Tribute Poems.....To Roy and Dale with Love

We would like to thank the following poets for the following contributions written
in love to two great individuals that meant so much to us all....Roy Rogers and Dale Evans!
(*Note: These poem are simply in the order we received them.)

Hero's of Our Youth by Peter A. Todd

It seems as if it were just the other day
When we saw Roy and Dale on their horses back
With words of wisdom to the children to say
Such as make sure you wear your coats and hats
Bullet running along as he joined in the chase
To put the bad guys in jail
Hearing Dale and Roy singing with such grace
The stories behind each Western tale
Nellie Bell with its banging and loud exhaust
Pat making excuses for his funny mistakes
This is the heritage that we once of youth have lost
But their memory will in our hearts and minds are great
Happy Trails is the wish by them to us all
May the path of Life led by us be honest and true
This is the message we received when we were small
May this quest befall on those of just do

A Long Ride by David Kelley

I started ridin' with him near fifty years ago, I was plumb green.
He was my hero from day one...the best cowboy I had ever seen.

He stood for what was good in cowboys, his word and a hand shake would do.
Just ridin' there by his side was reason for honesty to accrue.

Sometimes I was his trusty sidekick, with a floppy hat and whiskers,
Other times in a rattle trap jeep, shakin' me clean to my dentures.

I was right there when he came across that purty' little blonde filly.
He acted like a new colt back then, fact is, was about half silly.

He loved her though, and somehow I knew it was gonna' last forever,
Taking her as his bride, promisin' the Lord they never would sever.

When his hoss died, we all cried, it's the only time cowpokes are allowed.
He quickly cowboy'd up though, his job couldn't go undone, he avowed.

There was critters to raise, law to uphold, and young'uns without a home,
And I rode every single mile, even though I had been forced to roam.

No, he really didn't ride circles, or drag many strays to the fire,
But, don't say my sidekick was not a cowboy, you're apt to raise my ire.

As you may have guessed, he wasn't a working cowpoke, this pardner of mine,
And I never REALLY rode with him, but for "Happy Trails" in my mind.

He was still a saddle pal of mine from the time I was just a kid.
I rode years with Roy and Dale, and ol' Gabby, like many others did.

Gone but not forgotten, again ever at my faithful loving side.
Roy Rogers, a pard true to the end, indeed "..IT HAS BEEN A LONG RIDE".

My Tribute to Roy Rogers by Gary Lundblad

R is for Roy's RIGHTNESS to every boy and girl.                       
    Roy cared about every one of them and asked
    them all to live by The Cowboys' Ten
    Commandments, which is the Cowboy Way. (written by Gene Autry)
1. "He must not take unfair advantage
    of an enemy.
2. He must never go back on his word.
3. He must always tell the truth.
4. He must always be gentle with children,
    elderly people and animals.
5. He must not possess racially or religiously
    intolerant ideas.
6. He must help people in distress.
7. He must be a good worker.
8. He must respect women, parents, and
    his nation's laws.
9. He must neither drink or smoke.
10. He must be a patriot."
                                          
O is for the OUTSTANDING way Roy could
    ride His horse, Trigger and OUTSTANDING
    way Roy could handle His guns.
Y is for the way Roy could YODEL. He was one
    of Cowboys' very best. Just get a copy of the
    song, "Cowboy Night Herd Song" and I know
    that you will agree.

R is for all the Happy Trails Roy RODE with
    His horse, Trigger. And all the Happy Trails
    His fans RODE in the theaters of their minds.
O is for all the OPPORTUNITIES that Roy gave
    to others; Like the Sons of the Pioneers, Gaby
    Hayes and Pat Brady. Also all the people he
    has working at his museum.
G is for all the GREETINGS that Roy handed out
    while ridin' his horse, Trigger, in towns all over
    this land. And the hand-shakes and hugs Roy
    gave to children and adults at his museum.
E is for all the Family ENTERTAINMENT Roy
    gave all the little buckaroos and buckarettes
    all around the world and at home.
R is for the way Roy could throw a ROPE and
    lasso all those bad outlaws and put them in
    jail. Roy wanted all his little buckaroos to see
    the RIGHT way to live.
S is for the fact that Roy Rogers was very, very
   SPECIAL and I'm glad I know Roy is ridin'
   that prairie in Heaven, on Trigger, that was
   prepared for all good Cowboys.
ROY ROGERS all your SADDLE PALS will miss
you. HAPPY TRAILS to the KING OF THE
COWBOYS ALWAYS. And as Roy would say,
"MAY THE GOOD LORD TAKE A LIKIN'
TO YA." Now that's the Cowboy Way.

My Request by Betty Wekerle

Sometimes at first we don't listen to God,
         Even though believing in Him---
So He puts the right servants onto our path,
And the way doesn't seem so dim.

I finally looked back and noticed
           Two who rode that trail---
Pointing the way to country and God.
            (In my life God used Roy and Dale.)

When I was a child, I spoke as a child,
             And to parents I wouldn't adhere;
But if Roy and Dale bowed THEIR heads in prayer,
              I'd watch and obey and hear.

When I was a teen, I shook God from my life
              'Cause a boy meant much more to me.
Then I read Dale's books, and I faced myself,
              Ashamed of idolatry.

You'd think that I'd learn as the years passed on by,
              But by college, I knew it all!
I didn't need God 'cause I was so smart---
              I was riding for a big fall.

The "fall" was hard---I was at the end of myself---
              At the end of a "successful" career.
With a marriage in shambles, and my health nearly gone,
               I turned to the two I held dear.

They'd been through it all, yet they never gave up---
                What valiance and courage I saw!
With faces like angels, like Stephen's of old,
                 I could not but stand back in awe.

In life and in death---it mattered not which---
                Faithful and loyal they stood
To the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost,               
                Knowing our God is good!

I fell to my knees to meet God again;
                Visions flooded my head
Of memories deep (when my parents did teach!)
                From Bible stories long ago read.

I picked up the Book;  every page came alive
                That once only fell on deaf ears---
>From cover to cover was the Messiah,
                The ANSWER, I saw through my tears.

Thank you, my heroes, for riding those trails,
                 Losing children and health and friends
To Death here on earth, but in Heaven they wait
                 In that glorious world without end.

I admit that I have one request of my Lord
                 (That I know only God may decide):
When His "King of kings" comes upon His white horse
                 That a gold horse with another "king" will ride!

My Tribute To Roy Rogers by Gene Minix

Who is Roy Rogers?, I heard my little grandson say
As an old western came on the TV one day.
Well, son, I said, hop right up here on my knee.
Let me tell you about that cowboy that you see.
When I was a little boy some years ago,
My friends and I could hardly wait to go down to the picture show.
With a quarter we could get in and buy some popcorn too.
Then we'd sit down and watch the movie through.
Oh, we'd have on our cowboy hats and our six shooters tied down.
And we'd be right there with Roy taking care of the town.
He always stood for justice and things that were good.
And he only spoke words that a true gentleman should.
He always respected the ladies and stood for the right
And you never saw Roy start a fight.
Yet, when he had to, he never backed down
And many an outlaw found themselves on the ground.
He taught us young'uns a lot of good, you see,
And Roy will always be very special to me.
Yes, son, that's a real hero there on the TV.
And we need a lot more shows like his don't you see.
He made the world just a little bit better I'm happy to say.
May the old westerns live on and never go away.
We need some Happy Trails and real heroes you see.
Yeah, son, that cowboy on the screen will always be very special to me