Norman in Cleveland County, Oklahoma — The American South (West South Central)
There's Only One James Garner
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 20, 2025
1. There's Only One James Garner Marker
Inscription.
There's Only One James Garner. .
James Garner Native Son. James Garner was born James Scott Bumgarner on April 7, 1928 in Norman and is known to his friends as Jim. Jim's family had no show business background, although his brother Charles was a talented guitar player and his brother Jack a good singer; most of the Bumgarner family were Oklahoma educators and teachers. , His mother Mildred, who was part Native American, died when Jim was four. At that time all three boys went to live with other relatives while their father Weldon worked wherever work was available. Jim attended grade school and high school in Norman and was a talented athlete in football, basketball and track. At 14, Jim left home, did odd jobs and at 16 signed on for a stint in the Merchant Marines with his best friend, Jim Paul Dickinson. After leaving the Merchant Marines, Garner joined his father in California and helped in the carpet-laying business, had a job modeling swimming suits and attended Hollywood High School. Leaving California, Jim returned to Norman and re-enrolled in Norman High School, reuniting with old friends and continuing his athletic career. , After finishing high school Jim was drafted into the army as the first draftee from the state of Oklahoma during the Korean conflict. He was assigned to the 24th Inf. Div. and shipped out to Korea. While in Korea Garner was wounded twice and awarded two Purple Hearts. Upon completion of his military service Jim moved back to Los Angeles in 1953; there his friend Paul Gregory offered him a small part in a Broadway production of The Caine Mutiny Court Martial. Perhaps as significant was the fact that the part included working with Honry Fonda, laying the foundation for a lifelong friendship. , Garner's first big break a starring role in the television series Maverick brought him true stardom in 1957. He also created one of the world's most famous private detectives, Jim Rockford, in The Rockford Files (1974-1980), for which he won an Emmy award in 1977. Since 1994 Garner has recreated the two famous roles when he starred as Rockford in seven made-for-television movies and his big-screen performance in the film Maverick. , Away from acting Garner is involved with auto racing. From 1967-69 he owned the racing team American International Racing, with its members driving at such sites as Daytona and Sebring and off-road races such as Baja. He has driven the pace car at the Indianapolis 500 on three occasions in 1975, 1977 and 1985. , Garner is also involved with many humanitarian causes. He helped organize Martin Luther King Jr.'s march on Washington for civil rights in 1963 and went to Vietnam in 1967 to visit the troops. He is a member of the National Support Committee of the Native American Rights Fund and National Advisory Board of the United States High School Golf Association. He has been involved with the Save the Coast movement to stop offshore drilling in California and with Save the Children. ,
James Garner A Creative Life. One of Hollywood's most popular actors, Academy Award nominated and Emmy Award winner James Garner has long been regarded as one of America's foremost and distinguished actors, maintaining his popularity over time while receiving one Academy Award nomination, 15 Emmy nominations with two wins, 13 Golden Globe nominations with four wins, two People's Choice awards and three Screen Actors Guild Award nominations, as well as receiving a Clio Award for his Polaroid commercials. In 2005 James Garner was presented the Screen Actors Guild's 41st Life Achievement Award by fellow actors Mel Gibson and Julie Andrews. Easily transitioning between film and television, Garner has continued to delight audiences over the past fifth years with his memorable performances. , Executive Producer 1989 My Name is Bill W. . 1986 Promise , Actor Television Series 2003-2005 8 Simple Rules . 2001-2002 First Monday . 1998-1999 God, The Devil and Bob [Animated] . 1991 Man of the People . 1974-1980 The Rockford Files . 1971-1972 Nichols . 