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When someone told Brad Johnson he'd come a long way, his usual response was, "Well, I had a long way to come." Born on a small ranch in Tucson, Johnson, the son of a horse trainer/used car salesman, did everything from shoeing horses to repossessing cars to serving as a hunting and fishing guide. His humble beginnings nurtured his modesty and quiet strength and had critics comparing him to John Wayne, Clint Eastwood and James Stewart.

Brad's route to stardom was speedy, dramatic and somewhat circuitous. He joined the Pro Rodeo circuit in 1984 and was spotted wrestling steers in Wyoming by a casting director looking for cowboys to use as extras in a beer commercial. After this first break came a three-year run as the Marlboro Man, then numerous Calvin Klein print ads and more commercials. After a serious knee injury sidelined his rodeo career, Johnson headed for Hollywood.

Within five months of his arrival, Roger Corman cast him to star in Nam Angels (1989). Soon after, Steven Spielberg discovered Johnson and offered him the coveted role of Ted Baker, Holly Hunter's love interest in Always (1989). When asked about her co-star, Holly described Brad as "all twisted steel and sex appeal." The Spielberg film led Johnson to Paramount for John Milius's Flight of the Intruder (1991). An exclusive three-picture deal at Paramount followed.

With 60 hours of television, 11 pilots and over 25 films to his credit, there was no slowing down. Johnson's Los Angeles-based High Lonesome Productions and his producing partner Lou Pitt had several projects in different stages of production.

Brad lived with his wife Laurie and their eight children on a ranch in the mountains of Colorado.

Raised in Dallas, Texas, James Hampton attended John H. Reagan Elementary, N.R. Crozier Technical High School and the University of North Texas (Theatre Arts Major). He studied acting with Michael Howard in New York and Leonard Nimoy in Los Angeles. He worked with Baruch Lumet at Knox Street Theatre in Dallas and did summer stock at Casa Manana in Fort Worth (1961). He performed off-Broadway in "Easy Does It" with Tom Poston and Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum, and toured with Burt Reynolds in "Rainmaker". He starred in "Tender Trap" with Reynolds at Arlington Park Theatre in Chicago and played the title role in "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter" at the same theatre with Mamie Van Doren and Rick Jason. Onscreen, he has played in films as diverse as The Longest Yard (1974) and Teen Wolf (1985), and is probably best remembered as the eager but inept bugler Private Hannibal Dobbs in the classic sitcom F Troop (1965). James Hampton died at age 84 of Parkinson's disease at his home in Fort Worth, Texas.

Joseph Patrick Cranshaw was an American character actor from Oklahoma. He is well-known for playing fraternity brother Blue from the Todd Phillips comedy film Old School. He had minor roles in many other shows and films including Seinfeld, Air Bud, Herbie: Fully Loaded and The Dukes of Hazzard. He passed away in December 28, 2005 due to natural causes.

Fran Bennett was born in Texas to Eugenia Gibbons Bailey and Bryan Andrew Leonard. She was apparently adopted by Darwin Marx Benedum, taking his last name, when her mother married Benedum in 1941. Ms. Bennett attended the University of Miami where she majored in mathematics.She married Dr. John E. Williams of Beverly Hills, California in June 1957. She subsequently withdrew from the film industry.

Cindy Crawford was born on 13 January 1947 in Dyersburg, Tennessee, USA. She died on 14 October 2007 in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas, USA.

Lillian Moore was born on 2 April 1916 in Fort Worth, Texas, USA. She was an actress, known for Judge Faith (2014). She was married to Roy Roberts. She died on 25 October 2001 in Fort Worth, Texas, USA.

Peggy Connelly was born on 25 September 1931 in Shreveport, Louisiana, USA. She was an actress, known for Schlitz Playhouse (1951), Words and Music (1970) and Take a Good Look (1959). She was married to Colin Romoff, Dick Martin and James L. Dutton. She died on 11 June 2007 in Fort Worth, Texas, USA.

Bob Wills, fiddler and band leader of Bob Wills & his Texas Playboys, was an influential developer of the western swing music style in the late 1930s through the 1940s. Recorded extensively for Columbia, Decca, MGM and others. Hit recordings included "San Antonio Rose, " "Faded Love, " and "Steel Guitar Rag." He was inducted into Country Music Hall of Fame in 1968. Many country music artists cite him as a major influence, including Merle Haggard, George Strait, and Willie Nelson.

Mary "Punkins" Parker was born in 1918 in Fort Worth Texas. She was discovered as part of a Paramount Pictures search for beauty contest-considered one of the top 10 most beautiful girls in the country. Prior to that, Punkins had been on the radio, and was a talented dancer. She appeared in a few movies for Paramount, and later signed a contract with MGM. Some of her best work was as a dancer with her partner Billy Daniels, working both in movies and on Broadway. Although somewhat of a household name in the 30's and 40's, Mary Parker has become a relatively unknown actress and performer in recent times. Mary hated the name "Punkins" and insisted being credited as Mary Parker, yet she was often still credited as "Punkins". In her relatively short film career, Mary Parker worked with some top names in the industry, and was a close friend of Burgess Meredith among others.

