Known as the “King of the Cowboys” and “Queen of the West,” Roy Rogers was an American actor who appeared in more than 100 films and had his own TV show in the 1950s. He was also a singer and owned his own Hollywood production company.
Born Leonard Slye in Cincinnati, Ohio, Rogers grew up with a strong work ethic and a love of music and baseball. He was the youngest of four siblings, with older sisters Cleda M. Willoughby and Kathleen Loretta Slye O’Dell, who shared the same name as their mother.
Rogers landed his first acting role in 1938’s “Under Western Stars” and went on to appear in more than 100 films throughout the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. Many of the films starred him alongside his sidekick, George “Gabby” Hayes, and his palomino horse Trigger.
He married twice before meeting Dale Evans, whom he married on New Year’s Eve in 1947. They had one biological son together and two adopted daughters. Rogers suffered several health problems and tragic personal losses throughout his life, including the death of a young daughter who had Down syndrome and another adopted son who choked to death on a hot dog in 1965.
Today, Roy Rogers Restaurants is owned by Marriott International and consists of 648 locations. The chain offers a wide range of sandwiches, salads, and dinner entrees and is popular with families. Interested franchisees must meet the company’s minimum liquid and net worth requirements. Those who are unsure about their financial stability can seek third-party lending solutions to help cover the franchise fee and startup costs.
