What a great day to start this blog back up again. Such a difficult choice in deciding what to write about with Al Jolson, Stevie Nicks, and Lenny Kravitz all sharing this day as their birthdays. But, I think I need something a little bit larger than life. So today’s list is on things named after Marion Mitchell Morrison. Marion was born in Winterset Iowa in 1907, grandson of a Civil War veteran. His family moved to California while he was very young were he went to school, worked at an ice cream shop, played football for a championship high school team, and dreamed of going to the Navel Academy. While the academy did not accept him, USC offered him a scholarship to play football while he studied prelaw. He got a job at a film studio in the prop department in exchange for football tickets but when he was hurt, in a body surfing accident, his scholarship ended as did his academic career. Unable to practice law, rejected by the military academy, and no longer able to play football, he expanded his work at the film studio, accepting bit parts in movies, going by the nickname a fireman had given to him years earlier, Duke. In 1930, a director gave him a starring role for the 1st time with 141 more to follow, but Marion was not a movie star name, nor was Duke, so in a discussion between the Director and the Producer that did not even include Marion, John Wayne was born.
There is no need to rehash his filmography, IMDB has the complete list of 170 movies. While most of his movies would never be considered for many awards, he defined in the minds of many, what a man should be like: Strong, tough, confident, defender of others, not afraid to take a stand or action for that matter, good manners (mostly), tough, imperfect and very decisive. Oh yes, did I mention tough? He was unfailingly patriotic to his country as well. In fact, when Congress awarded him their Gold Medal, it was inscribed, John Wayne, American. So today, we remember Mr. Morrison with a list of the various things named for him across the country.
1) The John Wayne Airport, Santa Ana, CA (Orange County)
2) The John Wayne Marina. Just outside Sequim, WA
3) John Wayne Elementry School, Brooklynn, NY (P.S. 380)
4) The John Wayne Pioneer Trail, Iron Horse State Park, WA
5) John Wayne Parkway, Maricopa, AZ, (AZ State Highway 347)
6) John Wayne Pass, Fort Irwin, CA
7) John Wayne Crackers (C-rations so tough only John Wayne could eat them)
8) John Wayne Can opener ( a P-38 used to open k-rations, Mr. Wayne was shown in the training film on how to use this equipment).
9) The John Wayne Cancer Institute (St. Johns Health Center, Santa Monica, CA)
10) John Wayne Island, Panama (his former retreat)
