Audie L. Murphy Memorial Website Message Boards

I am still here in Memphis and have gotten quite a few celebrity signitures. I am using the computer in the lobby about 20 feet from the room where Clint Walker is in a panel discussion with Henry Darrow. I got Clint Walker and a picture of him signing it. He said he met him at one time and was proud to have met him. And said Audie sure deserves this and thanked me for doing it. He is so nice. The line waiting on him was long and while his wife was setting his table he came to the line and talked with us and apologized for it taking so long and how he appreciated us. It says a lot about him to do that. A good man.

Saw Johnny Western again and got him to sign it. Rex Allen, Jr, also. Got Darby Hinton and Veronica Cartwright to sign it. Seems like some more but can't remember who. And, believe it or not Hugh O'Brian signed it and made a nice comment. He refused to talk about Audie, but he signed it. When I asked him about Audie, he changed the subject. I again asked him and he changed it back to another subject, so didn't try again. Just super-shocked that he did sign it. Didn't get a pic of him signing it as my camera picked that moment to have dead batteries and by the time I got new ones in it, he was done. Must have been fate.

I was told LQ Jones was here but he doesn't have a booth or anything, he just kind of wanders around. Haven't found him wandering yet, but he is my priority number one. He is in a panel discussion in a couple hours, so will have to stalk him after that!

Henry Darrow refused to sign it. Said he felt 'uncomfortable' signing it. So much for him.

Clint Walker had his 85th birthday two days ago, so there is a big cake waiting on him he is about to get surprised with.

More later with pics.

That was amazingly gracious of Hugh O'Brien, given some of the stories about him and Murph. Clint Walker I don't know much about; I think the only thing I've seen him was a rather silly Spanish western wiith Telly Savalas as Pancho Villa. But he sounds like a nice guy.

I just got thru talking with LQ Jones. Didn't even have to stalk him. Got my picture with him and he signed a book he wrote that I brought. When I mentioned Audie Murphy he regailed the whole bunch of us around there with a few stories about Audie. He said he really liked Audie and he was a sweetheart. He said he went to lunch with Audie's son and Morgan Woodward one time, and Audie's son(didn't say which one) looked just like him. When I pulled out the clipboard and mentioned the petition, he immediately signed it and said he was proud to sign it and thanked me for doing it. Just like Clint. Another nice guy. Will

Clint Walker takling with us before hand, then signing the petition. His eye sight isn't what it used to be.

LQ Jones. Forgot to get a pic of him signing it. He saw the first line that said 'FIRST NAME' and he said "My first name is 'L', so he put an 'L' in the line. Too funny.

At least LQ looks good. Not a great picture of the other guy.

Rex Allen, Jr. Nice guy.

Johnny Western.

Ed Faulkner. Very nice guy. Said he never met Audie, but wished he had.

Hugh O'Brian. His wife signed the top while he was away from the table and when he came back, he signed it. Didn't get the pic, as battery died, but I saw him sign it. He spent most of his time in his motorized wheelchair, but I did see him get up at one point and move to a chair. Depending on which date of birth you believe (kind of like Audie) he either just turned 87 or 89.

Johnny and Bobby Crawford. They both stood on their tiptoes, and I scrunched down a little bit. Apparantly they are both height conscious. Still didn't work very well.

Bobby signed it last year, and when I gave the petition to Johnny, he said he would sign it when the line died down. When the line died down he left and took it with him. That was yesterday. Today the line was either too long at his table or he wasn't there, so didn't get him to sign it.

Wow, David. So much fun seeing some of the actors we have watched for so many years. It sounds like you are having a great time.

Great pictures David! Great comments as well. I'm proud of you.

_________________
Betty

I doubt I go next year, as Audie Days is only 3 weeks before the Memphis Film Festival. And Terry Moore is scheduled to go, so hopefully she can make it to Audie Days before that.

Great job on the signatures Dave. Whoah! The Hugh O'Brien signature is not only interesting but as you pointed out, very very gracious from him. Maybe he sees things differently now that time has past.

_________________
Richard L. Rodgers
Webmaster
Audie Murphy Memorial Website

After writing the comment on the petition that Audie was a "true hero", it's still strange that O'Brien didn't want to discuss Audie with David. But, how could anyone not call Audie a true hero? I haven't cared much for him since reading the stories of some bad blood between he and Audie, but I'm glad to know that evidently he's an honest man and recognized a "true hero" when he saw one.

I wonder what the deal was with Henry Darrow not "feeling comfortable" signing the petition? I lost whatever respect for him that I had when I read David's post.

You did great getting the signatures of the stars that have signed it the past two years at the Memphis Film Festival.

_________________
"You lead from the front." Audie Murphy, WWII's Most Decorated Soldier