Brace Beemer

Brace Beemer. Radio voice of the Lone Ranger. , "Who was that masked man?" For the generations who grew up gathered around a radio in those thrilling days of yesteryear, the answer is - and always will be - "Brace Beemer." , , From April 1941 to September 1954, Beemer was the radio voice of the Lone Ranger, the iconic masked lawman whose action-packed exploits and positive messages were broadcast coast to coast. , , Oxford Township was Beemer's home for more than 20 years. He settled on W. Drahner Rd. and owned a 300-acre spread known as Paint Creek Acres. There, he raised horses and enjoyed country life. , , Despite his fame, Beemer remained a Midwestern boy at heart. He was born in Mount Carmel, Illinois on Dec. 9, 1902 and later moved to Indiana with his family. , , A teacher's frequent lectures "on the merits of Kaiser Wilhelm II's Germany" angered the patriotic Beemer and led to "a few blows," which resulted in his joining the American Expeditionary Forces in World War I, according to his final interview in the March 4, 1965 Oxford Leader. He misrepresented his age and enlisted in the Army in April 1917. He was only 14. Beemer served in France as a member of Battery E of the 150th Field Artillery, part of the 42nd "Rainbow" Division, and was wounded by a mustard gas attack in May 1918. He was discharged in May 1919. , , Beemer's life changed forever in 1922 when his father brought home a radio. "It was one of those fourteen-dial affairs... It was then I told my dad that I was going to go to work in radio," he said. He got his start at stations in Indianapolis. , , In the early 1930s, Beemer was hired by Detroit's WXYZ radio. There, he wore different hats, including station manager and announcer/narrator for The Lone Ranger program. The show originated at WXYZ and premiered in January 1933. , , Beemer took the reins as the Lone Ranger in April 1941 following the untimely death of the show's star, Earle Graser. Over the next 13 years, Beemer's booming voice became synonymous with the Western hero to legions of loyal listeners. His gripping performances gave American youth a moral North Star , a reason to believe that truth and justice always prevail. , , "I feel fortunate to be a legend in my own lifetime. There are few who can enjoy this privilege," he told the Oxford Leader. , , Beemer donned the mask and made countless public appearances before and after lending his deep baritone voice to the character. He fit the bill because he was tall, athletic, charismatic and a highly skilled equestrian and marksman. , , His great respect for the Lone Ranger character and its millions of devoted fans inspired Beemer to always look and act the part. "I have an obligation to the children and to the image that they believe in," he said in his last interview. , , Beemer passed away on March 1, 1965. He's buried in Troy's White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery. Jim Sherman Sr., publisher of the Oxford Leader from 1955 to 1993, was among Beemer's pallbearers. , , photo captions: , · Oxford Township resident Brace Beemer was the voice of the Lone Ranger on coast-to-coast radio from 1941 to 1954. Photo courtesy of the Northeast Oakland Historical Museum. , , · Children and horses brought joy to Beemer's life. Photo courtesy of the Burton Historical Collection, Detroit Public Library. , , Plaque donors: North Oakland Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 334; Fraternal Order of Police James R. Lafnear Metro-Pontiac Lodge #132; Michigan Association of Broadcasters; Village of Oxford; Joseph and Diane Carnacchio; Fletcher Spears III and Karen Spears; Rick, Kristina and Tim in loving memory of their parents, Richard and Lucille Kroninger. Boulder donated by Edward C. Levy Co. and placed by Saradan Construction. , Oxford Twp. Historical Marker