West Union in Adams County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Cowboy Copas / The Oklahoma Cowboy
Lloyd Estel Copas or “Oklahoma Cowboy” was described as “The Waltz King of The Grand Ole Opry,” where he was a regular performer from 1946 until his death. His first record was “Filipino Baby,” which was released in 1944. In 1948, he became the first to record and popularize “Tennessee Waltz,” later the state song of Tennessee. He also wrote and recorded numerous country ballads and Honky Tonk songs from the late 1940s through the early 1960s. He died in a plane crash on March 5, 1963, near Camden, Tennessee.
Erected 2004 by Adams County Historical Society and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 18-1.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical date for this entry is March 5, 1963.
Location. 38° 47.708′ N, 83° 32.783′ W. Marker is in West Union, Ohio, in Adams County. Marker is at the intersection of North Cross Street and West Main Street, on the right when traveling north on North Cross Street. It is at the courthouse. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: West Union OH 45693, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Corp. Carey Mc. Moore (a few steps from this marker); Adams County War Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Bell (within shouting distance of this marker); Bradford Tavern (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Olde Wayside Inn (about 300 feet away); West Union Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church / Reverend John Graham (approx. 0.2 miles away); First West Union Post Office (approx. 0.2 miles away); Adams County Heritage Center (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in West Union.
Regarding Cowboy Copas / The Oklahoma Cowboy. On March 3, 1963, Copas, Patsy Cline, Hawkshaw Hawkins and others performed at a benefit concert at the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas for the family of disc jockey Cactus Jack Call, who had died the previous December in an automobile accident.
On March 5, they left for Nashville in a Piper Comanche piloted by Copas’ son-in-law (and Cline’s manager), Randy Hughes. After stopping to refuel in Dyersburg, Tennessee, the craft took off at 6:07 p.m. CT. The plane flew into severe weather and crashed at 6:29 p.m. in a forest near Camden, Tennessee, 90 miles from the destination. There were no survivors. A stone marker, dedicated on July 6, 1996, marks the location of the crash. —Wikipedia
Also see . . .
1. Wikipedia entry. “Although Copas didn’t maintain his stellar popularity of the late 1940s through the next decade, he continued to perform regularly at the Grand Ole Opry and appeared on ABC-TV’s Ozark Jubilee. After a lackluster partnership with Dot Records, Copas surged to the top of the charts again in 1960 with the biggest hit of his career, ‘Alabam,’ which remained number one for three months. Other major hits during his successful period with Starday Records in the early 1960s, including ‘Flat Top’ and a remake of ‘Signed, Sealed And Delivered,’ held promising implications for the future of his career.” (Submitted on June 15, 2019.)
2. Cowboy Copas singing “Filipino Baby”.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 15, 2019. It was originally submitted on June 15, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 829 times since then and 50 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 15, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.