. . . one of the luckiest guys in the world. . .
Speaking of hardships that many Americans faced in the early 1930s, Will Rogers said, “I guess that I’m one of the luckiest guy alive--I’ve got a wife, three kids, a ranch out in California, and more work than I’ve got time to do.” Looking back over my life today, I’d have to say that I’m also one of the luckiest guys in the world--family, a home, and work worth doing that I enjoy. For most of my adult life, that work has been teaching. For the past fifteen years, it’s also included what I’d have to call more “play” than work--historical characterization. Since 1997, that has meant mostly performing versions of my Will Rogers character in Chautauquas and a host of other venues across the U.S.
I’ve learned a lot from and about Will Rogers in the past ten years, and I’m happy to be an informal ambassador for the humor and good will that is widely associated with him. This website is intended to share information about some of my current programs and some of my dreams for the future. I hope you will take some time to explore it, at least briefly, and gather the information that suits your own interests.
If you are interested in the Will Rogers Memorial’s free program in Oklahoma schools, look at “Will Rogers was not just a cowboy.” If you want more information about Will, you might want to begin with one of the essays here or look at the available resources page, then follow the link to more information about the collections and exhibits at the Museum and Birthplace. If you are considering a program for an upcoming convention or humanities-related meeting or a chautauqua-style series, look at Conversations with Will Rogers. And if you want to know more about how to carry forward the “good neighbor and community” philosophy of Will Rogers to some of the world’s neediest regions, take some time to look at WR4WN and the link to the website of my favorite international development organization, World Neighbors. Finally, if you have seen one of my presentations and would like to write your own review, or if you’d like to weigh in on one of the “blog” topics, I’d welcome your comments as an email. In any case, thanks for taking time to look.
. . . Doug Watson
