Western Writers of America, of which I am an associate member, recently asked us to vote on our favorite western song. Well, dang, I missed the date to get it in….But, Bob Nolan had 21 songs listed as possible favorites. And I don’t know which I would have voted for, but it would have been either, “Cool Water” or “Tumbling Tumble Weeds” both Bob Nolan songs. I am pretty sure the fellow wrote over 100 songs, all of them great songs. Every two weeks I used to sing one of his songs….”When Payday Rolls Around”….”I’m dressing up in style, for in a little while, I’m gonna ride into town”…I’d have to think on it some to come up with the rest of it, but its about the cowboy heading into town to spend his money…Bob Nolan’s first two songs were also among my favorites, “Way Out There” and “One More Ride”….A few years ago I saw the Sons of the Pioneers in Branson, MO when they paid a tribute to Roy Rogers (Leonard Slye) who used to sing with them in his early years, a tribute to the man, his virtues, his life,  his horse Trigger….I grew up watching Roy and Gene Autry and a bunch of others, so when they did that tribute, showing pictures and film while singing some of their songs…I embarrassed my seat mate, big tears running down my cheeks, blowing my nose…well, it was touching and I could not help it…it was just, sad that Roy was gone, the carefree times..gone, youth..gone….5 cent movies…gone….5 cent popcorn and cokes…gone…the last three is enough to make a man cry anyway…That should have been posted in old timey stuff anyway…..But Bob Nolan should be the winner of the Western Writers Western Song contest and anyone of the 21 listed would have been ok..