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John C. Dawson, Sr.
Raised in Dalhart, Texas and a lawyer by trade, John C. Dawson, Sr., is the author of High Plains Yesterdays (Eakin Press, 1985).
Gerry Day
Gerry Day was born in Hollywood, attended UCLA and then became a feature writer for a newspaper in Los Angeles. She quit the newspaper business in favor of launching an independent writing career. Her first pulp Western story sold to Ten Story Western, where the editor assumed that the writer (Gerald Day is her legal name) was a man.
She went on to write scripts for such TV shows as "Dr. Kildare," "Payton Place," "Loretta Young Show," "Court Martial," "Insight," "Wagon Train," "Tate," "Temple Houston," and "Big Valley". She has also owned a number of thoroughbred race horses. (Photo and brief bio in the March, 1968 issue of The Roundup.)
James Day
James Day is the author of Captain Clint: Peoples Texas Ranger (Texian, 1980).
Robert K. DeArment
Robert K. DeArment writes for Old West and True West magazines.
Frank Dean
(Deceased)
Frank Dean got into vaudeville around the San Francisco Bay area in 1927 and 28, and worked dates in theatres, hotels, night clubs, service clubs and so forth the rest of his life, from San Francisco to Hong Kong. His wife, Bernice, was also a performer. In fact, they were married on horseback during a Wild West Show in Yokohama, Japan in 1935. They both earned Gold Cards (lifetime memberships) in the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association.
Frank Dean did trick riding, trick roping, whip popping, knife throwing and occasionally competed in rodeos in the steer roping, calf roping and bareback broncs and bulls. In 1939, he did something that got him into the Guiness Book of World Records (1975 edition). That entry said, "The longest stock whip ever `cracked' (i.e., the end made to travel about the speed of sound--760 m.p.h.) is one of 80 feet, first cracked by Frank Dean at the North Dakota STate Fair in 1939.
He even received three patents on his inventions, one of which is "The Super Spur," a one-piece spur which stays in one position and can't work loose and does not requite any "tie downs".
Frank Dean sold his first articles to Popular Mechanics and Popular Science in about 1927. He often wrote news releases for the newspapers about the different Wild West shows in which he appeared. In the 1940's he wrote articles for Western Horseman, and he wrote an illustrated history book on Trick and Fancy Riding (Caxton Printers, Caldwell, Idaho). He also wrote a booklet on "The Art of Knife Throwing".
During World War II, he was a staff writer and photographer in the Army and was in Soissons, France when V.E. day came. He also oversaw the publication of a history of the company he was in, the 665 Ordinance Ammunition Company.. And he also carried his whips and ropes wherever he went--even in his pack when he waded ashore on Utah Beach. He returned to America in Nov., 1945 and began touring with the 101 Ranch Wild West Show based in Ponca City, Oklahoma.
In 1976, at the age of 68, he broke his femur bone in a fall from his horse while doing a roping act at the State Fair that August. And he made the TV news which in November he performed roping stunts while still in traction in his hospital bed.
James Dean
(Deceased)
James Dean was born James Byron Dean on February 8, 1931.
He is mentioned here for his role in the film "Giant" (1956).
He died in an automobile accident at the age of 24 on September 30, 1955. He is buried in the Park Cemetery in Fairmount, Indiana.
Lou Dean Lou Dean received a Western Heritage Award in 2000 from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame for his magazine article, "Halloween Hermit," in GUIDEPOSTS magazine.
This listing is far from complete and may contain errors.
Therefore, all Western entertainers and/or their agents
are requested to submit recommended changes by
contacting Stan Paregien through his e-mail address.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
and your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
---- Psam 23:1-6
© 2003 by Stan Paregien, Sr.