AUTRY FANS, CELEBRITIES RECALL HIS COMPASSION, ACCOMPLISHMENTS.Byline: Sherry Joe Crosby Daily News Staff Writer Gene Autry was as big a hero in real life as he was on the big screen, say those who knew ``America's favorite singing cowboy.'' ``He was a very simple person, with a terrific sense of humor Noun 1. sense of humor - the trait of appreciating (and being able to express) the humorous; "she didn't appreciate my humor"; "you can't survive in the army without a sense of humor" sense of humour, humor, humour ,'' said Alex Gordon Alex Jonathan Gordon (born February 10, 1984 in Lincoln, Nebraska) is a Major League Baseball player for the Kansas City Royals. Gordon, a third baseman, played collegiately at the University of Nebraska. , director of licensing for Gene Autry Entertainment, which oversees the singer's four music companies, films, TV shows and videos. ``He loved jokes and stories. He didn't care for any fancy trappings, either in real life or on the big screen. He never had any airs about him.'' Gordon was among scores of friends, fans and celebrities who mourned Autry's death Friday. Herb Jeffries, jazz and country music legend, said he will miss Autry's humanitarianism hu·man·i·tar·i·an·ism n. 1. Concern for human welfare, especially as manifested through philanthropy. 2. The belief that the sole moral obligation of humankind is the improvement of human welfare. 3. . ``When we look at his accomplishments and life, we'll see a man who looked at human beings as one race - the human race,'' said Jeffries, who made a special trip to the Autry Museum of Western Heritage to say goodbye to his friend. ``He will always be a role model.'' Referring to the charismatic Army general who led U.S. troops during Operation Desert Storm Noun 1. Operation Desert Storm - the United States and its allies defeated Iraq in a ground war that lasted 100 hours (1991) Gulf War, Persian Gulf War - a war fought between Iraq and a coalition led by the United States that freed Kuwait from Iraqi invaders; in 1990, entertainer Bob Hope called Autry the ``Norman Schwarzkopf of the Old West.'' ``He accomplished nearly every man's dream - to own a baseball team,'' Hope said. ``With his song `Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" is a popular Christmas story about Santa Claus' ninth and lead reindeer who possesses an unusually red colored nose that gives off its own light that is powerful enough to illuminate the team's path through inclement weather. ,' he'll always have an exclusive franchise on Christmas.'' Michael Eisner Michael Dammann Eisner (born March 7, 1942) was CEO of The Walt Disney Company from September 22, 1984 to September 30, 2005. Early life Michael Eisner was born to a wealthy family in Mt. Kisco, New York, and raised on Park Avenue in Manhattan. , chairman and chief executive officer of The Walt Disney Noun 1. Walt Disney - United States film maker who pioneered animated cartoons and created such characters as Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck; founded Disneyland (1901-1966) Disney, Walter Elias Disney Co., recalled Autry's long association with the entertainment giant's founder. ``Walt and Gene were close, and they shared a vision of Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, as a major entertainment center - and they both made that happen,'' Eisner said, noting that Disney sat on the original board of directors for the Angels baseball team Autry owned. ``Gene had a great commitment to the country's youth, and his examples of kindness and good will are countless,'' he added. ``We have lost a great entertainer and a great American.'' Leonard Maltin, ``Entertainment Tonight'' film critic and editor of the annual ``Movie & Video Guide,'' recalled Autry's long, successful career, which spanned generations and included radio, TV and the silver screen. ``He had a pretty incredible career,'' Maltin said. ``Today we measure success in short spurts. Then you look at his decades of success in every conceivable facet of show business, from personal appearances to records to movies to TV to sports. ``And people forget he had a weekly radio show for 17 years. He even got an Oscar nomination for co-writing a song (``Be Honest With Me,'' from the film ``Ridin' on a Rainbow,'' in 1941). Fans who grew up watching the gentleman cowboy on the silver screen visited the museum Friday to pay their respects. Damon Leigh, 53, recalled meeting the singing legend in 1995 at the museum. ``It was the thrill of a lifetime Thrill of a Lifetime is a television reality series created by Sidney M. Cohen and Willie Stein ("Orange Colored Sky"). It was telecast from 1981 to 1988 in Canada on the CTV network. ,'' the Studio City man said. ``It was like meeting one of your heroes who is larger than life larg·er than life adj. Very impressive or imposing: "This is a person of surpassing integrity; a man of the utmost sincerity; somewhat larger than life" Joyce Carol Oates. . And even though he's not here anymore, he'll always be bigger than life.'' Ralph Ginsberg, 81, said Autry served as a role model for children of all ages. ``It knocked me over with a feather,'' Ginsberg said of his reaction to Autry's death. ``I liked his whole moral fiber. To me, Gene was the kind of role model we need - not the kind we got in Washington right now.'' Gordon said America still has Autry, in a way. ``He has left a legacy of recordings, music, videos and this museum,'' Gordon said. ``He's alive for another generation of kids.'' Daily News Film Critic Bob Strauss contributed to this story. CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO German tourists look at a floral arrangement signed by Johnny Grant, honorary Hollywood mayor, at Gene Autry's star on Hollywood Boulevard on Friday. Michael Owen Baker/Daily News |
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