I lived on this gentleman's La Familia Ranch, nestled in the beautiful Los Osos Valley on California's Central Coast, back in the late 70's. He was a kind, sweet, and generous man who always had a good story to tell. He hired me to tear down two very large barns once and when he saw how quickly I completed the job he gave me a raise and hired me to help him string fence, not an easy job, but the days sure went by faster once he started telling stories. I remember him reminiscing about his very first film 'Monte Walsh' with Lee Marvin (who he liked a lot) and G.D. told me he had only one line in the film, "Where'd ya get them brown cows?" and then he got shot dead off his horse. At least that's how I remember the story. G.D. gave me permission to saddle up one of his own "sweeter" horses (that means 'old and gentle' in cowboy talk) any time I wanted and "Stormy" and I had full run of the ranch which had amazing views of the surrounding hills, valley and ocean from the upper back forty. G.D. was a multi-millionaire who always had on jeans and cowboy boots and drove an old white Ford Pinto beater car. I remember him explaining to me in his distinctive Oklahoma drawl, "No sense in advertisin' I got a few bucks." He was a cool guy who paid me 'under the table' and always had work if I needed some money...helped me maintain my house-truck lifestyle during some wonderful years. He shall be missed.
Up at the well...La Familia Ranch
(ain't never seen no cowboy wear Vans)
http://news.yahoo.com/character-actor-g-d-spradlin-dies-ca-90-041132260.html
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