a Tribute to Roy Rogers

Leonard Slye (Roy Rogers) was born on Nov. 5, 1911 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Before becoming Roy Rogers, he starred in movies under the stage name Dick Weston, but the studio thought that name was too bland and wanted to change it. So they chose Rogers because Will Rogers was loved by all America, and added the first name of Leroy. That was shortened to Roy and, in 1938, Leonard Slye became Roy Rogers. In 1942 he made the name change legal.

The King of the Cowboys was a low-key, well-intentioned, dependable good guy. He never bragged or postured. Always protective of the weak and brave, he was kind to animals, God-fearing and slow to anger. He also sang pleasantly and in the 1944 film, ‘’Hollywood Canteen,’’ introduced Cole Porter’s song ‘’Don’t Fence Me In.’’

For 12 straight years he was the number one western star at the box office.

Besides his most famous roll of Roy Rogers, King of the Cowboys, he also played four of the Wild West’s greatest legends: Wild Bill Hickok, Buffalo Bill, Billy the Kid and Jesse James.

Roy Rogers (Nov. 5, 1911 - July 6, 1998)

1. Be neat and clean.2. Be courteous and polite3. Always obey your parents.4. Protect the weak and help them.5. Be brave but never take chances.6. Study hard and learn all you can.7. Be kind to animals and take care

of them.8. Eat all your food and never waste

any.9. Love God and go to Sunday

School regularly.10. Always respect our flag and our

country.

This issue of RFD-TV The Magazine is proudly dedicated to the memory of Roy Rogers, on what would be the 100th anniversary of his birth. In the 10+-year history of RFD-TV and The Magazine, we have never singled out an individual or produced a commemorative issue. It is so appropriate then that this precedent be broken for the first time with our special tribute to Roy Rogers, who lived his life “the cowboy way” and who still embodies all of the qualities that all of us at RFD-TV aspire to be.

RFD-TV’s 2-month celebration of Roy’s 100th birthday will begin on the actual birth date of November 5th, and then culminate with RFD-TV’s float as the grand finale in the Tournament of Roses Parade® on the morning of January 2nd.

Our plans include the unveiling of the float with a national press conference and satellite media tour with Dusty and Dustin Rogers kicking off that first week of November. On RFD-TV, both the Roy Rogers Show and Roy Rogers Theatre will be airing special episodes each week. In addition, taped messages with many country and entertainment stars sharing their thoughts and memories of Roy Rogers will be featured throughout our entire program schedule in the month leading up to RFD-TV’s Rose Parade broadcast. Letters and e-mails from RFD-TV viewers expressing what Roy Rogers means to them will also be recorded for air.

It is our understanding that both Cowboys & Indians magazine, and American Cowboy, will also have Roy on their upcoming covers, as well as, many urban-based media planning to do stories commemorating Roy’s milestone event.

Why so much interest still for a man who passed on years ago? From RFD-TV’s perspective, the love and affection was evident after our purchase of Trigger & Bullet at the 2010 auction. Immediately, thousands of letters and e-mails poured in with the most wonderful

stories of how Roy Rogers touched their lives. At every stop of our current Trigger & Bullet Happy Trails Tour, one can see the genuine smiles come across the faces of people when they first see these two symbols of western-heritage on display, and in many cases, watch as tears well up in their eyes as one can witness a true flood of emotion when they are obviously recalling some now vivid memory jarred from their past.

Roy Rogers lives on in the minds of millions of fans. Not only from the movies and television shows, but for what he stood for in life. One of the “good guys” who truly was a good guy. A family man, and a man who clearly loved God, this country, and his life. A visionary who saved Trigger, Bullet, and Buttermilk for all to enjoy, keeping the western-spirit alive. Roy Rogers lead by example, as evidenced by the simple rules of the Roy Rogers Riders Club which are so needed in this day and age.

Roy Rogers Riders Club Rules:

Many Happy Trails,

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Happy TrailsIn celebration of what would have been Roy Rogers 100th Birthday, RFD-TV is honoring the King of the Cowboys with a spectacular float entitled “Happy Trails” in the 2012 Tournament of Roses Parade®. Focused around a 35-foot tall classic image of the singing cowboy, Roy’s name is inscribed across a lucky silver horseshoe mirrored by pearl handled dual six-shooters flanked by American flags. The entrance to the Rogers floral ranch is guarded by Trigger, the Golden Palomino, and Bullet, the Wonder Dog.

