Remembering Fess Parker

This is certainly a sad day for us Baby Boomers. Fess Parker who played Davy Crockett has passed away, March 18, 2010. For those of us of a certain age Fess WAS Davy Crockett. Later he played Daniel Boone but we always considered him as Davy using another name.

I remember he first impressed me with a small role in my favorite Big Bug Movie, Them! (1954). He portrayed Alan Crotty, a pilot who had an encounter with the giant ants. It was a small role, but Fess Parker made the most of it. I am sure I also saw him in some of his other pre-Davy roles. I watched Dragnet and Stories of the Century (he played Grat Dalton), but it was as Davy Crockett that he became an important part of my young life. "Davy Crockett: Indian Fighter" was broadcast on my sixth birthday and I became a lifelong fanatic on David Crockett of Tennessee. By the time "Davy Crockett at the Alamo" was broadcast I was a confirmed history buff.

Fess Parker played other roles at Disney. He was Union train stealer James Andrews in The Great Locomotive Chase (1956). As John Grayson he led a wagon train (including some Mouseketeers) over the Oregon Trail in Westward Ho the Wagons (also 1956). He took some time away from Disney to appear on Playhouse 90 in an episode entirled "Turn Left At Mount Everest". Other movies at Disney included Old Yeller and The Light In the Forest. He reappeared as Davy Crockett in "Davy Crockett's Keelboat Race" and "Davy Crockett and the River Pirates", which followed more the legendary rather than the historical Crockett.

More movies and television work followed including Death Valley Days, G. E. Theater, Schlitz Playhouse of Stars, The Jayhawkers (1959) and a memorable role in the classic WWII adventure Hell Is For Heroes.

In the 1962-63 television season he starred in Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, based loosely on the Frank Capra film. After a few more film and TV roles Parker settled into Daniel Boone (1964-1970). Here he became an icon to a new generation as the man who led the way into settling the Kentucky country. Singer Ed Ames was his Indian sidekick (featuring his own memorable moment on The Tonight Show when he demonstrated throwing a tomahawk) and Patricia Blair as Rebecca Boone.

Two more roles followed before Parker decided to retire from acting and get into real estate. He later owned a vinyard and winery, winning several awards for his wines. His greatest achievement was maintaining an excellent family life which often seems impossible in Hollywood. He and wife Marcella were married fifty years and he is survived by two children, eleven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

During the summer (I believe) of 1955 I got to meet my hero in person when he reached Knoxville while promoting the Crockett shows for Walt Disney. I still have the "signed" card he handed out and it is reproduced at the head of this column. And yes, I did get an actual autograph about twenty-five years later.

Rest in peace, Fess Parker. You have left a good legacy behind you, illustrating the motto of the real David Crockett, "Be sure you are right, and then go ahead".