John Wayne Dies, July 11th, 1979

[TheTman]

June 11th, marked the 33rd anniversary of the death of "The Duke" after a 10 year battle with cancer. John Wayne was A real American, and hero of countless westerns. A man who lived up to the values that he portrayed in his movies.
Just thought I'd make this announcement for those that want to take a moment to relfect on The Duke's life. May he rest in peace.

[jreXD9]

And I got to meet him, shake his hand and get his autograph when I was 13. Man, he seemed so BIG.

[getsome]

The Duke ain't dead, he's just resting up waiting to see if this coming November goes sour and if it does you will see him again p!ssed off like never before!!!...

My favorite John Wayne story was one where he and his wife attended a charity benefit for handicapped children and he went decked out in the complete Duke cowboy outfit, hat gunbelt and all to impress the kids...

After the party they were being driven back to their hotel and he realized he needed to use the restroom so he told his driver to pull over at the next place they found which turned out to be a old country western honky tonk beer joint...

He went to the door still in the full cowboy outfit, went inside and walked the full length of the bar to the restroom in the back and when done came out and walked real slow back to the front, turned around and tipped his hat to the bar maid and left without saying a word...

About a mile down the highway he begin to laugh hysterically and his wife asked him what was so funny and Wayne replied, When I walked in that place everyone looked up at me and all conversation stopped, the band quit playing and you could have heard a pin drop...He said to the driver, turn this car around and they went back and he bought a round for the entire bar...

He was a priceless part of America and even though he didn't go to war like some other big actors of the day he was still an American hero all the way...When he died they broke the mold and there will never be another star like him ever again...