The real Trigger and Bullet, Roy’s faithful compainions will actually be on the float underneath the Roy Rogers Riders Club arch-gate.

Floragraphs feature classic scenes of Roy and his dedicated companions.

In addition, 100 Golden Palominos with riders will symbolically lead the RFD-TV float down the Pasadena parade route, with Roy’s son and grandson, Dusty and Dustin Rogers, singing “Happy Trails” to the crowd along the way as the entourage rides off into the sunset.

Roy’s love of Pasadena’s New Year’s Day tradition was evident throughout his lifetime with 10 different appearances over the years, culminating with being named Grand Marshall in 1977. There is no more recognizable theme song than “Happy Trails” written by Dale Evans Rogers’ in 1950. It is only fitting that this float serve as a reminder to its lyrics for the legions of

Roy Rogers fans to pass along to the next generation this very special greeting gathered to watch the 123rd Tournament of Roses Parade on January 2nd:

Happy trails to you, until we meet again.Happy trails to you,

keep smilin’ until then.Who cares about the clouds

when we’re together?Just sing a song and bring

the sunny weather.Happy trails to you, ‘till we meet again.

Some trails are happy ones, Others are blue.

It’s the way you ride the trail that counts,

Here’s a happy one for you.Happy trails to you, until we meet again.Happy trails to you,

keep smilin’ until then.Who cares about the clouds

when we’re together?Just sing a song and bring

the sunny weather.Happy trails to you, ‘till we meet again.

RFD-TV unveils its 2012 Rose Parade®

float

Height: 35 ft.

Width: 18 ft.

Length: 75 ft.

Artist Rendering of the 2012 RFD-TV

Rose Parade Float “Happy Trails”

100 Palominos & Riders

lead the way

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Trigger “The Golden Palomino”

Roy Rogers Jr. “Dusty”

Roy Rogers &“Bullet”

Roy Rogers &“Trigger”

Dustin Rogers

Floragraphs featuring classic

scenes

Bullet “The Wonder Dog”

Tournament of Roses

Only RFD-TV covers the Tournament of Roses Parade® from the “rural” perspective, with limited commercial interruptions, no “cut aways” from the equine groups, and six (6) RFD HD cameras providing unique high definition coverage along the parade route.

December 30, 3pm - 5pm (EST) • Equestfest

Performance and interviews from the equestrian groups scheduled to participate in the Rose Parade®. Repeated from 11pm - 1am.

January 2, 10am - 11am (EST) • Pre-Parade Broadcast

One hour special behind-the-scenes look at the Making of the “Happy Trails” Float.

January 2, 11am - 1pm (EST) • The 123rd Tournament of Roses Parade®

“Live” coverage hosted by Orion Samuelson & Pam Minick. All the floats, bands and equestrian groups aired with limited commercial interruptions. Repeated from 6pm - 9pm.

RFD-TV 2012 Tournament of Roses® Broadcast Schedule

Hosts Pam Minick and Orion Samuelson

Equine focused coverage and expert commentary

Special behind the scenes look at building the float

2012 Tournament of Roses® Theme “Just Imagine...”

I am so proud to once again be a part of the RFD-TV Broadcast team, bringing the most comprehensive coverage of the Tournament of Roses Parade® to our viewers. Throughout the year, as I travel to events, I am constantly reminded how much RFD-TV viewers enjoy and appreciate the fact that this networks

coverage gives in depth information on all of the flowers and agricultural aspects, and “nose to tail” coverage of all the equestrian groups. And don’t forget about RFD -TV’s coverage of Equestfest! The kick off to Tournament of Roses coverage.

~ Pam Minick

In honor of Roy’s 100th birthday, the Happy Trails float will be lead by 100 golden palominos!

Just Imagine... 100 golden coats and white manes and tails leading the way with Trigger rearing up behind them on the float. With special permission from the Rose Parade® Committee, the Happy Trails Float will be escorted along the five mile parade route by 100 palominos and riders. RFD-TV called out to riders to

bring their palomino and participate in this once in a lifetime tribute to Roy Rogers, on national TV. The response was quick and overwhelmingly positive.

Some participants riding the palomino entourage include:• Patrick Gottsch - Owner and Founder of RFD-TV

and his daughters Raquel and Gatsby• Baxter Black• RFD-TV Roy Rogers Riders Club• Long Beach Mounted Police• Kings County Sheriff ’s • Merced County Sheriff ’s• Santa Rosa Palomino Club US Marshals Posse

More celebrity riders have been invited.

