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Show Wednesday, April 23, 2003 Vernal Express A5 Ten Ross: a legend of his time Part two of a two-pa- rt scries: by George Long (part one printed in the April 2 edition of the Vernal Express) Tex and Slim Ross spent lots of time playing together but there was something else which was of great concern for them. That was the .desire they had for airplanes and flying. Tex gives his brother the credit for starting this venture. He said it was Slims extraordinary knowledge and capabilities that led them to become involved with this new means of travel. Slim Undertook the building of an airplane of his own and build it he did, right in his home. It had an engine that Slim practically built himself out of a motorcycle engine. Tex would come whenever he could to help on the plane. When they got everything ready to assemble the plane prior to flying it, they couldn't get the fuselage and landing gear through the big, front-roowindow. They had to remove some of the window sidings to accomplish this. Everyone got a big kick out of it. After getting everything put together, they sneaked out of town at 3:30 a.m. before any traffic started. They used their old 1928 Model A Ford car and drove seven miles up to Snyderville to try the plane out in a large cow pasture. They had to lift it over a barbed wire fence to get into the field. In fact, they had to lift it over three fences before getting into a field large enough to take off. After starting it. Slim flew it on its maiden voyage. Then Tex got in and flew it as this little plane was n strictly a job. Tex flew it Park over City and back. They both made several excursions with this special little plane that Slim had designed and built. This was the start of what was a life long dream for both Slim and Tex. From this early experience, they went on to many interesting adventures with airplanes and flying. They went to California where they helped build the largest airplane up to that time in the U.S.A. This was the 9 bomber and was before Howard Hughes built his famous huge Spruce Goose. So Tex and Slim had been involved with the largest plane in American, and of course, with their own which probably was the smallest in the country. As time went on, Slim designed and helped build other planes, one of which was a helicopter type called an autogiro." They built and tried it out in the Roosevelt area. He also built and flew a beautiful flying wing while living in Brigham City. Slim built several engines and even m one-ma- many years. Today, the bam has been remodeled and looks new building even though it is over 55 years old. cast the aluminum parts. He is still experimenting with an engine for a plane he is working on at his place a like Grand Junction. The group did lots of recordings, some of which were their own. contract They had an eight-yea- r with the Four Star recording Company. Joe Norton, a close friend, helped them design their own label. They recorded several top records and some are still being played today. They also were on several radio stations, including KDYL in Salt Lake City, KFXJ in in Grand Junction and Vernal. Tex wrote a lot of fine songs throughout his life, something he is very proud of. Once their family band got going and they were drawing big dance crowds, they decided to build their own dance hall. They had been playing at Victory Park, the Oasis in Myton, the Imperial in Vernal and in Rangcly, Colo, but could not get an extended lease on any of the facilities. They definitely needed a place of their own. Brother Slim and brother-in-laKurley had purchased a lot of property in Ballard and it was there they built the bam. Some called it the Red Bam, but Tex dubbed it the R.W. Ranch. It was a building of good sized dimensions, measuring 46 by 80 feet. Brother Slim designed the roof. Nearly everyone said they would have to put supports in the center to prevent the roof from sagging. However, Slim's design was successful and that roof has not sagged an inch in 55 years. They got their building logs on Mosby Mountain and hauled them down to Floyd Warburton's mill using a Model A Ford and pulling a Model 'TFord trailer. They were only able to bring three logs at a time but they got the job done. They finished construction of the bam in December of 1947. A few days later, they sold I, (XX) tickets for the Christmas Dance. There wasn't enough room to hold everyone and cars were parked everywhere. What a turnout it was. They continued to attract large crowds for today. Both Slim and Tex have worked at various aircraft agencies in years in including Douglas past, California and Hill Air Force Base in Utah. Through all this work, they gained a lot of knowledge and experience. Tex always gives most of the credit to Slim and said Slim is the genius of the family. Besides flying airplanes, Tex also KJ-A- got into sail planes and hand gliders. Heber was well noted for sail plane gliding. Tex got involved with this and would say how neat it was to be up there in the air floating around with everything so quiet. He said it was really a pleasant thing to do. He also had a stint at hang gliding but crashed and broke his arm. He was 68 years old at the time. Besides working at