MiamiCubano
El Martillo (My Boxing Name)
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2003
- Messages
- 3,875
...but I never met a man I didn't like..."
November 4 - not only is this Election day here in the United States, but on this day, in 1879, Will Rogers was born. His life was far more filled and colorful than can be captured herein , but he is perhaps most widely known for his political wit and punditry of politicians of all affiliations. Will Rogers was born in Indian Territory (Oklahoma) and saw it transformed into a US State. After the 10th grade, Will Rogers dropped out of school to become a cowboy in a cattle drive. He always regretted that he didn't finish school, but he made sure that he never stopped learning--reading, thinking and talking to smart people. He became a performer in wild west shows, an accomplished trick roper (once holding a world record for lasso-throwing: he would throw three at once - one rope caught the running horse's neck, the other would hoop around the rider and the third swooped up under the horse to loop all four legs), he was a vaudeville actor, star of the Ziegfeld Follies, a national syndicated newspaper columnist (writing more than 4,000 columns), the world's premier radio commentator, star of seventy-one motion pictures, an advisor of presidents and a kindly critic of Congress. Will Rogers, in short, lived an incredible life.
His life was tragically cut short at the age of 55. In 1935, he planned a vacation with aviator Wiley Post, flying to Alaska with some stops along the way. Will had already flown all over the world as a reporter, visiting London, Manchuria, Java, Egypt, South America, Japan, Moscow and destinations all over America. Their ill-fated flight to Alaska, however, crashed near Point Barrow, Alaska, taking both of their lives. Will's untimely death shocked and saddened the nation. Initially, Will was buried in Los Angeles. However, his wife Betty built a memorial in Claremore, Oklahoma, which was dedicated in 1938 by President Franklin Roosevelt. In 1944 Will's body and the body of his son Fred, who died at the age of two, were moved to rest there. Betty died that same year, and rests beside her husband and son.
The quote that began this thread was in fact Will's thoughts on his epitaph. In full, he said:
When I die, my epitaph or whatever you call those signs on gravestones is going to read: I joked about every prominent man of my time, but I never met a man I didn't like. I am so proud of that I can hardly wait to die so it can be carved. And when you come to my grave you will find me sitting there, proudly reading it.
November 4 - not only is this Election day here in the United States, but on this day, in 1879, Will Rogers was born. His life was far more filled and colorful than can be captured herein , but he is perhaps most widely known for his political wit and punditry of politicians of all affiliations. Will Rogers was born in Indian Territory (Oklahoma) and saw it transformed into a US State. After the 10th grade, Will Rogers dropped out of school to become a cowboy in a cattle drive. He always regretted that he didn't finish school, but he made sure that he never stopped learning--reading, thinking and talking to smart people. He became a performer in wild west shows, an accomplished trick roper (once holding a world record for lasso-throwing: he would throw three at once - one rope caught the running horse's neck, the other would hoop around the rider and the third swooped up under the horse to loop all four legs), he was a vaudeville actor, star of the Ziegfeld Follies, a national syndicated newspaper columnist (writing more than 4,000 columns), the world's premier radio commentator, star of seventy-one motion pictures, an advisor of presidents and a kindly critic of Congress. Will Rogers, in short, lived an incredible life.
His life was tragically cut short at the age of 55. In 1935, he planned a vacation with aviator Wiley Post, flying to Alaska with some stops along the way. Will had already flown all over the world as a reporter, visiting London, Manchuria, Java, Egypt, South America, Japan, Moscow and destinations all over America. Their ill-fated flight to Alaska, however, crashed near Point Barrow, Alaska, taking both of their lives. Will's untimely death shocked and saddened the nation. Initially, Will was buried in Los Angeles. However, his wife Betty built a memorial in Claremore, Oklahoma, which was dedicated in 1938 by President Franklin Roosevelt. In 1944 Will's body and the body of his son Fred, who died at the age of two, were moved to rest there. Betty died that same year, and rests beside her husband and son.
The quote that began this thread was in fact Will's thoughts on his epitaph. In full, he said:
When I die, my epitaph or whatever you call those signs on gravestones is going to read: I joked about every prominent man of my time, but I never met a man I didn't like. I am so proud of that I can hardly wait to die so it can be carved. And when you come to my grave you will find me sitting there, proudly reading it.
