When Don Reynolds was six years old, he met legendary cowboy Roy Rogers at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
From that point on, Reynolds began a lifelong journey as a Hollywood actor and animal trainer.
Reynolds will be inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame during ceremonies scheduled for April 10-11 at the Fort Worth Stockyards.
The event serves as a rodeo reunion, complete with golf tournament, reception, group photo and rodeo. Inductees will be recognized during the rodeo set for 8 p.m. on April 10.
There also will be a lunch and Cowboy Church on April 11, sandwiched around Reynolds’ induction at 9:30 a.m.
“It’s a terrific honor,” Reynolds said in a face-to-face interview with The Bowie News on Wednesday afternoon. “I never dreamed or thought about it. It floored me when I found out.”
Reynolds said his family will occupy two tables at the induction.
“I still have to buy two more tickets,” he said. “The kids are coming from California.”
Reynolds, a native of Vernon, is so highly respected he has not one, but two nicknames. He’s been known as both “Little Brown Jug” and “Little Beaver.”
Reynolds life in rodeo began when he was barely two years old. He performed roping and trick riding alongside his father, Fess Reynolds, at an event in Erick, Okla. Fess himself was a rodeo star and noted animal trainer.
During his early childhood, Reynolds appeared with his father on the United States/Canadian rodeo circuit.
Then came Reynolds’ meeting with Rogers in October 1943, and that changed everything.
Only a few months later, Reynolds appeared in his first movie, “The Yellow Rose of Texas.” He appeared in the film as Pinto, but he went uncredited. Read more in the weekend Bowie News.

Editor’s Note: The Storm Center column is the expressed written views of sports editor Eric Viccaro and not The Bowie News.

Don Reynolds of rural Bowie will be inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame on April 11 in Fort Worth. (News photo by Eric Viccaro)