Gene Autry
American entertainer
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- In 1992 he was said to be worth $320 million.
- On January 1st, 1942, the small town of Berwyn (Carter County, Oklahoma) changed its name and became 'Gene Autry'.
- In 1940 the National Association of Theater Owners voted him the fourth biggest box office attraction, behind Mickey Rooney, 'Clark Gable' and Spencer Tracy.
- In response to his millions of young fans who wanted to be like Gene Autry, he developed a code of conduct, "The Cowboy Code", which is as follows: 1. The Cowboy must never shoot first, hit a smaller man, or take unfair advantage. 2. He must never go back on his word, or a trust confided in him. 3. He must always tell the truth. 4. He must be gentle with children, the elderly, and animals. 5. He must not advocate or possess racially or religiously intolerant ideas. 6. He must help people in distress. 7. He must be a good worker. 8. He must keep himself clean in thought, speech, action, and personal habits. 9. He must respect women, parents, and his nation's laws. 10. The Cowboy is a patriot.
- During World War II, when he left Republic Pictures to join the U.S. Army, he was the only officer allowed to wear cowboy boots with his uniform.
- During the war, he was awarded the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.
- Owned Golden West Broadcasters, which owned and operated San Francisco AM radio station KSFO, Los Angeles television station KTLA channel 5, and Los Angeles AM radio station KMPC.
- The California/Anaheim Angels franchise retired #26 in his honor.
- More than 50 years after the last Gene Autry western, he is better known to later generations as a singer. His remastered vintage recordings of "Here Comes Santa Claus" and "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" remain very popular holiday standards into the 21st century.
- He was the most popular of the "singing cowboys." In his heyday he was making six to eight feature westerns a year.
- Inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1972.
- Inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners of the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in 1980.
- Grandson of an itinerant preacher, he became a multi-millionaire through his investments and real estate holdings.
- Elected to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1969.
- Interred at Forest Lawn (Hollywood Hills), Los Angeles, California, USA, in the Sheltering Hills section, Grave #1048.
- According to a Hollywood legend, published in The Orange County Register after his death, Autry was discovered singing in a telegraph office in Oklahoma by Will Rogers. Rogers told him that he had a pretty good voice, and suggested that he go to Hollywood where he could make some money singing in the movies. Gene followed Rogers' advice and became "The Singing Cowboy." Autry himself related this story in an interview with Cecil B. DeMille on the Lux Radio Drama Hour. In the interview, Gene added that the next time he saw Rogers was in Hollywood. According to Gene, Will just nodded and said, "I see you made it, kid."
- He has five stars in the Hollywood Walk Of Fame; for Recording, Movies, TV, Radio, and live theater.
- Autry was the first owner of the Los Angeles Angels American League baseball club, subsequently renamed the California Angels when the team was relocated to Anaheim in 1966. (The team has been renamed twice: the Anaheim Angels, and now the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.) A radio station owner, Autry was interested in acquiring the broadcasting rights to the Angels games when he found out the team, part of the American League's first expansion, was for sale. He bought it. Autry owned the team in its entirety from its first year of play, 1961, until 1997, when he sold part of the franchise to Disney, who renamed the team the Anaheim Angels. Autry's widow sold the rest of the team to Disney after his death the next year at the age of 91.
- His first hit record was "That Silver Haired Daddy Of Mine" in 1932.
- Spouse: Jackie Autry (19 July 1981 - 2 October 1998) (his death); Ina Mae Spivey (1 April 1932 - 20 May 1980) (her death)
- Flight Officer, Air Transport Command, 1942-1946