| Dallas McKennon 1919-2009 Sadly, we have lost another friend of the NLAS. Dal McKennon was a guest at the NLAS Conventions of 2002 and 2003. His costars in Mena, Arkansas were Ginny Tyler and Nancy Wible (2002) and Kay Linaker a.k.a. Kate Phillips (2003) with whom he shared a birthday. Many of us grew up hearing his work and often seeing him in films and on television. His daughter Tammy Rock, who accompanied him in 2002, sent the following information composed by her sister Barb Porter. often seeing him in films and on television. His daughter Tammy Rock, who accompanied him in 2002, sent the following information composed by her sister Barb Porter. information composed by her sister Barb Porter. Dallas R. McKennon, 89, recently residing in Raymond, Washington, died Tuesday, July 14, 2009 at the Willapa Harbor Care Center. He was born July 19, 1919 in LaGrande, Oregon to Raymond and Grace (Carter) McKennon. For over 40 years Dallas had an extensive career in the entertainment business including radio, TV, movies on camera and off. He has been officially credited with over 160 various character voices such as Gumby, Buzz Buzzard and Archie. A career starting in radio at KGW in Portland, Oregon moved on to dreams of Hollywood. His Captain Jet was one of the first daily children’s TV shows in Los Angeles. He enjoyed many years of voice work with Walt Disney and Walter Lantz. Dallas became "Cincinnatus" on Fess Parker’s Daniel Boone TV series. Through the years he worked with many interesting people such as Alfred Hitchcock, Elvis Presley and Johnny Carson. Dallas had been a member of AFTRA and Screen Actors Guild for 57 years. After residing in the Hollywood area for 16 years, the McKennon family moved back to Oregon at Cannon Beach where Dallas began writing and performing his musical productions including Johnny Appleseed, Kaintuck and Wagons Ho. Dallas was a veteran of WWII serving in the Army signal corps. He married his wife Betty Warner on December 6, 1942 in Portland; she survives in Aberdeen, Washington. Dallas is survived by six daughters: Dalene Lackaff of Woolwich, Maine; Barbara Porter & Linda Strozyk both of Raymond, Washington; Gayle McKennon of Hyannis, Massachusetts; Tamara Rock of South Bend, Washington; Wendy McKennon of North Bend, Oregon; two sons: Jerald McKennon of Tualatin, Oregon; Steven McKennon of Newberg, Oregon; 21 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 1, 2009 at 2:00 PM at the Cannon Beach Community Presbyterian Church in Cannon Beach, Oregon. Arrangements are in care of Stoller’s Mortuary in Raymond, WA. We wish to extend sincere condolences to the family and friends of Dallas McKennon. It was an honor to host his presence at our NLAS Conventions. We hope you will enjoy the accompanying photos of Dal from our gatherings. As you can see, he was having a ball! NLAS "ZECKATIF OSSIFERS": "Uncle Donnie" Pitchford, President "Singin' Sam" Brown, Vice-President Tim Hollis, Executive Secretary |
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| Dal McKennon poses in the Lum and Abner Jot 'Em Down Store and Museum in Pine Ridge, Arkansas. Curator Kathy Stucker's poster has caught Dal's attention. Looks like a good show! |
| Dal performing dozens of voices in a new script written for the 2002 NLAS Convention held in Mena, Arkansas. |
| Dal McKennon displaying his Lum and Abner Memorial Award |
| During a visit to the Jot' Em Down Store and Lum and Abner Museum in Pine Ridge, Dal launched into an ad-lib routine as Gumby immediately after autographing a Gumby comic book for an enthusiastic fan. |
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