Imperial Valley press., 1935-08-16

terms With kings, ambassadors. pre-
sidents, dictators and senator's.
His series of Letters From
Self-Made Diplomat to his Pre-
sident' attempted to put the fin
ger on the worlds trouble and were
provocative as well as amusing.
In 1928 his close friend, Fred
Stone, was injured in an airplane
accident. Rogers passed up a $780,
900 motion picture contract to
pinch hit" for Stone in d New
York production.
Wills hobby was horses On his
ranch at Santa Monica he had
scores of mounts, ranging from
mere COW ponies to the most ex-
pensive polo mounts. He was al
ways buying horses, but never
could sell them, much to the dis
gust Of Mrs. Rogers, who was Betty
Blake of Rogers, Ark. They were
married, November 25, 1908.
Once, Will related, Mrs. Rogers
put her foot down on his extra
VACANT" intended purchase of polo
ponies brought to California by an
Argentina team.
The following Sunday Will in
vited her to watch a match at the
Nlidwick country club in which he
participated. He rode two of the
oldest plugs he could find, and so
embarrassed was Mrs. Rogers at
the sight of his mounts compared
with the beautiful foreign animals
she permitted him to buy them.
He loved polo but had no use
for the niceties of the game-flar-
ing white breeches, close-fitting
shirt and shiny boots. He preferred
to play-and did-at the most eX-
elusive matches in blue jeans and
high-heeled cowboy boots. He was
rated as a three-goal player by the
U. S. Polo association.
One day he received a "fan" let
ter from man who related how
he walked five miles to town to
see every Rogers picture. The let
ter requested an autographed pho
tograph.
"I guess I oughta send him a
horse" mused Will.
His generosity was proverbial and
thoughtful. One day he stopped at
tiny cottage near the studio and
his companion saw him slip huge
roll of bills into the hands of the
woman who came to the door.
whats the idea, WHIP" he was
asked.
well, Bill Jones, one of the cow
boys, was killed while ago, and
the boys passed the hat" he said.
But the need for money comes la
ter. I just gave his widow somethin'
to pay off on the house"
Was Aviation Fan
Will always was an aviation en-
thusiast. For years he was one of
the most consistent boosters of fly
ing in the country, and practiced
his preachings whenever possible.
In 1881, he made a 10000 mile air
plane trip over South America,
visiting Is countries.
The same year, when Oklahoma,
Arkansas and Texas were blight
ed by drought, he made a lecture
tour by airplane with Lieut.. Com.
Frank Hawks, and in a month
raised $500,000 for the sufferers.
Rogers was a wealthy man. In
addition to his income from motion
picture work ana his Syndicated
writings, oil lands of the Cherokee
Nation poured thousands of dol
lars into his pocket.
He once forgot to collect his pay
checks from a studio for II weeks.
Mrs. Rogers finally went to the pay
window and collected.
Will detested dress clothes and
never would wear them. He chewed
gum constantly to keep down his
desire to smoke. He had not smok-
ed in several years, despite the
fact he formerly eXtolled the quail
ties of the cowboys own 'makin's."
His mother wanted him to be-
come minister and he was
brought up as Methodist. In poll
tics he always was a Democrat, and
while he joyously lampooned the
Republican party, he made few
enemies.
Hated Makeup
Rogers was a willing worker. He
never complained, although he first
refused to use makeup in films be-