Wild And Woeful Facts About Roy Rogers, The “King Of The Cowboys”
The “King Of The Cowboys” Or Tragedy?
Roy Rogers was the real-life singing cowboy who brought his talents to the radio, big screen, and television. However, the “King of the Cowboys” proved that the life of a rancher was a tough one, filled with personal tragedies.
1. He Wasn’t Always Roy Rogers
Before he became the “King of the Cowboys,” Roy Rogers was born as Leonard Franklin Slye on November 5, 1911, in Cincinnati, Ohio. His parents, Mattie and Andrew “Andy” Slye, raised him alongside his three sisters: Kathleen, Mary, and Cleda.
Little did they know, their humble beginnings would pave the way for a grand future.
2. He Was Born At Second Base
Rogers spent his earliest years in a humble tenement on 2nd Street in Cincinnati. Years later, the area would become the site of Riverfront Stadium. Ever the charmer, Rogers would often later joke that he was “born at second base”. His childhood, however, was far from a home run.
3. His Family Lived On A Homemade Houseboat
In 1912, Rogers’ father and uncle decided they’d had enough of the city life—and land. Using nothing but salvaged wood, they built a small houseboat. That July, Rogers and the rest of his family put their DIY floater on the Ohio River, bound for a new adventure.
But they only found hardship.
4. His Boat Became His Home
The Slyes eventually docked their houseboat in Portsmouth, Ohio, with hopes of building a home on newly purchased land. Fate, however, had other plans. The Great Flood of 1913 washed away their hopes. However, in an early display of his later frugality, Rogers and his family moved their boat onto dry land, making the temporary watercraft their permanent residence.
The rest of Rogers' childhood wouldn’t be any more glamorous.
