The slogan for June, printed on a calendar at Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, is simple yet strong.

"Together, ordinary people can achieve extraordinary results."

Combining the phrase with the memory of John Wayne, an ordinary man who became an extraordinary cultural icon, can help inspire us all as we face the challenges of the coming month. This is the 29th anniversary of Wayne's death (see below).

The phrase on the calendar would be relevant any month. It is a philosophy shared by the employees at Rick Hendrick Chevrolet, where extraordinary things happen on a daily basis.

Extraordinary prices. Extraordinary deals. Extraordinary savings. You get them all when you come visit us.

June 11, 1979: John Wayne Dies

On this day in 1979, John Wayne, an American film actor famous for starring in westerns, died at age 72 after battling cancer for more than a decade.

Some people, including at least one sales manager at Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, believe that another actor, Clint Eastwood, surpassed Wayne as a symbol of rugged masculinity -- the man's man. But what those people may not know is that Wayne received the two highest civilian decorations awarded by the United States government for his status as the American male.

Originally named Marion Morrision, Wayne's first acting jobs were bit parts in which he was credited as Duke Morrison, a childhood nickname derived from the name of his beloved pet dog.

Wayne's first starring role came in 1930 with The Big Trail, a film directed by college friend Raoul Walsh. It was during this time that Marion Morrison became "John Wayne" -- director Walsh did not think Marion was a good name for an actor playing a tough western hero.

In 1939, Wayne finally had his breakthrough when friend John Ford -- who directed Wayne in several movies -- cast him as Ringo Kid in the Oscar-winning Stagecoach.

Wayne went on to play larger-than-life heroes in dozens of movies and came to symbolize a type of rugged, strong, straight-shooting American man.

Ford directed Wayne in some of his best-known films, including Fort Apache (1948), She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949), Rio Grande (1950), The Quiet Man (1952) and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence (1962).

Wayne was known off-screen for his patriotic, conservative leanings. He produced, directed and starred in The Alamo (1960) and The Green Berets (1968), both of which reflected his political views. In 1969, he won an Oscar for his role as a drunken, one-eyed federal marshal named Rooster Cogburn in True Grit.

Wayne's last film was The Shootist (1976) in which he played a legendary gunslinger dying of cancer. The role had particular meaning; the actor was fighting the disease in real life.

Wayne's status as an iconic American was formally recognized by the U.S. Congress on May 26, 1979, when he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. The medal, crafted by the United States Mint, has an image of Wayne riding on horseback on one side, and the other side has a portrait of Wayne with the words: "John Wayne, American."

On June 9, 1980, Wayne was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Jimmy Carter. Wayne made a speech at Carter's inaugural ball in which he described himself as "a member of the loyal opposition."

Labels: Hendrick Durham Auto Mall, John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Congressional Gold Medal, Presidential Medal of Freedom

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