by Lenna Gonya

Created on: March 19, 2010   Last Updated: March 22, 2010

No one in the fifties grew up without a hero, and none was more real that Davy Crockett.  We were exposed to no end of heroes, super, and otherwise. None, however, were better than the real life heroes that were taken from the actual history of America.

I didn’t know Fess Parker, but, after learning more about him and his life, I found out that, like me, he loved history. He not only played Davy Crockett, but Daniel Boone, and, no doubt his love of history helped him in his roles.

His personal life was about as all-American as his characters. He enlisted in the Marines during WW II, but was turned down as a pilot because he was too tall. He was the “boy next door”, athlete, student, neighbor. No scandal marked his career. He was a husband, father, and grandfather.

I was a tomboy. No question about it. I grew up in an all boy neighborhood, so I didn’t have much choice. I loved the cowboy shows on TV, the “Cisco Kid”, “Roy Rodgers and Dale Evans”, “Sky King.”  My favorite, though, was Davy Crockett, “King of the Wild Frontier.”

I was so enthralled by the adventures of Davy, that on my seventh or eighth Christmas, all I wanted was the authentic Davy Crockett Alamo fort and play set, complete with soldiers, horses, and, little cannons that actually fired tiny little cannon balls.

I couldn’t wait until Christmas morning, and, sure enough, Santa had heard me. There it was in all it’s glory, waiting for Dad and me to put it together. The best part was, there was one little plastic figure that was the very image of my hero, Davy Crockett.

It even came with a record, the actual recording of the theme song, sung by “Davy”,  in a paper jacket with a picture of Fess Parker right on the front.

Hundreds, or maybe thousands of hours were spent re-enacting battles in that fort. I shared it with the other kids on the block, but, I was always Davy Crockett. It was my fort, after all.

My niece and nephews and my kids played with the Davy Crockett Alamo play set, and, miraculously all the pieces and parts remain intact. If I eventually have grandchildren, I may let them play with it too. And, I may have to explain to them who Davy Crockett was.

For right now, all the little soldiers and the Alamo itself are packed away for safe keeping, with one exception. The little figure that looks exactly like Fess Parker, aka, Davy Crockett is in my china cabinet, right along with grandma’s best dishes and mom’s crystal.

What a shame that kids today don’t have heroes, and “stars” like Fess Parker to portray them.

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