Gene Autry Memorial

The following text is from the program distributed to those attending the Gene Autry Tribute at Edison Field on October 27, 1998.  All photos are copyright © 1998 Wordsmith Resources, and may not be used elsewhere without prior expressed written permission.

This commemorative program was distributed to all who attended the Gene Autry Tribute.

Dick Enberg was the master of ceremonies for the Gene Autry Tribute.

Born in Tioga, Texas on September 29, 1907, Gene Autry was raised in Texas and Oklahoma.  Music always played an important part in his life.  By the age of five he was singing in his grandfather's church choir and he purchased his first guitar at the age of twelve.  Encouraged by humorist Will Rogers to pursue a career in radio, he set out to try his luck in the business.  It wasn't long before the talented youngster gained a popular following at a local radio station, followed by a recording contract with Columbia Records in 1929.

He was on his way to becoming an American legend.

Gene made 635 recordings, including more than 300 songs written or co-written by him.  His records have sold more than 100 million copies and he has more than a dozen gold and platinum records, including the first record ever certified gold, "That Silver-Haired Daddy of Mine."  His Christmas and children's records "Here Comes Santa Claus" and "Peter Cottontail" are among his platinum recordings.  "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," the second all-time best selling Christmas single, boasts in excess of 50 million in sales.

Aside from music, baseball had been Gene's boyhood passion.  At nineteen he tried out with a farm club for the St. Louis Cardinals.  He was offered a contract for one hundred dollars a month, but turned it down; he was already making more than that as a telegrapher with the railroad.  Gene attended the 1960 baseball winter meetings hoping to secure a broadcasting contract for one of his radio stations.  He walked away from the meeting as the owner of the expansion Los Angeles Angels.  Another long cherished dream came true with the opening in November 1988 of the Autry Museum of Western Heritage, since acclaimed as one of the finest museums on the West.  Gene intended to give something back to the community that had been so good to him.  Today thousands of visitors, children and adults alike, learn the fascinating history of America's West through its world-class collections of art and artifacts.

Gene Autry is the only entertainer to have five stars on the Hollywood Walk-of-Fame, one each for radio, records, movies, television, and live performance, including rodeo and theater appearances.  He was a 33rd Degree Mason and honorary Inspector General and was given the prestigious award of the Grand Cross of the Court of Honor.  Among the many hundreds of honors and awards Autry has received are induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the American Academy of Achievement Award, the Los Angeles Area Governor's Emmy from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, and the Board of Directors Lifetime Achievement in Arts Foundation.  Gene Autry was also inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the National Cowboy Hall of Fame, the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame, and he received the Songwriters Guild Life Achievement Award.  He was honored by his song writing peers with a lifetime achievement award from ASCAP.  In 1992, the Angels players retired uniform No. 26, symbolic of his participation as the club's 26th player, becoming one of only five Angel numbers retired joining Rod Carew (29), Nolan Ryan (30), Jim Fregosi (11), and Jimmie Reese (50).

Gene Autry passed away at his home in Studio City, California on October 2, 1998 after a long illness.  He was 91 years old.

Jackie Autry said that Gene was buried with his last game scoresheet and his American League baseball pass.

Rod Carew, Gene Mauch and Don Baylor spoke of how Gene Autry affected their lives.

Bob “Buck” Rodgers recalled the first Angels' spring training in 1961, when Gene Autry led the team in riding bicycles three miles from the team hotel to the practice field.

Clyde Wright recalled that when he, Rudy May and Tom Egan reported for military duty, Gene Autry sent them copies of “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” for Christmas.

Rod Carew recalled Gene Autry's concern when Rod's daughter Michelle was suffering from a fatal illness.  Autry visited the clubhouse regularly and offered his assistance.

Gene Mauch recalled that “Gene Autry saved my life.”  When Mauch lost all desire to work due to personal problems, Autry offered him another chance to manage.

Don Baylor recalled playing for the Boston Red Sox in the 1986 playoffs against the Angels, hoping that if he couldn't go to the World Series, Gene Autry finally would.