If Will Rogers celebrated his birthday, it was in a very quiet way, much different from the big party Claremore has been throwing in his honor since 1938. Born on Nov. 4, 1879 in Oologah Indian Territory, his birthplace is a living history museum; the log-walled room where he was born visited by thousands.
From the time the Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore opened three years following his untimely death at 56 in an Alaskan plane crash, Claremore has hosted a Will Rogers Days celebration. With the exception of the war years when out of respect for servicemen and women overseas, Cherokee Indian Women’s Pocahontas Club, has conducted a wreath-laying ceremony at the family tomb on the Museum grounds.
Sometimes the festivities have been so simple as the Pocahontas tribute. Other years have seen internationally known guests from Will’s past — and even a family reunion on the 125th anniversary of his birth. People come from far and near for the festivities, always highlighted by a parade.
In Will’s daily telegrams published from 1926 until the day of his death, he rarely mentioned his birthday. In 1927 he wrote a “PS, thanks for the birthday greetings, I was trying to keep it quiet.”
In 1930 he was in New York and the day after the election wrote about a party in Beverly Hills. “Democrats gave me a birthday yesterday, Nov. 4. I was 51 years old and they elected fifty-one Democrats. When I am 91, we will be running this country.”
His last birthday was spent playing polo and roping calves and they next day wrote, “I am pretty sore today. Am looking for the ones that reminded me that 55 years ago in Oologah, Indian Territory on Nov. 4, 1879 a baby was born.
This year’s Will Rogers Days is a three-day event. It will start with a birthday party at the Dog Iron Ranch at Oologah. (All events are open to the public and free except where tickets are indicated.)
Friday, Nov. 2
9 a.m. — 128th birthday celebration featuring Doug Watson as Will Rogers, champion trick roper Kowboy Kal (Kalvin Cook of Apache) and Oologah second graders in a musical program directed by Kim Grazier.
More than 400 students from area elementary schools are coming for the program and giant birthday cake.
2 p.m. — Cherokee Indian Women’s Pocahontas Club tribute and reception, Will Rogers Memorial Museum
Saturday, Nov. 3
9 a.m. — Will Rogers Memorial Commission and Heritage Inc. meeting, Will Rogers Museum Lodge
1 p.m. — Dedication of plaque recognizing Michelle Lefebvre-Carter, past director, Will Rogers Museum Theater, followed by reception
4 p.m. — Will Rogers Days Parade, down Will Rogers Blvd., Claremore.
Honored guests will be Clem McSpadden, Will Rogers' great-nephew, and Rogers County state lawmakers Rep. Tad Jones and Sen. Sean Burrage.
Sunday, Nov. 3
2 p.m. — Premier performance of Lynette Bennett’s one-women show, “Will Rogers, Conscience of America: His Wife Betty’s Story,” Robson Performing Arts Center, 101 E. Stuart Roosa, Claremore (Tickets: $15, $10, 918-699-7390 or myticketsoffice.com)
5 p.m. — Champagne reception. Will Rogers of Tulsa Rotary Club Gala and Will Rogers Spirit Award honoring Garth Brooks, Crowne Plaza Hotel, 100 E. 2nd, Tulsa (Tickets for reception and 6 p.m. dinner and program 918-749-6393 or willrogersrotary.org)
(The Will Rogers Memorial Museum in Claremore and Birthplace Ranch are open 365 days a year, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information about the museums or Will Rogers Days, call 918-341-0719.)