How Sheriff Bob made me into an explorer of the world beyond TV.

Publication: Smithsonian

Publication Date: 01-JAN-95

Bookmark this article Print this article Link to this article Email this article Digg It! Add to del.icio.us RSS

COPYRIGHT 1995 Smithsonian Institution

I had a regular routine as a fifth-grader. After school, I declined to participate in healthy outdoor activities and settled down in front of the TV. My favorite program then--and to this day--was the afternoon Western movie, hosted by Col. Tim McCoy. McCoy, who had been a genuine cowboy, and a genuine lieutenant colonel, was a student of Indian sign language, had a successful career as a movie star and was the handsomest man who ever lived.

During his Army days in the West, McCoy had sought out and interviewed surviving badmen, lawmen and formerly hostile Indian chiefs. During breaks in the movie, he would fill in the audience vis-a-vis reality versus Hollywood, demonstrate authentic gunfighting technique (sneak up from behind), explain trick riding and share his collection of photographs of famous outlaws, usually on mortuary...

Read the full article for free courtesy of your local library.