When I was 14, the original "Davy Crocket, King of the Wild Frontier" show was broadcast on Disney's Sunday night program. It was the first of what would become known as "mini-series" in a later time. My young cousins marched around in coonskin caps, carrying plastic long rifles.

In reality, Mr. Parker was a rather jovial, courtly gentleman who some of you who have been victimized by bad accountants or unscrupulous agents could admire because he "beat the system." When residuals were not forthcoming for his part in the 1960's "Daniel Boone" TV series, he sued and won over "creative accounting" practices rampant in the industry at the time. The proceeds enabled him to retire from movie-making, buy land in Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez Valley and engage in the hotel and winery businesses.

In my former life as a professional wino (actually a wine marketer), I had the chance to meet Fess Parker at his winery. Some time later,
I was privileged to represent his wines in our area for a time. They are excellent award-winning wines. He was married to the same lady for half a century, something nearly unknown in Hollywood circles. In recent years, on Thursday nights, he and his wife would host sing-a-longs in the lounge of a hotel he owned in Santa Ynez area. He had always loved music and loved playing host and joining in. Playing a guitar and singing for Walt Disney helped him land the original Davy Crockett part. Happy trails to a really nice man!