This is a sight you won’t want to miss!

100 palominos

Long Beach Mounted Police

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The Happy Trails Tour has successfully completed its first year. Roy Rogers’ fans and RFD-TV viewers have had an incredible time reminiscing and getting their pictures taken with Trigger and Bullet. One question we are often asked on Tour is, “what happened to Buttermilk (Dale Evans’ horse)?”. RFD-TV is now proud to answer that Buttermilk will join the RFD-TV Happy Trails Tour for 2012! It is only fitting that Trigger, Bullet and Buttermilk be reunited for all to see.

Buttermilk was a light buckskin Quarter Horse with dark points. He was rescued as a young colt by a cattle farmer on his way to the slaughter house. The horse was severely abused so the new owners had to quickly work to change his demeanor. With dedication and care, they were able to help him become an affectionate, friendly and playful horse.

Dale Evans was introduced to “Soda” because her movie horse “Koko” was too hard to handle. Dale fell in love with him and renamed him “Buttermilk” after the Hoagy Carmichael’s song, “Ole Buttermilk Sky.”

Dale rode Buttermilk alongside Roy and Trigger for almost all of Roy’s movies and all but 6 of the television episodes (from 1951-1957). Buttermilk had bursts of speed that could outrun Trigger. Roy had to ask Dale to hold him back so Trigger could take the lead when filming.

Buttermilk died at the age of 31 and was preserved, just as was Trigger, so fans can continue to enjoy his beauty.

Buttermilk Joins the

RFD TV Stable

Buttermilk (1941-1972)

The RFD-TV Happy Trails Tour kicked off almost one year ago when RFD-TV became the care-takers of Trigger and Bullet. No matter where we traveled, stories were shared from numerous fans who were inspired to learn how to ride or to get a horse because of Trigger, while many others named their horse after him.

This gave us the idea of a pet adoption program, the Trigger & Bullet Rescue, in honor of Trigger and Bullet. You can take part by

adopting a pet and naming them “Trigger” or “Bullet”. Then send RFD-TV a picture of your new pet and receive a c o m m e m o r a t i v e Trigger & Bullet pin and free membership to the Roy Rogers Riders Club!

All the exciting details are on our website at triggerandbullet.com.

Approximately 5 to 7 million companion animals (dogs, cats & horses) enter animal shelters nationwide every year. Roy Rogers, along with Trigger and Bullet, fought injustice, now it’s our chance to fight for abandoned animals, in their honor.

If you would like to help but cannot adopt, you can make a monetary donation through our Trigger & Bullet website at www.triggerandbullet.com or mail a check to RFD-TV in honor of Trigger & Bullet Rescue.

Just note on your check that the donation is for Trigger & Bullet Rescue and mail your check to:

RFD-TV c/o Trigger & Bullet Rescue 1 Valmont Plaza, 4th Floor

Omaha, NE 68154Anyone who adopts a pet or makes a donation will be entered into a drawing for an all-expense paid trip to the 2013 Tournament of Roses Parade® in Pasadena, CA. Rules and details are explained on the Trigger and Bullet website.

Trigger and Bullet Inspire Pet Adoption

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until the line went down by the turkey. Its a great tradition that worked out really well and I still practice it today.

How did you celebrate birthdays in such a large family and so much travel?

Dusty: Birthdays when I was young were cool because we celebrated on the set because by the time they would get off of work I’d already be in bed. I remember the whole crew would sing, bring little gifts and have a lot of fun. But then later it got difficult to hit all the birthdays so we would have batches of birthdays with one cake and one get together and one dinner and that would take care of 3 birthdays (Dusty’s birthday is Oct 28, Dale’s was Oct 31 and Roy’s was Nov 5th) for example. But once everyone was off and married that all ceased to take place but

my Mom kept track of all the birthdays and would buy cards every month for that month’s birthdays, she would address them all and mail them the first part of the month. That was a family tradition that she started... she did that up until the last year of her life.

Describe the Roy-Trigger relationship.

Dusty: The reason behind Trigger and Bullet being so beautifully taxidermied was to show his absolute love and respect he had for them. He spent his entire career on that horse. From his first picture in 1938 he sat astride Trigger and 88 movies and 104 TV shows later he was still astride Trigger. Dad spent 30 years of his life with that horse. Dad said “I cannot put this horse in the ground for the worms to eat him up, I just can’t.” His intent was to have him beautifully mounted so people could still see him 100 years from now, and the same for Buttermilk (Dale Evans’ horse) and the dog Bullet. And to spend that kind of money ($30,000 in 1965) to

have him mounted is unbelievable. But that’s the difference between just having a horse and seeing Trigger as a member of our family.