From the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1998: Before becoming an office manager Mary "Punkin" Parker was both and actress and a dancer. She was under contract to paramount and MGM studios from the late 1930s into the 1940s. She played feature roles in films with Dorothy Lamour, Fred MacMurray, Ginger Rogers and Ray Milland. During her stay in Hollywood, she dated Howard Hughes. She danced from Hollywood to New York, appearing on Broadway with her partner Billy Daniel.

When Mary returned to Fort Worth, she had a weekly program, "Mary Parker Playtime," on WBAP-TV. After this, she had a dance studio on Forest Park Blvd. where she taught dancing for many years. She later became interested in the medical profession and became an office manager for a local physician.

Ed Holmes was born on 19 May 1919 in Buffalo, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for On Valentine's Day (1986), The Growing Paynes (1948) and Captain Video and His Video Rangers (1949). He was married to Billie Foreman Holmes. He died on 5 September 1985 in Fort Worth, Texas, USA.

Jerry Russell was born on 5 January 1936 in West Warwick, Rhode Island, USA. He was an actor, known for Wolf Children (2012), Evangelion: 2.0 You Can (Not) Advance (2009) and Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (2009). He was married to Suzi McLaughlin, Kathy ? and Virginia Cornstubble. He died on 5 September 2013 in Fort Worth, Texas, USA.

Tobar Mayo was born on 19 March 1945 in Dallas, Texas, USA. He was an actor, known for Escape from New York (1981), Abar (1977) and Mannix (1967). He died on 11 December 2023 in Fort Worth, Texas, USA.

John Cadenhead was born on 13 September 1946 in Fort Worth, Texas, USA. He was an actor and director, known for UHF (1989), Ernest Scared Stupid (1991) and Boys Don't Cry (1999). He died on 13 April 2002 in Fort Worth, Texas, USA.

Vernon Castle and his wife Irene Castle were the best known ballroom dancers of the early 20th Century. Beginning about 1914 they operated several clubs and studios in the New York City area, toured the country dancing, and were able to charge as much as a thousand dollars an hour for lessons.

From 1906 through 1913 he appeared in nine Broadway musicals: "The Sunshine Girl", "The Lady of the Slipper", "The Hen-Pecks", "The Summer Widowers", "Old Dutch", "The Midnight Sons", "The Mimic World", "The Girl Behind the Counter", and "About Town." In 1914, he appeared with Irene in the Irving Berlin musical "Watch Your Step." Vernon (as a military flying instructor) was killed in an airplane accident shortly before the end or World War I.

Vernon and Irene were the subjects of the movie The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle (1939).

Don Reynolds was born on 29 May 1937 in Odell, Texas, USA. He was an actor, known for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), Beverly Hills Ninja (1997) and Kate & Leopold (2001). He died on 9 January 2019 in Fort Worth, Texas, USA.

Edwin Owens was born on 8 May 1942 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was an actor, known for Falcon Crest (1981), Hart to Hart (1979) and The Edge of Night (1956). He died on 17 September 2006 in Fort Worth, Texas, USA.

Keith Kjornes was born on 24 November 1950 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. He was a writer and editor, known for Open All Night, Surveillance (2001) and Six Dollars a Minute (1997). He was married to Irene Carmen Cadahia. He died on 28 March 2013 in Fort Worth, Texas, USA.

Grady Allen Bishop was born on 28 April 1961 in Fort Worth, Texas, USA. He was an assistant director, known for The Accountant (2016), Heist (2015) and Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018). He died on 25 January 2022 in Fort Worth, Texas, USA.

Jesse L. Upchurch was born on 26 December 1924 in Gowdeysville, South Carolina, USA. He was an actor and producer, known for World Without Waves (2004) and Second Chances (1998). He was married to Pilar Wayne and Connie. He died on 26 February 2018 in Fort Worth, Texas, USA.

Ben Hogan was born on 13 August 1912 in Dublin, Texas, USA. He was an actor, known for The Caddy (1953), Perry Como's Kraft Music Hall (1948) and On the Boardwalk with Paul Whiteman (1954). He was married to Valerie Fox. He died on 25 July 1997 in Fort Worth, Texas, USA.

