Western Heritage Awards Weekend

Greetings,

As those of you who follow this blog know, I've been a judge (three years fiction, one year of nonfiction) for the Western Heritage Awards - but I've never attended the weekend event until now. I have one word to describe it: WOW!

First and foremost, every single person I met - from guests, to those being honored with awards, to staff members - everyone, was marvelously nice and helpful. I met a number of folks who serve on the Board of Directors as well, and every one was willing to take time out of a (very) busy schedule to chat with me about the preservation of the Western genre.

The museum itself is a palace of wonders for those with an interest in the American West. From the complete replica of a frontier town to the history of rodeo to the Hall of Great Western Performers... there was not enough time to see it all, which gives me at least one excuse to go back next year.

It was an incredible treat to meet many of those being honored. I was able to talk briefly with Sam Elliott who was generous with the little time he had available. Usually, television tends to make a person look a bit larger than they really are, but on screen Mr. Elliott always appeared to be a bit shorter and leaner than I am (almost 6'1", and leaner). In truth, he's taller by at least an inch or two, which means he's got to be 6'3", and he doesn't have the hands or the build of someone "playing" at being a cowboy - he's got the grip of the real deal.

I remembered the running joke from ROADHOUSE - the film he did with Patrick Swayze about bouncers. Every time anyone met them for the first time, they'd say, "I thought you'd be bigger." Anyway, the first thought that popped into my head was, "I thought you'd be smaller." I resisted the urge to say this, of course. :-) In any event, Mr. Elliott was a true gentlemen and I hope that I'll be able to talk to him more in the future about READ THE WEST and other projects. He certainly deserved to be among those in the Hall of Great Western Performers, and his inclusion was an emotional and heartfelt moment.

I also met Alan Geoffrion, the author of BROKEN TRAIL, and his lovely wife (whose name I am sure to misspell, so I'll leave it for now). Alan was great to visit with as well, and for those of you needing a book to read, this one has been noticed for the Western Heritage as well as the Spur, so get over to Amazon and pick yourself up a copy.

Among the others in attendance... Buck Taylor (whom I've met a couple of times in the past and is always a pleasure to see), Red Steagall (cowboy poet extraordinaire and really the first cowboy poet whose work I was introduced to back in college), Robert Carradine, Waddie Mitchell (who, I swear, could be Buck Taylor's brother), Dean Smith, and many, many others. No doubt I'm forgetting some, but I'm still a bit strung out from the extended travel I've done the past two weeks.

All in all, this was one of the best events I've attended in my professional career, and I hope to continue serving as a judge for this event and working with the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum for many years to come. An amazing place staffed by folks who truly care about the past, present and future of the American West.

Regards,

Russell Davis