Alvin Davis was just seven when he saw Will Rogers at the Texas Cowboy Reunion in Stamford. That day and the days that followed — just 42 days later Will and Wiley Post died in an Alaskan plane crash — were life-changing times.
Will was already a hero to Davis, but the close encounter put him on a path to a lifetime of leadership in things relating to the cowboy and the west.
Davis, who remains a leader in cowboy culture, has given the Will Rogers Museum a cold cast bronze plaque of the Electra Waggoner statue of Will Rogers on Soapsuds entitled “Riding into the Sunset,” the statue on the grounds of the Museum.
Christine Roussel, Inc. of New York City, the foundry that poured the original monument in 1948, created the plaque in an unlimited edition. It was created in 1987 as a benefit for the Quest for Excellence, a campaign within the College of Arts and Sciences to bring America’s top scholars and faculty to Texas Tech University.
Will Rogers Memorial Commission members adopted a resolution April 22, honoring Davis for the contribution of Plaque Number 1. The Number 1 plaque was given to the late Bill Grist of Lubbock, the first to give a major gift to the campaign. Davis purchased it from the Grist estate specifically to gift to the Claremore Memorial Museum. It is possible it turned out to be a “limited” edition since only 36 were produced, according to Davis. He was scheduled to be in Claremore to make the presentation, but was unable to come.
“Davis has blessed the Will Rogers Memorial Museum with generous gifts of rare artifacts, books and papers, including the bas-relief bronze plaque and with the distinctive recognition in 2002 as the American Cowboy Culture Western Museum of the Year,” the resolution states.
“The bronze plaque is a companion piece to the carved wood sculpture bust of Will Rogers that Davis presented to Kem Rogers at the National Cowboy Symposium and Celebration in 2002 and at the same time presented the American Cowboy Culture Western Museum Award,” said Steve Gragert, Museum director.
A cowboy poet, writer, artist and expert in cowboy culture and historian, he continues his association with organizations relating to cowboy ways. He has received much recognition starting as a youth in 1948 when he was named the top 4-H boy in the nation — to 2002 when he was inducted into the National Cowboy Song and Poetry Hall of Fame.
He’s been listed in “Who’s Who” in Texas, America and the World. In 2001, he earned international fame as one of “One Thousand Great Americans.” His hometown museum in Post, Texas, has an “Alvin G. Davis Room” filled with memorabilia and awards.
Davis’ recollection of July 3, 1935 and the Texas Cowboy Reunion is that Will’s coming was a surprise to everyone. He had flown to Abilene and “without fanfare,” had a cab take him to Stamford, where he bought a ticket to the rodeo and started watching morning slack competition.
After being “discovered,” he refused an invitation to ride in the morning parade and continued watching the slack roping and cutting horse competition, but later did ride a gray gelding owned by the Swenson Ranch, rodeo producers, into the arena.
Davis has continued his devotion to Will’s writing and movies and visited the Museum here.