Tom Huckabee is a writer, director, producer with over 40 years experience in entertainment. As a student at UT Austin he studied under Tom Schatz, Loren Bivens, and Edward Dymytryk, directed "The Death of Jim Morrison," nominated for a student academy award, and "Taking Tiger Mountain," starring Bill Paxton and co-written by William S. Burroughs. He has been a staff producer at Landmark Theaters, a writer of non-fiction TV for Disney and Discovery, a story analyst for 21st Century Films, and a staff researcher for The History Channel's Modern Marvels. In 1987 he produced and co-wrote "Martini Ranch's Reach," a long-form music video directed by James Cameron, starring Kathryn Bigelow, Bill Paxton, Phil Granger, Bud Cort, Judge Reinhold and much of the cast from "Near Dark" and "Aliens." In 1997, he was associate producer of post-production and music supervisor for "Traveller," starring Paxton, Mark Wahlberg, and Julianna Margulies. From 1998 - 2001, he was vice president of American Entertainment, underwritten by Walt Disney Studios, where he created and/or oversaw development of feature projects with Touchstone, Universal, Imagine, Image Movers, HBO, Sony, and Revolution Studios. In 2001 he executive-produced Paxton's directorial debut, Frailty, starring Paxton, Powers Boothe and Matthew McConaughey. Also in 2001, he produced and directed a live event, Arthur C. Clarke: Beyond 2001 at the Playboy Mansion, featuring James Cameron, Patrick Stewart, Morgan Freeman, and Buzz Aldrin, He was an uncredited script consultant on Twister, Mighty Joe Young, Vertical Limit, U-571, Thunderbirds, The Greatest Game Ever Played, and The Colony and a quality control supervisor for Lucasfilm (1990-2004), working on films by Ron Howard, Michael Mann, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, George Lucas, Kathryn Bigelow, etc.. In 2005 he was a producer/writer on 75 episodes of National Lampoon's An Eye for an Eye. In 2007 he was the artistic director for the first annual Lone Star International Film Festival. His sophomore feature Carried Away (2010) won three first place festival awards and is available on Amazon Instant View. Recently, he directed the documentary short "Confessions of an Ecstasy Advocate," story-edited Ghostbreakers, a 20-part syndicated TV series starring Joey Greco, set to debut in 2016 on The Family Channel, co produced The Starck Club, a documentary feature and The Price, a drama starring Randy Travis and James Dupre. In 2014-15, he was the artistic director of the Wildcatter Exhange literary festival, while his short film "The Death of Jim Morrison" (retitled "Death of a Rock Star") was included in the omnibus package, Jonathan Demme Presents Made in Texas, which premiered opening night 2015 at SXSW and is distributed by UT Press. He teaches screenwriting workshops and offers a wide-range of freelance development services. Upcoming projects include feature films Hate Crimes, ReCharge!, and The Attachment, full length stage plays, Dr. Zombi, PhD and The Reversible Cords; and Great Lives, a live theater festival of one-person historical shows.

Calvin Leon Graham was born in Canton, Texas on 3 April 1930. The youngest of seven children, Calvin's claim to fame was when he lied about his age and joined the United States Navy at the age of twelve during World War II. He served aboard the U.S.S. South Dakota (BB-57) which took part in the Battle of Guadalcanal. The ship sustained heavy damage plus many casualties and Graham was wounded in this action. Undeterred, Graham continued to fight on and function effectively despite his wounds. For his conduct during the battle, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart for his wounds.

After his mother found out where her son had been, she contacted the Navy and his true age was revealed. He was subsequently thrown in the brig at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi, Texas where he was held for almost three months. He was released when his sister threatened to go to the newspapers that the Navy was holding a young (underage) hero. After he was released, the Navy had awarded Graham a Dishonorable Discharge forfeiting his benefits and awards.

Later on, he was able to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps. He served three years before breaking his back.

He would fight for his benefits and discharge upgrade for the rest of his life. His discharge was upgraded in 1978 and his benefits restored in 1988. All his medals were eventually re-bestowed with the Purple Heart posthumously in 1994.

Calvin Graham died on 6 November 1992 in Fort Worth, Texas.

His story was told in the made-for-TV movie, Too Young the Hero (1988).

Andy Anderson was born on 13 July 1946. He was a director and writer, known for Positive I.D. (1986), Interface (1984) and Detention (1998). He died on 17 March 2017 in Fort Worth, Texas, USA.

Dan Jenkins was born on 2 December 1928 in Fort Worth, Texas, USA. He was a writer and producer, known for Baja Oklahoma (1988), Semi-Tough (1977) and Dead Solid Perfect (1988). He was married to June Burrage and ???. He died on 7 March 2019 in Fort Worth, Texas, USA.

Joyce Marie Lemons was the mother of murder victim Debbie Williamson who ensured the memory of her daughter would live on after the unresolved homicide took place on August 24, 1975. She was known for her various appearances in several television documentaries that covered Debbie's unresolved homicide. Joyce passed away in 2019, at the age of 83.