1957-1962 Maverick , Actor Movies Made for Television 2002 Roughing It . 2000 The Last Debate . 1999 One Special Night . 1998 Legalese . 1997 Dead Silence . 1995 Streets of Laredo . 1994 Breathing Lessons . 1993 Barbarians at the Gate . 1990 Decoration Day . 1989 My Name is Bill W . 1986 Promise . 1985 James A. Michener's Space . 1984 The Glitter Dome . 1984 Heartsounds . 1981 Bret Maverick: The Lazy Ace . 1981 The Long Summer of George Adams . 1978 The New Maverick , Actor Motion Picture 2005 The Ultimate Gift . 2004 The Notebook . 2002 Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood . 2001 Atlantis: The Lost Empire . 2000 Space Cowboy . 1998 Twilight . 1996 My Fellow Americans . 1994 Maverick . 1993 Fire in the Sky . 1992 The Distinguished Gentleman . 1988 Sunset . 1985 Murphy's Romance . 1983 Tank . 1982 Victor/Victoria . 1981 The Fan . 1979 H.E.A.L.T.H. . 1974 The Castaway Cowboy . 1973 One Little Indian . 1972 They Only Kill Their Masters . 1971 A Man Called Sledge . 1971 Support Your Local Gunslinger . 1971 The Skin Game . 1969 Marlowe . 1969 Support Your Local Sheriff . 1968 The Pink Jungle . 1968 How Sweet It Is! . 1967 Hour of the Gun . 1966 Duel at Diablo . 1966 Mister Buddwing . 1966 Grand Prix . 1966 A Man Could Get Killed . 1965 The Art of Love . 1964 The Americanization of Emily . 1964 36 Hours . 1963 The Thrill of It All . 1963 The Great Escape . 1962 Boys' Night Out . 1961 The Children's Hour . 1959 Up Periscope . 1959 Cash McCall . 1958 Darby's Rangers . 1957 Sayonara . 1957 Shoot-Out at Medicine Bend . 1956 The Girl He Left Behind . 1956 Toward the Unknown
James Garner Native Son
James Garner was born James Scott Bumgarner on April 7, 1928 in Norman and is known to his friends as Jim. Jim's family had no show business background, although his brother Charles was a talented guitar player and his brother Jack a good singer; most of the Bumgarner family were Oklahoma educators and teachers.
His mother Mildred, who was part Native American, died when Jim was four. At that time all three boys went to live with other relatives while their father Weldon worked wherever work was available. Jim attended grade school and high school in Norman and was a talented athlete in football, basketball and track. At 14, Jim left home, did odd jobs and at 16 signed on for a stint in the Merchant Marines with his best friend, Jim Paul Dickinson. After leaving the Merchant Marines, Garner joined his father in California and helped in the carpet-laying business, had a job modeling swimming suits and attended Hollywood High School. Leaving California, Jim returned to Norman and re-enrolled in Norman High School, reuniting with old friends and continuing his athletic career.
After finishing
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high school Jim was drafted into the army as the first draftee from the state of Oklahoma during the Korean conflict. He was assigned to the 24th Inf. Div. and shipped out to Korea. While in Korea Garner was wounded twice and awarded two Purple Hearts. Upon completion of his military service Jim moved back to Los Angeles in 1953; there his friend Paul Gregory offered him a small part in a Broadway production of The Caine Mutiny Court Martial. Perhaps as significant was the fact that the part included working with Honry Fonda, laying the foundation for a lifelong friendship.
Garner's first big break a starring role in the television series Maverick brought him true stardom in 1957. He also created one of the world's most famous private detectives, Jim Rockford, in The Rockford Files (1974-1980), for which he won an Emmy award in 1977. Since 1994 Garner has recreated the two famous roles when he starred as Rockford in seven made-for-television movies and his big-screen performance in the film Maverick.
Away from acting Garner is involved with auto racing. From 1967-69 he owned the racing team American International Racing, with
Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 20, 2025
2. There's Only One James Garner Marker
This marker is to the left of the life-sized bronze statue of Garner.
its members driving at such sites as Daytona and Sebring and off-road races such as Baja. He has driven the pace car at the Indianapolis 500 on three occasions in 1975, 1977 and 1985.
