The Lone Ranger

From watching countless episodes of the Lone Ranger, I knew that one of the actors that played the Lone Ranger was named Clayton Moore. The Lone Ranger was my most favorite western television program. As a child, sitting in front of our small, black and white television I had often echoed the Lone Ranger's famous bellow, "Hi-YO, Silver! Away!"

As a young man, in the early 90's I always wondered what happened to the actor who played the Lone Ranger. I knew that I had not heard that he had died. That is the kind of information that would immediately hit my radar screen. Anyway, I wondered enough to somehow, manage to obtain the home telephone of Clayton Moore. Don't ask me how. It has long since left my memory banks as to how I came into possession of his home telephone number.

I was ecstatic that I might be able to talk with one of my heroes but I was enough of a realist to expect the worst. I mean, who in the world could expect to talk to the Lone Ranger, especially such a stranger as myself? I made sure to make the call when my family was not around. I didn't want them to think of me as a stalker nor did I want them to know of my disappointment when I would dial the phone number and it would not be the Lone Ranger. I don't remember ever telling anyone about this phone call before. The new Lone Ranger movie coming out in the next few days prompted the memory and so I thought I would share that memory with all of you.

As I dialed the phone number, remembering that it was long-distance and I was using a land-line that did not have unlimited long distance service, I knew that I would be paying for the phone call but didn't care what it cost. Like I said, who wouldn't want to talk to the Lone Ranger. I remembered years earlier when there was a controversy about Clayton Moore, where he was not supposed to dress up in his traditional costume as the Lone Ranger for some purported legal reasons. What most people didn't know about Clayton Moore is that he was the real deal when it came to the creed of the Lone Ranger, not only on the screen but off as well.

With that being said, I think it is only fair to give credit to the person who created the Lone Ranger's Creed and for you to know the words as well. Fran Striker was the writer who created the creed but it was a creed that Clayton Moore honored throughout his life. It is as follows:

The Lone Ranger's Creed

By Fran Striker

1. I believe that to have a friend, a man must be one.

2. That all men are created equal and that everyone has within himself the power to make this a better world.

3. That God put the firewood there, but that every man must gather and light it himself.

4. In being prepared physically, mentally, and morally to fight when necessary for that which is right.

5. That a man should make the most of what equipment he has.

6. That "this government, of the people, by the people, and for the people," shall live always.

7. That men should live by the rule of what is best for the greatest number.

8. That sooner or later... somewhere... somehow... we must settle with the world and make payment for what we have taken.

9. That all things change, but the truth, and the truth alone lives on forever.

10. I believe in my Creator, my country, my fellow man.

These words gave Clayton the will to fight the money-men who would have him put away the Lone Ranger's outfit, to fight for what was right. The phone call that I was about to make was more than a phone call. It was a chance to talk with a man who lived a life of honor. It was Clayton's silvery voice that captured my ears and I knew that when he spoke I would know if the home telephone number was a ruse or not. My heart beat faster as I carefully dialed in the phone numbers.

I could hear the ringing of the number I had just dialed and that just sped my heart beat even faster. The first hurdle was over. The phone line was not busy and it was a good number and it was ringing. Still, I fretted over the possibilities that the number might be a wrong number, a bad joke, or a spoof of some sort. My hands were sweating as the third ring throttled through the telephone and then.....I heard, "Hello this is Clayton Moore". For a second, I was in unparalleled jubilation, but a part of me cringed internally because it might just be a recording. Immediately, I KNEW it was the Lone Ranger's voice. His voice was so unique even in the winter of his life, he still had the magnificent sounding voice of the Lone Ranger that we had all come to know and love. I hesitated, because I was waiting for the machine to say, "Please leave a message." I heard nothing and it was then that I knew that I was hearing the live voice of the real Lone Ranger. I stammered a late reply and said, "Hello, my name is Joey Aguzin. I want to apologize for calling you at your home. I'm just a fan of the Lone Ranger and I found your name and phone number and couldn't believe that I could talk to the Lone Ranger." (You see, at that moment I was so excited, I couldn't even separate the Lone Ranger from the actor Clayton Moore) Clayton replied, "Yes, I am the actor who played the role of the Lone Ranger" as he chuckled a bit. His silvery voice was still there and I was in a place that I could only dream about. Here I was talking with the real LONE RANGER. All I could think about was, "How cool is this?" I then told Mr. Moore that I loved his work as the Lone Ranger and appreciated the way that he had honored the creed of the Lone Ranger in his personal life. As I recall, he said something like, "Well, thank you Joey". I then spared him further phone clinching by telling him thanks for taking my call and he responded that it was his privilege. We said our good-byes and that memory lay dormant these last twenty years or so until the trailers for the new movie of the Lone Ranger from Disney started hitting the airways.

I believe that the Lone Ranger's Creed is something that we can all learn from and live by.

My best to you and yours.

Happy Fourth of July.
07-03-2013

Joey Aguzin