings Mountain and the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Doris Payne. She is survived by 1 sister, Mrs. Catherine Blanton of Kings Mountain. Funeral services were held Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. at the Harris Funeral Home Chapel Mrs. Elizabeth Boles, 84, of 115 Cloninger Street, Kings Mountain died Tuesday mor ning at 4;00 a.m. to the Kings Mountain Hospital after three weeks Ulness. She was a native of Hall Co unty, Georgia and Uie widow of the late Oscar Boles who died in June 1972. Surviving are 2 sons, Juni us Boles and Roscoe Boles both of GreenvUle, S.C,; 5 daughters, Manley Kanlpe of Marion, S.C,, Mrs. Fannie Cooper of FayettevUle, N.C., Mrs. Wesley Moss, Mrs. L. B. Sprouse and Mrs. Roy Smith all of Kings Mountain; 1 brother, Bunyan Grizzle of Winder, Ga.; 1 sister, Mrs. John Rickies of Atlanta, Ga. Also surviving are 22 grand- chUdren and 35 great gran- dchUdren, F uneral services wUl be held Thursday, August 17, at Mace donia Baptist Church and wUl be conducted by the Rev. L. D, Scruggs, assisted by the Rev. C. A. Bost. Burial wUl be in the Latti- more Baptist Church Ceme tery. Harris Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Patterson Mrs. Fairy Long Patterson, 86, of 108 S. Gaston Street in Kings Mountain died 10:30 p. m, Friday in the Kings Moun tain Hospital after several years Ulness. She was the daughter of the late Perry and Melissa Lacky Long and the widow of the late Arthur Hunter Patterson who died in May of this year. Mrs. Patterson was a retired assistant secretary and trea surer at Home Savings and Loan, a member and former organist and choir member of Central United Methodist Church, former society edi tor for the Kings Mountain Herald, co-founder of Kings Mountain Woman’s Club, cha rter member of the Thursday Afternoon Book Club, and for mer member of the Kings Mountain School Club. Surviving are 4 daughters, Mrs. Charles Warllck, Mrs. R.C. Etheridge and Mrs. John Smathers all of Kings Moun tain and Mrs. HermanShatero of Chapel HUl, N. C. Also sur viving are 5 grandchUdren and 4 great grandchildren. Funeral services were held Sunday at 3:00 p.m. at Central United Methodist Church and were conducted by the Rev. Paschal Waugh. » Burial was in MountainRest Cemetery. Harris Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. An honest man’s the noblest work of God. -Alexander Pope. Lowest Price EVER! ON QUALITY SLUMBER - PEDIC BEDDING Standard, double or twin size... QUEEN SIZE 19 KING SIZE *169 ★ Beautiful Deep Quilted Dura-Fresh^'Damask Floral Covering . . . Long Lasting! ★ Convenient Turning Handles for Easy Turning! ★ Air Vents for More Air Circulation Throughout! ★ Resists Germs and Mildew! Retards Odors! ★ Buy Just the Size Combination You Need and Save! JUST I I I MATTRESS AND BOX SPRINGS REG. *119°* STANDiSia> S 15 INCW$ WIDER n' J i IL'gSnLiH'C! Cl.». ti 13 I ^ •rr-- .T' , I' ^ j ^ iifZr M i i , ^ t -'1^ KING SIZE 16 INCHES WIDER i t {76"x80")i ’ ■ \I I ' 'j ' ’'f Qsk: t CONVENIENT TERMS! FREE DELIVERY! 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The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
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Aug. 16, 1972, edition 1
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