I was in the Navy in 1960 and was a member of Patrol Squadron Forty-eight (VP 48), stationed at Naval Air Station North Island at Coronado, California. I was an Aviation Electronics Tech, Second Class (AT  2) and an aircrewman on our P5M2 seaplane that our squadron flew.  Another 2^nd class that I sometimes hung out and drank coffee with was a sailor named Guy Coconour (I probably spelled it wrong.) Guy was from Oklahoma, and one day mentioned that his family’s home place was just down the road from Dale Robertson’s Haymaker Ranch. I thought that was pretty neat as I had seen a couple of Robertson’s western movies and enjoyed them. His TV show, Tales of Wells Fargo, was doing well at the time, also.

I got to meet Robertson at the 1991 Golden Boot Awards Banquet in Santa Monica. He was a nice-looking man, about my size, and friendly. After we shook hands and talked for a minute, I told him I had been in the Navy with Guy Coconour. Before he could comment, we were descended upon by some of Roberston’s movie friends who had imbibed a little, and I couldn’t get a word in edgewise. I got up and went looking for another celebrity.

Dave Thomas

12/7/2023