aircraft agencies, Tex worked in the mines, grocery stores, railroading and on survey crews doing seismograph work. He even got in on uranium prospecting for a couple of years and would fly back and forth from Vcmal to Hanksville in a family-owne- d plane. He did fairly well at this venture. In later years, Tex also worked for Ashton's in Vcmal, he then went into business for himself making and hanging signs. He did this along with his guitar playing. His main desire was music and playing his steel guitar. Besides Tex, there were brothers Slim and Mel, or Cy as they called him. Cy played the fiddle. Brother-in-laKurlcy Stanley played base and a sister, Elaine, sang with the group. Elaine was called The Desert Rose, Together, they made up the family band. Down through the years, there would be several other entertainers playing with them. They played at dozens of places from Park City and the Salt Lake area, throughout the Uintah Basin and into western Colorado, including all around w w for two? Smoking One of the most things you can Tex Ross and his famous Rhythm Wranglers Band were, featured on Vmal's radio station KJAM in 1946. Left to right are Tex, his sister Elaine and her husband Kurley flanley, radio announcer Lee Walker, brothers Slim and Cy Ross. Tex always gave a lot of credit to Le Walker for his help. .Sum 8 06 n 133 pm. 4 41 a m 3 40 p m 5 26 a m 5 40 p m. Sat 6 25 8 m 8 08 Mon 6 22 a m 8 10 H. Utah Waltz so when he woke up the next morning he sat down and wrote it. As to his longevity, you could probably say he has never retired. He keeps busy doing various things and has kept his body in pood condition. In earlier years, along with his work schedule, he' exercised a lot and even practiced walking on his hands, something not many people can do. He is one specially gift ed with an ear for music, which he has shared with others for over 70 years. Set km iwwyrrTi-TiiTiTt3 43 am. c Iiis in itself was quite a tiling and much different from anything hed ever tried before. To Tex, it was a challenge, so he gave it a try. Tex has done several oil paintings of which he is very proud, hut his main love is his music and especially the steel guitar. Today at age 87, he is rebuilding electric pick-up- s for a three necked beautiful Martin pedal type steel guitar. He does this to improve the sound, lie has rewound at least 12 pickups in his day and is always looking for ways to improve the sound of these instruments. Tex says he even dreams of making music and this can be related to a song he wrote years ago. He had a dream about the Regional Traveler's Cities Moan. Ti, pm. 1 inv-ttio- -- 6 27 8 m. Thu 1 Rim StH important do for your health and your babys health is to stop smoking! are Health and on country western singers. He has played with some of them, including Marty Robbins. He knew Ned Miller before he ever got started in country music when Ned was driving a taxi in Vcmal. Ned eve asked Tex to teach him how to ply the guitar. In later years, this sate Ned Miller went on to becom a famous country music star. TexJso often played with Neds brther, Max Miller. There were other things irTexs life besides country music :d flying. One of those was arcKy. Tex became an excellent shot vith the bow and spent a lot of tin practica few ing. I even went with as a lost times but gave it up shoy cause. Tex stayed wit) it and has done exceptionally we! Tex has spent man'hours out in the woods hunting w'th various friends. One such ti,e be was out with Ron and Kny Edrington when he bagged big buck deer with a very largeack of horns. He entered this anip! 'n tbc Pope and Young big garr records of North America dcalit w'tb bow hunting achievements. fe took second place for the years f 967 through 969 and was aw;Jed a beautiful plaque to a special banplus an Colo. iDenver, quet held Tex tried was surfAnother1'1 ing in thdccat while in California. a long time. Not only did they have top music but they had a good reputation. Some of' the family, including Tex, built homes close by the bam and for several years they did well with the dances and' Like everything else, things began to change and after eight years, they closed the bam. Tex continued playing at various places and with different entertainers but it was never like the old days with his famous Rhythm Wranglers. Tex has played with lots of fine musicians in his time, including sons Gib, Randy and Kent. There was Mark Hackford, Jim Lube, Gary Waters, Don ODriscal, Lonnie Carlson, Ted McKowen, Jerry Ross, Gam Dye, Marvin Bozarth, Dcloy Shiner and Max Miller, to mention a few. Texs wife Mary and her sister Gidgct, along with daughters Carolyn and LuAnn, all had fine voices and did a lot of very good singing. Along with his sister Elaine and her husband Kurley doing vocal. Both Tex and Slim had excellent voices and did their share of singing. In years past, Tex was also a good yodeler. They provided excellent entertainment for many years throughout Uintah Basin and irlto western Colorado. Tex has been to Nashville where he met several of the old time top Moon Phases I ff you Medicaid, TriCounty pregnant classes to has help you quit smoking! Department Apr. 23 o Mey 1 Ftrel Full o. 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