[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 119 (Monday, August 1, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1478]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE 100TH BIRTHDAY OF ROY ROGERS AND THE ROY ROGERS FESTIVAL

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JEAN SCHMIDT

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, August 1, 2011

  Mrs. SCHMIDT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 28th 
annual Roy Rogers Festival in Portsmouth, Ohio, and the 100th birthday 
of Roy Rogers himself. Leonard Slye--better known as Roy Rogers--was 
born on November 5th, 1911 in Cincinnati, Ohio. A few months after Roy 
was born, he and his family decided to travel up the Ohio River on 
their houseboat to Portsmouth, Ohio. It was near this area, in Southern 
Ohio, that Roy and his family called home.
  Roy Rogers grew up on a farm in Duck Run, just outside of Portsmouth. 
Roy, who often rode his horse to school, once said, ``We lived so far 
out in the country, they had to pipe sunlight to us.'' As a result, Roy 
and his family had to entertain themselves. It was while he was growing 
up that Roy learned to play the mandolin, call square dances, and sing. 
Little did his family know that one day, Roy would be known as the 
``King of the Cowboys.''
  Roy went on to star in numerous western movies, record multiple chart 
topping albums, and along with his trusty sidekicks Trigger and Bullet, 
star in a hit television show.
  Regardless of how popular Roy Rogers became, he always spoke fondly 
of his home in Southern Ohio. In 1982, the Roy Rogers-Dale Evans 
Collectors Association was founded and immediately began planning an 
annual event to commemorate Roy Rogers and his wife Dale Evans. In 
1983, the first Roy Rogers Festival was held.
  This annual event attracts families from around the country to not 
only commemorate the life of Roy Rogers, but to turn Portsmouth into 
the Ol' West for a few days.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in not only honoring the Roy Rogers 
Festival, but also the 100th birthday of a great American--Roy Rogers.

                          ____________________