Town of the Week

Vernon, Texas
December 23, 2000
(rebroadcast from December 7, 1996)

Head over to Vernon, Texas; just listen in.

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More than 100 years ago, even before John Wayne, cattle drives from the Red River in Texas commenced from Doan's Crossing. They carried on for the next 16 days until they reached Kansas. Before those drives ended, more than 6 million Texas steers made the journey...which always began with a night on the town in Vernon, Texas.

Historians generally point to George Washington's Mt. Vernon as the source of the name, but locals insist a man with a load of whiskey traded that load for his name to be used for the town's. Either his first or last name was Vernon, no one seems certain.

This is cattle country where the W.T. Waggoner Ranch covers 30 miles east to west, and 25 miles north to south. This farm is home to Rightbrand Pork Products. Many of our nation's pilots in World War II trained at Victory Field, now being turned into a boot camp for wayward youth. Vernon is the home of the world-famous Santa Rosa Palomino Club parade enthusiasts.

Many visitors come here for the rodeo in May, or for the Classic Car Reunion and Cruise at the end of summer. Wolfman Jack was scheduled to perform before he died, so there was a memorial tribute to him with his son and manager present. And, next summer, the Cruise features the Crickets. It's the home of the Lions and Lady Lions, a good place to hang your hat, and our Town of the Week, Vernon, Texas.