Today September 29, 2007 would have been Gene Autry's 100th Birthday today. Gene loved Palm Spirngs. He made it his home for many years. He owned severel hotels..including The Gene Autry in Cathedral City...and he was the founder of the California Angels. Bring major league baseball to both Southern California & PS during spring training. He also gave a lot of money to many charities in the desert without much fanfare. In fact, when they named the old Boggie Rd out by the airport for him...Gene Autry Trail, his wife Jackie(she still makes Palm Springs Home) didn't tell him until the 11th hour because he didn't want the attention. He was a good business man, caring, & giving. Strong headed too!
I met Mr. Autry once at a California Angels spring training game in the spring of 1981. He shook my hand, but didn't have time to sign my ball, he was in the middle of business. Kind of broke my heart, but I understand. We who love westerns and his music will never forget him. At Christmas, make sure to play his2 most famous Chirstimas songs to celebrate the holidays..."Here Come's Santa Claus" & "Rudolf the Red Nosed Riendeer" He was a class act!
Thank you Gene...as we watch you ride into the sunset
Check out his site: www.GeneAutry.com
David
When the Angels finally did win the World Series and Jackie Autry came out the owners...I loved what she said... Congratulations & I know that Gene & I & you the fans are proud of OUR CALIFORNIA ANGELS!!! I have known them to be that all of my life...and that is what they will be. As a kid I got to watch them play during spring training. I got to watch Nolan Ryan when he was just a young pup still. Man did he have an arm or what. Been a big fan of his my whole life. Then I loved Rod Carew at 1st base, Brian Downing as catcher, then seeing Don Baylor was cool too. Oh, how I wish Angels baseball was still there in the spring.