R. I. P. Fess Parker

I’ll never forget that, for my first Halloween, I was dressed as Davy Crockett. That was thanks to Fess Parker’s unforgettable portrayal of the coonskin-capped hero.

Parker did not overstay his welcome in Hollywood, became involved in Republican politics as a close friend of Ronald Reagan’s, and became an excellent winemaker as well.

He passed away today at the age of 85. I cannot overstate his impact on an impressionable young kid like me. Rest in peace, Fess.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAVN_n0PljQ&feature=related[/youtube]

The Wellingtons- “The Ballad of Davy Crockett”