Peter's Acceptance Speech at the Golden Boot

EVENIN', I'VE HEARD TELL SOME FOLKS DON'T BELIEVE IN MIRACLES, BUT THEY HAPPEN - ME BEIN' UP HERE T'NITE IS LIVING PROOF.

CONSIDER THIS, A KID BORN SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF NEW YORK CITY, GROWIN' UP LISTENING TO "THE LONE RANGER" AND "GENE AUTRY" ON THE RADIO - SNEAKIN' OUT TO SATURDAY MATINEES TO SEE ROY AND DALE AND THE SONS OF THE PIONEERS, TIM HOLT, HOPALONG AND ALL THE REST.

THEN WINDIN' UP MOVIN' BACK A CENTURY ONTO SLIM PICKENS' RANCH UP IN THE SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS OF CALIFORNIA.  BY 'MOVING BACK A CENTURY' I MEAN WE HAD NO ELECTRICITY, NO RUNNING WATER, JUST A PUMP AT THE SINK AND A KEROSENE LANTERN HUNG FROM A RAFTER ON A ROPE WHICH WAS LOOPED OVER AN ANTLER ON THE WALL.  NO SUBWAY, NO CABS. BUT THERE WAS A HORSE, ONE HORSE, HER NAME WAS DIAMOND.  THE ORIGINAL OLD GRAY MARE.  BUT SHE WAS SO OLD AND SO GRAY,  WE CHANGED HER NAME TO DIME.  MY OLDER BROTHER AND I WOULD DOUBLE UP ON HER AND RIDE HER BAREBACK 2 ½ MILES INTO THE TOWN OF COARSEGOLD.  WE'D LEAVE HER AT THE LOCAL LIVERY BEHIND THE GAS STATION, AND GET ON THE SCHOOL BUS.  76 MILES EACH WAY - EVERY DAY. COURSE IT HELPED IF YOU HAD A GIRLFRIEND ON THE BUS.  I WAS NEVER HAPPIER. EXCEPT FOR MAYBE TONITE.

A BRIEF HISTORY

I LEARNED: MY CRAFT FROM MY MOTHER
I LEARNED: SCREEN ACTING FROM JOHN RUSSELL
I LEARNED:  LOYALTY AND PATIENCE FROM THE  GOLDEN BOOT COMMITTEE
I LEARNED:  HUMOR FROM CASEY TIBBS AND BAXTER BLACK
I LEARNED:  FAST DRAW FROM ARVO OJALA AND ROD REDWING
I LEARNED:  HONESTY FROM BEN JOHNSON
I LEARNED:  COURAGE FROM RICHARD FARNSWORTH
I LEARNED:  FAIRPLAY FROM EVERY STUNT PERSON I'VE EVER KNOWN.
I LEARNED:  CAMARADERIE FROM THE "HOLE IN THE WALL" GANG
I LEARNED:  THE COWBOY WAY, FROM ALL OF YOU.
I LEARNED:  FRIENDSHIP FROM CHUCK COURTNEY, DOUG MCLURE,  ROBERT FULLER, ALEX CORD AND HERB JEFFERIES.
I LEARNED:  LOVE. FROM LORIDAWN MESSURI, (AND SHE'S SITTIN' RIGHT THERE.)
I  LEARNED TO BE PROUD OF BEING A COWBOY, AND I AM,
AND I AM MOST PROUD TO RECEIVE THIS GOLDEN BOOT TONIGHT.

I ALSO LEARNED THAT WHEN YOU'RE FINISHED, GET THE HELL OFF,  SO, I'M GONE, GONNA FIND ME A WATERING HOLE. GOODNITE, GOD BLESS, NAMASTE' AND WITH CHERYL AND JULIE'S BLESSING, "HAPPY TRAILS". GRACIAS - ADIOS