hoss

 

Have you missed this landmark in O'Donnell?  They tore down the gin with the welcome sign.  Now motorists passing through this small town don't realize it was the home town of Dan Blocker, better known as Hoss.  You have to go downtown to Heritage Park to see his statue or visit the Dan Blocker Museum--whenever it's open.  I found this photo while going through old files.

 

O'Donnell, Texas

9.10.2006

"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