Willcox in Cochise County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)
Rex Allen Memorial
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, March 3, 2010
1. Rex Allen Memorial Marker
Marker to left of sculpture.
Inscription.
Rex Allen Memorial. . , [Marker mounted to the left of sculpture:] , Born December 31, 1920 to Horace and Faye Allen in Willcox, Rex Elvie Allen was cross-eyed at birth., As a young boy, Rex sang in the barber shop on this very street. He and his Dad played for dances and rodeos in the 30's and he excelled in glee clubs and church choirs., Rex left home determined to find his place in the career he loved – music. In 1945 at WLS Radio in Chicago, he gained nationwide popularity on "The National Barn Dance.", In 1946 he married Bonnie Linder, the mother of his children: , Rex Jr., Curtis, Mark and Bonita Allen., Through the golden age of radio, Rex Allen starred with the greats: , Red Foley, Lulu Belle and Scotty, and George Gobel. , [Marker mounted to the right of sculpture:] , Rex Allen's recording career was launched with Mercury Records in 1946 and spanned 30 years. The song that became his trademark, "Streets of Laredo," sold over 3 million copies., In 1949 Rex signed with Republic Pictures in Hollywood, the motion picture studio responsible for the careers of John Wayne, Gene Autry, and Roy Rogers. Starring in 19 action-packed westerns with "Koko" through 1954, Rex was the last of the "Silver Screen Cowboys.", In the television years of 1955-56, Rex starred in 39 episodes of "Frontier Doctor.", During the next three decades, Rex and Koko appeared at every major rodeo in the U.S. and Canada. His golden voice has been heard on hundreds of commercials over the years, and he narrated more than 100 nature films for Walt Disney.
[Marker mounted to the left of sculpture:]
Born December 31, 1920 to Horace and Faye Allen in Willcox, Rex Elvie Allen was cross-eyed at birth.
As a young boy, Rex sang in the barber shop on this very street. He and his Dad played for dances and rodeos in the 30's and he excelled in glee clubs and church choirs.
Rex left home determined to find his place in the career he loved – music. In 1945 at WLS Radio in Chicago, he gained nationwide popularity on "The National Barn Dance."
In 1946 he married Bonnie Linder, the mother of his children:
Rex Jr., Curtis, Mark and Bonita Allen.
Through the golden age of radio, Rex Allen starred with the greats:
Red Foley, Lulu Belle and Scotty, and George Gobel.
[Marker mounted to the right of sculpture:]
Rex Allen's recording career was launched with Mercury Records in 1946 and spanned 30 years. The song that became his trademark, "Streets of Laredo," sold over 3 million copies.
In 1949 Rex signed with Republic Pictures in Hollywood, the motion picture studio responsible for the careers of John Wayne, Gene Autry, and Roy Rogers. Starring in 19 action-packed westerns with "Koko" through 1954, Rex was the last of the "Silver Screen Cowboys."
In the television years of 1955-56, Rex starred
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in 39 episodes of "Frontier Doctor."
During the next three decades, Rex and Koko appeared at every major rodeo in the U.S. and Canada. His golden voice has been heard on hundreds of commercials over the years, and he narrated more than 100 nature films for Walt Disney.
Location. 32° 15.15′ N, 109° 49.847′ W. Marker is in Willcox, Arizona, in Cochise County. Marker is on North Railroad Avenue, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Willcox AZ 85643, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Click on photo to see his autograph done in the walkway below the lower "Rex Allen" plaque.
Photographed By Bill Kirchner
5. Rex Allen Memorial Sculpture
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, March 3, 2010
6. Plaque on Walkway
Rex Allen
Buck McCain, artist
Desert Crucible, Inc., foundry
July 4, 1991
The project was made possible through the generous support of:
The City of Willcox, Sulphur Springs Valley Historical Society, The Rex Allen Arizona Cowboy Museum
Members and board of Directors
Mary Leighton • Johnny Hidalgo
Willcox Rock and Sand, Inc.
Phelps Dodge Morenci, Inc.
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, March 3, 2010
7. Plaque Mounted on Rock on Walkway
1940 - "KO KO" - 1967
Rex Allen's Stallion
Co-star in 30 motion pictures. Traveled over half million miles with Rex in U. S. and Canada. Billed as "the most beautiful horse in the world." At rest here, "belly high" in the green grass of horse heaven.
Photographed By Bill Kirchner, March 3, 2010
8. Plaque Mounted at Foot of Sculpture
"I'm proud to say I was the last of the 'Silver Screen Cowboys.' What an era in film history! It was a part of two generations of kids growing up in America. I like to feel that it had a positive and moral influence on them." [Signed] Rex Allen
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 8, 2014
9. Rex Allen Museum & Willcox Cowboy Hall of Fame
Located across the street, (Railroad Avenue), from the Rex Allen Memorial
Credits. This page was last revised on November 2, 2019. It was originally submitted on March 5, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,901 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on March 5, 2010, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. 9. submitted on April 12, 2016, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.