In 1965 I broke my leg skiing in Sun Valley, Idaho. When I woke up in their little hospital there was this really big man standing over me with his hand on my shoulder looking down. He said "I'll bet that hurts doesn't it son, but don't worry, I called your dad and he's on his way..."

Another kid I had been skiing and hanging out with all that week had wracked himself up earlier that same day...His name was Ralph Arness and it was his father, James, who was the first person I saw that afternoon.

James Arness died today and it feels like I've lost a friend...
http://watching-tv.ew.com/2011/06/03/ja ... moke-died/

He was also The Thing.

A family friend who worked with him commented that he was very tall, I didn't realize he was 6'7". Must have been hard building sets for him especially doorways that didn't make everyone else look like midgets.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtra ... -2011.html

highdesert wrote:A family friend who worked with him commented that he was very tall, I didn't realize he was 6'7". Must have been hard building sets for him especially doorways that didn't make everyone else look like midgets.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtra ... -2011.html

I remember that his skis were at least 7 1/2 to 8 feet long... custom Head skis, probably weighed more than I did.

I didn't realize he was 6'7".

Average size for a Minnesota man, I'm a bit of a shrimp at 6'4". He had to cut his career short account of the wounds from the war, he was in constant pain.

"Gunsmoke" is one of my favorite all-time television shows. I think I've seen every episode. Marshall Dillon's quiet strength and sincerity made him one of my heroes (and I had the hots for Miss Kitty). The writers for those shows were excellent story-tellers.

One of my favorite tv hero's!!! Watch gun smoke most every day I have fond memories watching with my dad as a boy good old days....................