Stan Paregien, Editor
David Rothel
David Rothel, author, is an avid fan of Western movie stars and the cowboy way of life. He is the author of Who Was That Masked Man?: The Story of the Lone Ranger, The Singing Cowboys, The Great Show Business Animals, Those Great Cowboy Sidekicks, The Roy Rogers Book, and The Gene Autry Book.
In addition, David Rothel was the co-author with Chuck Thornton of Lash LaRue, The King of the Bullwhip. All of his books may be ordered from Empire Publishing, Inc., Rt. 3, Box 83, Highway 220 South, Madison, NC 27025. Or phone 1-919-427-5850.
Hal K. Rothman
Hal K. Rothman is Associate Professor of History at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.He is the editor of Environmental History Review, a scholarly journal. His books include I'll Never Fight Fire With My Bare Hands Again (1994) and On Rims and Ridges (1992).
Hal K. Rothman won a Spur Award in 1999 from the Western Writers of America for his book, Devil's Bargains: Tourism in the Twentieth-Century American West. It won in the category of "Best Western Nonfiction--Contemporary".
In 2001 the Texas A& M University Press did an online electronic version of Rothman's book, LBJ's Texas White House: "Our Heart's Home". CLICK HERE to go to that web site.
Louise Rowe
Louise Rowe, singer and musician, was the only female MUSICIAN that Bob Wills ever hired. Oh, yes, he hired a few female singers. But she was the only female musician to ever play in his Texas Playboys band.
She grew up playing with her musically talented brothers, the "Seven Rowe Brothers". In 1999 the Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame presented them with a Lifetime Achievement Award celebrating their 70th year of entertaining folks.
The fact is that in 1952 Bob Wills initially hired Louise Rowe as a singer for a tour of southern California. She was just 18-years old. Soon Bob learned that, besides singing great harmony, she was also an accomplished rhythm guitars and bass player. So, when bass player Jack Lloyd left the band, she got a union card and became a Texas Playboy . . . girl.
When that tour ended in early 1953, Bob Wills began another tour under a different promoter with other musicians already booked for the tour. So he asked her to rejoin his band when the tour ended.
Louise Rowe took a job playing pass at the Rio Palm Isle Club (which is still there) in Longview, TX.
Then she met and fell in love with another Western swing bandleader, Tommy Allsup. They married in Las Vegas, Nevada in 1955. But by 1958 they were divorced.
Louise Rowe married diddler Buddy Beasley in 1959. Together they developed, in 1982, a color-coded method for teaching fiddle. Appropriately enough, it was called "The Buddy System" and it is still sold in stores today.
In 1994 Rowe produced a cassette called "Texas Playgirls and Playboys" which featured the work of people like Darla Daret, Dean and Evelyn McKinny, Ramona Reed, Eldon Shamblin, Bob Boatright, Johnny Cuviello, Floyd Domino and Billy Briggs.
Today she is performing with her own band, The Western Swing Road Band. She may be contacted at: 2409 Knollwood Ct., Arlington, TX 76006. Or email her at: louiserowe@aol.com
Skinny Rowland
Art Rowland was born on July 10, 1926 in Blaine, Oregon. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and the Korean War. And he worked at ranching logging, and many other jobs. This talented cowboy poet and master of one-liners told audiences that folks called him "Skinny" because he was the only guy in Montana who could use his canvas flyrod sheath for a sleeping bag.
To be sure, Skinny Rowland was skinny. But during the last fifteen years of his life there was a medical reason why he was so thin. He had the dreaded disease A.L.S. ("Lou Gerhigs disease"). He received the diagnosis in 1978. And he decided then and there he would make the best of a darned bad situation.
In the preface to his book of poetry he said of himself, "Skinny has been writing poetry for many years but didn't start saving it until becoming disabled. He doesn't memorize any of it, saying it took him over 30 years to get that junk out of his head and down on paper, and he is not about to put it back. He writes mostly humorous stuff, ‘people need to laugh once in awhile in a world of troubles, but people who do nothing but sit on the edge of their beds crying about their problems deserve all the self pity they get.'"
He wrote hundreds of humorous columns for numerous cowboy/Western publications. And he published a collection of his poetry and a directory of Western entertainers. Long before his death, he was honored by being introduced into the Cowboy Poets Hall of Fame in both Montana and in Idaho.
Skinny Rowland kept entertaining audiences all over the west, even when he was very fragile and in great pain. But this big hearted man, whom my wife and I were honored to count as a friend, remained upbeat all the way until his death in Tucson, AZ., on Feb. 27, 1997.
CLICK HERE to read more about Skinny Rowland and to read some of his own writings.
Ann Ruff
Ann Ruff was the first president of the Historic Hotel Association. Ruff has written many books for Gulf Publishing, including: A Guide to Texas Historic Inns and Hotels (1985), Traveling Texas Borders (with Michael Burke, 1983), Amazing Texas Monuments and Museums (1984), The Best of Texas Festivals (1986), and Unsung Heroes of Texas (1985).
Ann Ruff and Gail Drago wrote Texas Historic Inns Cookbook (1984, Texas Monthly Press). And she edited Texas Bed and Breakfast (Texas Monthly Press, 1985). Her articles have appeared in Texas Highways.
Marc C. Rupert
Rupert holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from Stephen F. Austin State Univerity and earns his living as a cost analyst. He writes for Alpine Avalance, Young American, and Texas Parks and Wildlife, and he wrote a major essay on the career of Ray Hogan for Roundup.
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.
Rejoice in the lord, you who are righteous,
and praise his holy name.
--- Bible: Psalm 97:12
© 2003 by Stan Paregien, Sr.