entertainers – Page 2 – Texas History Notebook

Ann Sheridan, Actress

Clara Lou “Ann” Sheridan was born in Dallas County, Texas on February 21, 1915 to George Washington Sheridan and Lula Stewart Warren Sheridan. A biography says that her family moved to Denton when she was 3 years old. Her father’s profession was listed as a machinist in a garage in the 1920 federal census and the family consisted of George W., Lula, their five children and George’s parents. George is said to have been a grand nephew of Union General Philip Henry Sheridan. Such a connection is not easy to verify using online genealogy records, although they may indeed be related in this way. Clara Lou was the youngest of the couple’s five children who lived to be adults.

Zachary Scott

Zachary Thomson Scott, Jr. was an actor. He was born in Austin, Texas to Zachary Thomson Scott, Sr. (1880 – 1964) and Sallie Lee Masterson Scott (1888 – 1983) on February 21, 1914. His father was a medical doctor who practiced most of his career in Austin. Zachary, Sr. happened to be studying medicine in Galveston in September 1900 when the hurricane struck the island. A 1978 newspaper account from the Galveston Daily News related that the future Dr. Scott was there at an infirmary working as an orderly when he decided to try and make a quick trip to see his parents in Central Texas. Zachary Sr.’s father, Richmond Lewis Scott was a dairy farmer in Bosque County in the Clifton area. The young man walked to the station and was told that they weren’t selling any tickets because the tracks were already partially submerged by water. So, he returned to the infirmary where he continued to work and helped others as the storm pounded the island. He survived the storm, completed medical school and in 1909, he married Sallie Lee Masterson. The couple had three children: Abigail Ann, Zachary, Jr. and Mary Lewis.

Frederic Forrest

Frederic Fenimore Forrest, Jr. was born in Waxahachie, Ellis County, Texas on December 23, 1936 to Frederic Fenimore Forrest (1907 – 1966) and Virginia McSpadden Forrest (1907 – 1985). His family members were long time residents of Waxahachie. William Bird Forrest (1872 – 1931) came to the area from Arkansas and established a greenhouse out of which developed a floral business in a separate location. The greenhouse had 60,000 square feet under glass and for many years was the only floral supply house in north central Texas. Not even Waco, Dallas or Fort Worth had comparable facilities. Ads and promotional pieces in the local paper referred to “Bird Forrest, the Waxahachie Florist.” After Bird died in 1931, two of the sons, Fred and William Bird, Jr. took over management of the floral business.

Tex Owens and His Musical Family

Doie Hensley Owens was born June 15, 1892 to Curckley Schley Owens (1869 – 1958) and Susan Frances Owens (1873 – 1968). Doie was the oldest of thirteen children. Doie and his brother Charles Wesley Owens were the only boys. The Owens family were sharecropping farmers in Texas and later in Oklahoma. Doie was born while they were living in Killeen, Bell County, Texas. Doie was one of three siblings who went on to enjoy careers in the music business. Doie became known as Tex Owens, his brother Charles or Chuck was a singer/songwriter and their sister Ruby had a long career as a country singer.

Buck Ramsey

Kenneth Melvin “Buck” Ramsey was born January 9, 1938 in New Home, Texas to David Melvin Ramsey (1909 – 1985) and Pearl Lee Williams Ramsey (1913 – 2004). Buck was a well known cowboy poet and singer. The nickname “Buck” was given to him by his father. Buck was the author of “Anthem” and many other poems and songs that describe the cowboy way of life. He also made numerous musical recordings and made personal appearances around the country reciting his poetry and singing his songs.