By Kevin Henning
For the “Progressive Views” column, Boerne Star, December 15, 2024
I have been a big Roy Rogers fan for more than 70 years. His picture hangs in my home and my wife and I have visited the Roy Rogers Museum in Branson, Missouri. Unfortunately, it shut down in 2009 for lack of visitors. Roy Jr., better known as Dusty, ran it and he put on a show about Roy and Dale Evans’ extensive careers. Roy was born Leonard Slye in southeast Ohio in 1911. His family struggled at farming and ended up in California. He grew up around horses and was quite an athlete. Turns out it was his musical ability that got him into the entertainment business.
His singing group, The Sons of the Pioneers, began recording in the 1930s which eventually led to a film and television career. Known as The King of the Cowboys he was almost always the good guy, only playing the bad guy on a few occasions. It is said he could walk a quarter of a mile on his hands but wasn’t allowed to do his own stunts. He was a horseman and who doesn’t remember his palomino Trigger. Trigger was stuffed and we saw him in the museum along with a huge collection of Roy and Dale’s memorabilia. Over 200 products carried Roy’s name and picture. I wish I still had my Roy Roger’s lunch box.
He and Dale married in 1947 and became known for their integrity, faith, honesty, and caring ways. They promoted adoption, sponsoring over 40 children. They adopted four children of their own. The family also included two of Roy’s children from an earlier marriage and one of their own who passed away when she was two. One of the adopted children was Korean and another was Choctaw. Roy and Dale were the real deal, living their beliefs and setting a positive example for so many young folks. Roy’s motto was “Protect the weak and help them. Study hard and learn all you can. Be kind to animals and care for them.” Still good advice.
The truths that Thomas Paine promoted ring true today. His pamphlet “Common Sense” was a vison for freedom of thought and person that was an important contributor to the birth of our nation. It is interesting to note that Paine was also an engineer of sorts and designed and developed an iron bridge spanning the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia. His innovative iron design became the model for bridge construction in North America and Britain and was a symbol of the coming industrial revolution.
The iron bridge was also revolutionary as a symbol of overcoming vested interests. Wood was cheaper and easier material to use to construct bridges but the iron bridge was far better at withstanding the forces of water and ice. So while costlier up front, it was far better in the long run.
“Common Sense” was published in 1776 and was a call for the American colonies to break away from Britain. It was written in plain language so everyday folks could understand the wisdom of taking a risky but morally right course of action. Paine established that the British government was tyrannical and immoral and that the Colonies had every right to rebel. He also put forth the vision that the best government would be a republic. Paine is thought to have had a role in helping Thomas Jefferson write the Declaration of Independence.
Later in 1776 he published his “The American Crisis” series to help continue to inspire the fight against Britain. It included one of my favorite quotes used by George Washington to inspire his troops:
“These are the times that try men’s souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.”
Paine went on to support the French Revolution, to be attacked by Britain, and to promote ideas that have been criticized by some but he always stood for freedom and freedom of thought.
To learn more, check out the Kendall County Democratic Party website at www.kcdems.us.
Kevin Henning is a local Democrat and wishes everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
