Ben Johnson Riding A Horse Is Poetry In Motion

 September 1, 2021

   There are numerous classic cowboy stars and then there is one true cowboy who became a classic Western movie star. That would be this guy.

Ben Johnson

   We recently ran this photo on our Facebook page. So far it has been shared over a thousand times and it has 516 comments, and counting. Here are just a few of the comments:

"No mistaking a real ranch-raised cowboy."

—Jeanne Grimes

"He was a cowhand first, and an actor second."

—Kenneth LeBlanc

"Every movie he was in was better for it."

—Rodney F. Beatte

"When you heard his voice, you knew it was going to be a great Western."

—Rusty D'Amico

"Poetry in motion on horseback."

—Preston Montfort

"If it was a good Western, he was in it."

—Keith N Sandy Trott

"I asked him his advice for young people. He said, 'Always remember who you are, where you come from, and never drink your own bathwater."

—Tom Ward

"Met him at a gig in Mesa at a Sunday brunchtime where he was signing autographs. I asked him how he was doing and he replied, 'I'd rather be fishin'."

—John Richard Kingsland

   

   "In the late nineties, I did in home sewing machine repair, and I was called out to a home in the far east valley by a gal in her seventies or eighties, and got her machine up and running. On the way out, I noticed her mantle was literally jammed with pictures of Ben Johnson. I remarked that she must be a super fan, and she said 'absolutely, I'm his biggest fan, he's my son!'. I told her how much I admired his movies and skill, and that I was one of his biggest fans as well! I said goodbye and took my leave. A week later, she called again to tell me she was still having some issues, and I headed out her way. When I got there, Ben was there! Her issue with her machine wasn't, she just wanted to give me a chance to meet him, and it was wonderful."

—Chip Quinn

"Nobody set a horse better."

—Steve Filmore

An Oklahoma boy, who was great from the start

   Okay, we got the message loud and clear. That's why it's time for. . .

Our November issue landing in subscription mailboxes on October 15

"I'm not the best actor but I'm great at playing Ben Johnson."

—Ben Johnson