[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 4 (Monday, February 2, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S279]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO CLAYTON MOORE

 Mr. CLELAND. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to one 
of my favorite heroes, Clayton Moore, better known to most as the Long 
Ranger. Clayton Moore, the world's most popular masked man, has 
inspired and entertained millions of Americans during the span of his 
career.
  Before assuming the role of the Lone Ranger, Clayton began his 
performing career as a trapeze artist. Unsatisfied with this career 
choice he moved to Los Angeles to fulfill his dream of becoming a 
cowboy actor. This year marks the 65th anniversary of the first time 
the Lone Ranger rode into our homes over our airwaves. ``The Lone 
Ranger'' was created for radio in 1933, and in 1949 Clayton was chosen 
to be the first Lone Ranger for the new television series which began 
airing that year. He continued to be the man behind the mask through 
1952 and then again in 1954, until the series ended in 1957. Over the 
years, Clayton has appeared in over 45 films and 10 major serials. He 
also starred in two feature films, ``The Lone Ranger'' and ``The Lone 
Ranger and the Lost City of Gold,'' and is the author of ``I Was That 
Masked Man,'' his autobiography which was published in 1996.
  The 169 television episodes showed faithful fans that characters and 
plots in the world of the Lone Ranger were simple--good guys vs. bad 
guys. We all eagerly watched as the exclaimed the four simple words of 
``Hi Yo Silver, Away,'' and role off into the sunset with Tonto, his 
faithful Indian companion. In every thought, word and deed, the Lone 
Ranger provided a practical guide to living in a difficult and 
challenging world. He embodied a code that has served as a standard of 
moral development--combining honesty, fairness, caring, respect, 
loyalty, tolerance, duty, and moral courage.
  Born on September 14, 1914, in Chicago, IL, Clayton has lived a fine 
and exciting life, filled with adventure, glamour, danger and hard 
work. He was an athlete, a trapeze artist with the Flying Behrs Trapeze 
Act at the 1934 Chicago Worlds Fair, a model while living in Chicago 
and New York, and a soldier in the Air Force during World War II.
  In whatever venture he has pursued, Clayton has served as a wonderful 
and positive example to us all. He has entertained us throughout his 
acting career, has exemplified courage and patriotism as he fought for 
this Nation during World War II, and has been a wonderful husband to 
his wife, Clarita, and father to his daughter, Dawn. It is with great 
admiration and respect that I congratulate and applaud this fellow 
veteran, Clayton Moore, on an outstanding career and prosperous life. I 
thank Clayton for teaching us that the good guys do win.

                          ____________________