It’s now been one year since the auction of Trigger, Bullet and other memorabilia, what are your thoughts?

Dusty: It’s still very vivid in my mind and being the trustee of the family, it was something difficult put on me and something we had to go through.

But the one thing I’m grateful for is that Patrick did end up with Trigger and Bullet and he has them out there where people can still enjoy them. It was a great burden off my mind to know people who understand the bond can appreciate that he’s preserving that.

If you could get your Dad a gift this year, what would it be?

Dusty: I would give him a scrapbook with pictures of all the kids who have joined the family since he passed so he could see what he and Mom had started.

With celebrity parents and nine children, I imagine you had some memorable family gatherings.

Dusty: Family gatherings in early years was Christmas, but as we all got older Mom decided that the get togethers should be on Thanksgiving because Christmas is when you should be home with your own families, so Thanksgiving started to become the Rogers family gathering. The last one we had with our Mom after Dad passed away there were 64 of us

and it was a big thing. I know we vaporized a 24 lb. turkey and 2 12 lb. hams in about 22 seconds.

That was the one time Mom threatened us all with bodily harm if we didn’t show up and we loved her and respected her so we made sure we all showed up. I miss those times.

What traditions did your family share that you still do today?

Dusty: I always watched my Dad and that’s how I learned so much stuff from him. When you had so many people in line... my Mom had this railroad chime she would ding and that meant everyone was to hold hands and say the Thanksgiving prayer and then hit the chow line.

Everyone would be trying to get to the turkey but my Dad and I would go to the back of the line and hit the dessert table first. Dad would always say if you didn’t get dessert first, later on you might not have a shot at it, so he and I would go have dessert and coffee and sit down

An Interview with Dusty Rogers

To America, Roy Rogers was one of the greatest country western icons of all time. To Dusty Rogers, he was simply “Dad.” Roy Rogers Jr., also known as “Dusty”tells us about the enduring legacy of his father (and mother).

Remembering Dad

(above) Dodie on Dale’s lap with from left, Roy Jr. “Dusty”, Linda Lou, Sandy and Cheryl

Roy, Dale and Roy Jr. “Dusty”

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“I Love a Western” Roy Rogers and Dales Evans for Post Cereals1956 Rose Parade®

Tournament Of Roses® Grand Marshals Roy Rogers and Dales Evans1977 Rose Parade®

What do you think Roy would think of Trigger and Bullet participating in the Tournament of Roses® ?

Dusty: He would be excited people could see them and would be very proud.

What do you think about the Float?

Dusty: I think it’s beautiful, it’s terrific and the colors are just phenomenal. It looks like an airbrushed painting of him. I’m really thrilled with it. RFD-TV and Phoenix Decorating did a terrific job.

What are your plans to celebrate Roy’s 100th?

Dusty: After playing our shows in Branson (Roy Rogers Jr. and The High Riders, which also includes Dusty’s son Dustin) we fly to California and will drive to Apple Valley (where Roy and Dale lived for 35 years). On November 5th the whole town will celebrate Roy’s Birthday with a concert and different activities from a pancake breakfast to tours of Mom and Dad’s home and grave sites. The Double R Bar Regulators (a gun club Roy, Dusty and Dustin started) will have a regional shoot and that night there’s a town dance. Then the next day we need to get back to Branson (Missouri) for our show on Monday morning.

Roy Rogers Jr and the High Riders

To Perform on the Happy Trails Float

At the request of Dale, Dusty started the High Riders band almost 40 years ago. It was Dale’s idea to name the band the “High Riders” as she said they were “young and riding high”. The talented group performs Three, Four and even five part harmonies. Hear them perform live from the Happy Trails Float on January 2nd.

You can also see them perform in Branson, Missouri at the Mickey Gilley Theatre in 2011.

Roy “Dusty” Rogers Jr. and his band, the High Riders, perform the greatest of America’s western music in this tribute to the cowboy and cowboy icons. Hear “Cool Water,” “Tumblin’ Tumbleweeds,” “Blue Prairie,” and more. Dusty shares tales of growing up with his folks, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, and answers any questions the audience might have.

10:00 am Shows now through

December 8, 2011.

Call 866-ROY-ROGERS for tickets.

Roy Jr. “Dusty” & son Dustin

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