FESS PARKER...R.I.P.

Born on a mountain top in Tennessee
The greenest state in the land of the free
Raised in the woods so's he knew ev'ry tree
Kilt him a b'ar when he was only three

Fess Parker died 18 March at his home.
Another of the Good Guys has passed on.

As the daughter of another prominent movie actor said some years ago, we all move up a little closer to the turnstyle.

Fess Parker was one of the folks I watched as a young lad and one of the ones I sang the theme song of, over and over and over again.

His passing recalls to mind such icons of a childhood as Paladin (A knight w/o armour); Johnny Yuma (The Rebel); Wyatt Earp (Buntline Special); Matt Dillon (Miss Kitty); and Rawhide (Gil Favor, Clint Eastwood).
Doubtless there are others.

Many of us could whistle and sing the entire theme songs - still can, parts of 'em.

News reports say Mr. Parker was a husband of 50 years to same Dear Wife; Dad; Grandad; and Great Grandad.
He was as well a successful winemaker and real estate developer.

He inspired a lot of Americans, young ones who would later become old.

He did well.