STUDIO CITY-  October 17^th  brought us the 11^th Annual Silver Spur Awards dinner at the Sportsmen’s Lodge. The proceeds of this wonderful cowboys and ladies reunion went to the Let’em Run Foundation operated by the fabulous Lacy J. Dalton. Not only is she one of the best country singers ever known but she established this organization devoted to saving wild horses. The sanctuary is in the Comstock Natural Park Nevada where wild horses can live in harmony with humans. Humans that have always appreciated and depended on horses are the people who made the West.

The real and Reel Cowboys have meant so much to all of us, not just in the United States but worldwide as Western movies have left a boot print everywhere. I personally learned so much from the cowboys, wranglers, stuntmen … to ride… to shoot… to handle weapons with care. I miss the respect and politeness that has always been exhibited by the gentlemen of the west. I think our nation is sliding down the slippery slope because all we have now, for our young impressionable people, are violent video games instead of the Saturday serials. They showed that cowboys were honest, true, loyal and with perseverance, the good guys always came out on top. What nice lessons young people learned at those Saturday matinees! We could use those “good guys” today!!”

At the Awards, seven Western stars were honored: Hal Needham, Hugh O’Brian, William Smith, Dick Jones, Terry Leonard, Harry Carey, Jr., and the lovely Terry Moore for whom I was the presenter.  Other presenters included, David Carradine, Morgan Woodward, Ted White, Donna Martell, Robert Lanthier, and Billy Burton.

It was good to be at an event that started with a presentation of colors, the pledge of allegiance and a prayer. Beautiful up and coming new star, Renee Olstead sang Amazing Grace better than I ever heard and touched every heart. Sam Neely ran a speedy and colorful live auction and Emcee, Johnny Western, kept things rolling in spite of sometimes long winded “good ol boys”.

Bob Wyld did a great song “Western Skies” dedicated to saving wild mustangs. Bob is not only a reel cowboy, he’s a real cowboy, even though he was born in the Bronx. Cody Bryant brought in a top notch Western band that had us toe tapping all evening. Producers Sheldon Altfeld, Cindy Tracy, and Teena Iversen created a welcoming evening that everyone enjoyed. They will do it again next year. For information email cindytracy@yahoo.com.  If you would like to know more about the Letem run foundation for wild horses, go to www.letemrun.com

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