"hoss"

 

Before you think that this image does not fit with my recent holiday-themed images, be advised that Dan Blocker's  birthday was December 10.  I found this mural of Hoss on the side of a defunct drive-in on the main drag of O'Donnell.  Dan Blocker made his reputation as Hoss Cartwright on the television series "Bonanza" and in doing so, put O'Donnell Texas on the map.  O'Donnell embraced this transplanted native son and memorializes him throughout this town of 831.  Heritage Park features a head statue of Hoss by Glenna Goodacre, the sign "Blocker" marks the site of the family's store and in the O'Donnell Museum you can see Dan's extra-large size Cub Scout suit.  Don't look for Hoss's grave site in the O'Donnell Cemetery (as a friend and I once spent an hour doing); Blocker (Dec 10, 1928--May 13, 1972) is buried in his birth home of DeKalb, Texas

 

Hoss Cartwright Mural

7th Street and Doak

O'Donnell, Texas