Texian Heritage Festival to feature James Drury, 'The Virginian'

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Texas - When the charismatic James Drury rode onto the television screen and brought life to the 1902 Owen Wister western novel, “The Virginian, A Horseman of the Plains,” on September 19, 1962, he captivated audiences everywhere.

Five decades later, he still inspires audiences everywhere he goes!

In just over three weeks, on October 19, you will have an opportunity to meet “The Virginian” face-to-face at the Texian Heritage Festival in Montgomery, when he makes a personal appearance to meet and greet visitors. And, he will have autographed photographs for sale, so come on out and meet the star of the third longest running western series in television history.

His career ranged far beyond The Virginian, as Mr. Drury has appeared in other Hollywood westerns, including Walker, Texas Ranger, Wagon Train, Rawhide, The Rifleman, Gunsmoke, Death Valley Days and others. He is also an accomplished stage performer and has held a dozen major Shakespeare roles, along with The Odd Couple, Forty Carats, The Rain Maker and more.

In 1991 Mr. Drury was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, helping to ensure that his legacy as The Virginian will last forever.