Letter: With Roy Rogers, what we saw was what he really was

During the course of my writing for and about the movies, I have had the pleasure of knowing many a glittering "star," and I can assure you that what you saw was not always who they may have been. Within the period of the last 60 days, we have lost two people who were exceptions to that rule. First there was Alice Faye, and now Roy Rogers.

The article that ran in Sun (July 6) regarding the passing of Roy Rogers was as good as any could be, and quite comprehensive. Referring to Dale Evans as "Queen of the Cowgirls" rather than "Queen of the West" was about the only glitch, but to nitpick such a trivial error deserves as much criticism as the error itself. Bravo to the staff member who contributed to the article.

Many of those who occupied center stage during the period from 1930 to 1950 in the genre of what was once referred to as the "B" Western were men who hung up their image when the director yelled "cut," and whose lifestyles were anything but that of heroes. Roy Rogers was not among any of these.

He took great responsibility for his actions on and off the screen, and his own lifestyle revealed he could not do or be less. He loved his God, his country, his family and his audience. With Roy, what you saw was what you got -- and that was a hero in the truest sense of the word. Aside from the blank cartridges used in his guns, there simply was nothing "artificial" about him.

As with so many who have gone, his films and music survive as his legacy to us. I once read a quote that seems to fit him better than most: "He was a man little boys want to be and old men wish they had been." I think that says it all.

G. Peter Collins

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