Tex Ritter, an iconic country music singer, actor, and songwriter, passed away on January 2, 1974, at the age of 68. Ritter was born Woodward Maurice Ritter in Murvaul, Texas, on January 12, 1905. He learned to play the guitar from his father and developed a love of music at an early age. Ritter was well-known for his honky-tonk style of country music, and his 1953 hit "High Noon" also became the theme song for the television program Gunsmoke. In addition to being a successful recording artist, Ritter was also an accomplished actor. He appeared in more than thirty Western films, including Heart of the Rio Grande, Cabin in the Cotton, and Song of the Gringo. Ritter is survived by his wife Dorothy, his son John, and daughter Joanna. He was predeceased by his daughter Mary. His legacy of country music and Western film continues to live on.