JOHNNIE LEE WILLS STREET DEDICATION FOR THE
STREET NAMED FOR HIM DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF EXPO
SQUARE PAVILION
AT THE TULSA STATE FAIRGROUNDS, SEPTEMBER 14, 1996

Appreciation speech given by John T. Wills

    Thank you to Mayor Susan Savage and to Representative Betty Boyd for this wonderful proclamation. Thanks to John Selph, Lou Harris, Bob Dick, and all the Commissioners for unanimously approving these events today.

    Dad came to Tulsa back in 1934, along with his brother, Bob Wills, as one of the six original 'Texas Playboys." Bob stayed in Tulsa for only eight years. When brother Bob left, Dad took over the band, calling it "Johnnie Lee Wills & All The Boys." For most of the next twenty years, Dad could be heard live every day at noon, broadcasting from Cain's Ballroom, over KVOO Radio.

    You know, I still have many people come up to me even today and say, I sure enjoyed listening to your Uncle Bob all through the years every day at noon on the radio. I enjoy reminding those folks that it was not Bob they were listening to, but "Johnnie Lee Wills & All The Boys." When the live broadcasts ended in 1958, Dad had the longest running live daily radio broadcast in the nation. So, as Betty Boyd mentioned, Dad really did carry on and keep alive the great tradition of Western Swing music right here in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

    In 1939, Bob Wills decided that Tulsa needed an annual professional rodeo at the Fairgrounds Pavilion. Bob was here for the first four years. After Bob left for California, Dad took over the reins and produced the "Johnnie Lee Wills Tulsa Stampede Rodeo" for the next forty-two consecutive years. The rodeo ended in 1984, the year Dad passed away. Dad built it, sustained it and caused it to become one of the nation's leading indoor PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) rodeos, drawing the top PRCA cowboys from across America.

    Even the very name of the rodeo itself proclaimed and promoted Tulsa by virtue of carrying the name of the "Johnnie Lee Wills Tulsa Stampede." So Dad carried on a great western heritage tradition of rodeo right here in Tulsa, Oklahoma, as well as the Western Swing tradition.

    Dad also carried on a business tradition right here in Tulsa. In 1963, my Mom, Irene, and my Dad opened the Johnnie Lee Wills Western Store. To us, it was much more than just a store. We loved the people who worked for us and counted each of our customers as our friends. Both of the long front and back walls of the store were covered with pictures of the Wills family and many other famous performers who had visited the store. They were filled with band pictures from the early days to present. There were numerous photographs of the rodeo days as well. A huge piece of Tulsa history hung on those walls. In addition to the pictures, Mom had a large memorabilia case built. Inside the case was Dad's beautiful silver mounted saddle, his six guns and fancy holsters, fiddle, banjo, gold belt buckle, the original sheet music to his hit song "RAG MOP", and numerous other special items. There were people from all over the United States and literally from all parts of the world that would film and take photographs and of the pictures on the walls and the memorabilia in the case. You could, in a way, say that he carried on a museum type of history that promoted Tulsa and the western lifestyle.

    The rodeo held a special place in Dad's heart. He looked forward to it every year. Therefore, it is very fitting, and I'm sure would be gratifying to him, to receive this honor of having a street named after him right here in this very spot where the rodeo was held each year.

    Dad spent virtually all of his life right here in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Although Dad was born a Texan, when you think about it, he lived and died a Tulsan. As most of you know, he was very active in community activities like benefits, charities. For many years, he and the band played at Hissom Memorial Center every summer to raise money for their canteen fund. He sponsored a trail ride in conjunction with the rodeo to raise money for the American Cancer Society. He, for several years, gave a portion of the rodeo profits to the American Heart Association.

    I know that if Dad were here today, he would be the very first to say that he could not have accomplished nearly as much or done nearly as many things, without the love, the loyalty, and the support of his wife of fifty years, and my Mother, Irene Wills. Stand up Mom and wave hello. I know that I wouldn't have amounted to much of anything and I think my sister, Millie, would agree that she wouldn't be where she is today were it not for Mom. Mom truly epitomized to Dad, "the woman behind the man," and we love her very much. So, as I close my little part here, I wish to express to each and every one how much I appreciate you taking time to be here today to share in this wonderful tribute to Dad. "Johnnie Lee Wills Lane" looks real good on a street sign.