Author of Will Rogers book speaks on subject

Performer, humorist, columnist, actor, commentator and cowboy, all of these describe Will Rogers. May 25, the Hot Springs County Library hosted "The Wit of Will Rogers and the Woman Behind the Wit, Betty Rogers."

The program follows Will's early career from his early Wild West days, through Vaudeville and into his days of radio and the movies - the silent films and the "talkies."

As the program was about the husband and wife team, it was fitting that presenters were authors Richard and Mary Maturi, sponsored by the Wyoming Humanities Council.

A writer of over 30 years, Richard has generated 1,200 articles and over 30 books. In his early years, he wrote largely about the stock market, but then shifted gears to biographies. He and Mary co-authored books that include "Francis X Bushman: King of the Movies" and, of course, "Will Rogers: Performer."

While Mary has also written several articles for magazines and newspapers, and is currently working on a book about what life was like growing up in a parsonage. Richard's pursuing writing some mystery novels.

He further noted the library has a copy of "Triple Crown Winner: The Earl Sande Saga." Sande was an American Hall of Fame jockey, and the subject of Richard's first paper, which he later developed into the book.