The unknown people are college friends. Third from
left is Linda Davidson
(1958), JOHN WAYNE, Pat Farrow
(1958),
and extreme right is Ellen Baker
(1958). John Wayne was in
Natchitoches making the Horse Soldiers.
This was my second night to visit with him. Lucked out the first night
because I wasn’t sure the rumor that I’d heard was true much less that
John Wayne would welcome our visit and spend a good hour with us. I was
rooming with Peggy McMullin
(1958)at
the time. She “had
a cow”
when she found out what had happened. Raised cain to go the next night
but was not around when we got ready to go. So she never got to meet J.
W., but Ellen and Linda did. He was not only a true movie star but a
caring and gracious man to spend time with a bunch of crazy college
kids, talking more about us than himself.
Submitted by
Ann Mays Harlan, Class of 1958
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1959 GRADUATE MEETS JOHN WAYNE IN SANTA
FE
We lived in Santa Fe when John Wayne was making The Cowboys
movie. Ed had a physical therapy office and John Wayne hurt his
shoulder during the filming. Ed called me from his office and
said, "Guess who is in the office". Well, it was April Fool's
Day so I thought he was teasing me so I hung up! In a few
moments later the phone rang and John Wayne was there....small
talk to the Duke....hmmmm.
Ed actually took some of his equipment to the ranch where
John Wayne was living and went by and treated him each
afternoon, late. The kids and I had a great time going out and
visiting with him. I baked him a birthday cake and one for his
youngest son, also. My dad was thrilled to have the time to
just sit down after his treatment and visit with him. He was
huge and so very real. He and Ed had a great time talking
politics, etc.
It is too bad we didn't take any pictures. One of those
unforgettable experiences.
Submitted by Camille Ivy Heller, Class of 1959
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1952 GRADUATE MET JOHN WAYN IN BURBANK, CA
Hey... one more bit about John Wayne... I had my son, Mark, on
May 24th, 1956 in Burbank, California... I think the hospital was
called "Doctors Hospital" Another lady had a little girl the day
before I had Mark... it turned out to be Pilar Wayne, John Wayne's
last wife. He would come in to see her once or twice a day and I
would watch him pass my door... there was no mistaking that John
Wayne walk. The nurses would get all-a-flutter when he came
in... My room overlooked the gates to Disney's Studios and I watched
the Mouseketeers get in a van every day... Annette Funicello was
among them at that time.
When I had one of my daughters, Mandy in March of 1953, I was in
Los Angeles Hospital and Edward G. Robinson's son and his wife had a
baby at the same time... I also got to see him and he and my mother
became good friends standing at the nursery window . One day he
told my mother "They all look like me when they're born but thank
God they outgrow it"... as you may remember he was NOT, NOT a good
looking man!
Joan Wiley Luck, Class of 1952
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