Garner is also involved with many humanitarian causes. He helped organize Martin Luther King Jr.'s march on Washington for civil rights in 1963 and went to Vietnam in 1967 to visit the troops. He is a member of the National Support Committee of the Native American Rights Fund and National Advisory Board of the United States High School Golf Association. He has been involved with the Save the Coast movement to stop offshore drilling in California and with Save the Children.
James Garner A Creative Life
One of Hollywood's most popular actors, Academy Award nominated and Emmy Award winner James Garner has long been regarded as one of America's foremost and distinguished actors, maintaining his popularity over time while receiving one Academy Award nomination, 15 Emmy nominations with two wins, 13 Golden Globe nominations with four wins, two People's Choice awards and three Screen Actors Guild Award nominations, as well as receiving a Clio Award
Warner Brothers Television via Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain), circa 1958
3. James Garner (1928-2014)
He burst into stardom playing Bret Maverick, a poker-playing rounder in the Wild West, in the 1957-62 TV series Maverick.
for his Polaroid commercials. In 2005 James Garner was presented the Screen Actors Guild's 41st Life Achievement Award by fellow actors Mel Gibson and Julie Andrews. Easily transitioning between film and television, Garner has continued to delight audiences over the past fifth years with his memorable performances.
Executive Producer
1989 My Name is Bill W. 1986 Promise
Actor Television Series
2003-2005 8 Simple Rules 2001-2002 First Monday 1998-1999 God, The Devil & Bob [Animated] 1991 Man of the People 1974-1980 The Rockford Files 1971-1972 Nichols 1957-1962 Maverick
Actor Movies Made for Television
2002 Roughing It 2000 The Last Debate 1999 One Special Night 1998 Legalese 1997 Dead Silence 1995 Streets of Laredo 1994 Breathing Lessons 1993 Barbarians at the Gate 1990 Decoration Day 1989 My Name is Bill W 1986 Promise 1985 James A. Michener's Space 1984 The Glitter Dome 1984 Heartsounds 1981 Bret Maverick: The Lazy Ace 1981 The Long Summer of George Adams 1978 The New Maverick
Actor Motion Picture
2005 The Ultimate Gift 2004 The Notebook 2002 Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood 2001 Atlantis: The Lost Empire 2000 Space Cowboy 1998 Twilight 1996 My Fellow Americans 1994 Maverick 1993 Fire in the Sky 1992 The Distinguished Gentleman 1988 Sunset 1985 Murphy's Romance 1983 Tank 1982 Victor/Victoria 1981 The Fan 1979 H.E.A.L.T.H. 1974 The Castaway Cowboy 1973 One Little Indian 1972 They Only Kill Their Masters 1971 A Man Called Sledge 1971 Support Your Local Gunslinger 1971 The Skin Game 1969 Marlowe 1969 Support Your Local Sheriff 1968 The Pink Jungle 1968 How Sweet It Is! 1967 Hour of the Gun 1966 Duel at Diablo 1966 Mister Buddwing 1966 Grand Prix 1966 A Man Could Get Killed 1965 The Art of Love 1964 The Americanization of Emily 1964 36 Hours 1963 The Thrill of It All 1963 The Great Escape 1962 Boys' Night Out 1961 The Children's Hour 1959 Up Periscope 1959 Cash McCall 1958 Darby's Rangers 1957 Sayonara 1957 Shoot-Out at Medicine Bend 1956 The Girl He Left Behind 1956 Toward the Unknown
Erected by City of Norman, Oklahoma.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Entertainment. A significant historical date for this entry is April 7, 1928.
Location. 35° 13.247′ N, 97° 26.598′ W. Marker is in Norman, Oklahoma, in Cleveland County. It is at the intersection of West Main Street and South Jones Avenue, on the right when traveling east on West Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Norman OK 73069, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Oklahoma Frontier Country and in Greater Oklahoma City. It is also in the American South, specifically on the prairies, and on the Southern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 23, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 129 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on July 23, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 2, 3. submitted on July 24, 2025, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
