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14SmokeSignalsACenturyofSilverScreenHeroesonHorsebackNo.17intheSeriesByGaryEugeneBrownBornaSouthernerhewasatruegentlemanprotectorofchildrenandtheweakersexalwaysdisplayedpropermannerswasdignifiedhadaprivateprepschooleducationmarriedintoawealthyhighsocietyfamilywasaprincipledyetprivatemanandapatriotwhoservedhiscountry.HisfamilyassumedhewouldeventuallyheadupthemajortextilecompanywherehisfatherwasapartnerhoweverhesurprisedeveryoneincludinghimselfasheendedupinHollywooddestinedtobeanactor.Hebecameamajorstarincinemafor30yearsthemajorityofwhichwasspentfilmingwesterns60ofthem.Herosetobeingamongthetop10actorsattheboxofficefouryearsinarow.OnlocationhewouldreadtheWallStreetJournaluntilhisnextscene.Unlikemanyothersourfeaturedactorknewwhenitwastimetoleavethesoundstagelightsandpancakemakeupbehind.Afterallhehadinvestedwiselywhichenabledhimtoretirecomfortably.Hewentontoliveanother27years.Hisprolongedabsencefromfilmdomandtheoveralldeclineintraditionalvaluesportrayedonthescreenpromptedthequestionin1974bytheStatlerBrothersWhateverHappenedtoGeorgeRandolphScottenteredthisworldonJanuary231898inthewrongplacenofaultofhisown.HismotherLucilleCraneScottduringthelatestageofherpregnancylefttheirhomeinCharlotteNorthCarolinatovisitrelativesinOrangeVirginia.GeorgeRandolphdecidedhedidntwanttowaitanylongerandbybirthnotbychoicehebecameaVirginian.HoweverhewouldtellothershewasborninNorthCarolina.LucilleandherhusbandGeorgeatextileengineerwouldraisefourdaughtersandtheironlysoninacomfortableenvironmentbefittingsouthernroyalty.RandyashepreferredtobecalledattendedtheprestigiousWoodberryForestSchoolduringhisprepyears1914-1917whereheparticipatedinbaseballandfootball.Randyalsowasheavilyinvolvedinsocialactivitiesoncampus.AsrelatedbyRobertNottinhiswell-researchedanddetailedbookTheFilmsofRandolphScottScottshighschoolchumAndrewHarissinanarticlewrittenin1987sharedthatthetwojoinedtheUSArmyinWWI1917-18asArtilleryObserverswiththe2ndTrenchMortarBattalioninwar-tornFrance.Theywouldservebythemselvesinremotelocationson24-hourshifts.HarissrecalledEachnewnoisecomingoutofthetensedarknessofthelongnightsreleasedouradrenalinandacceleratedourbloodcirculationresultinginthetightnessofourtriggerfingers.AftereveryclosecallandthereweremanyweendedwithalaboredandthankfulsmilethereadingofourpersonalpocketTestamentsandtheblessingofourdogtagsandtheSt.Christophercrossesonournecklaces.HarissalsocommentedAscloseaswewerewealwaysreservedasortofprivacybetweenus.IalwaysfeltScottywasnotcomfortablydesignedtobeanactorwhichhemostcertainlybecame.MyrealisticevaluationofhimbasedontheveryhardandintimateconditionswejointlyenduredinthelineswithinfrequentrestperiodsfromMaytoNovember1918enabledmetoobservethepatrioticChristianrealisthewas.RANDOLPHSCOTTHIGHNOON