Rex Allen Statue

Considered the last of the great singing cowboys, Rex Allen was born on a ranch forty miles outside Willcox, Arizona, in 1920.

He started off as a vaudeville singer before joining a traveling rodeo, where he honed his skills as a singing cowboy and went on to record a number of successful country music albums. In 1949, he signed with Republic Pictures, launching a film career that included 19 Westerns. Always seen with his loyal horse, Koko, and often accompanied by sidekicks such as Buddy Ebsen and Slim Pickens, he quickly gained the nickname "Arizona Cowboy."

Later, Allen became one of Disney’s most recognizable narrators, known as "the voice of the West," lending his voice to a string of nature films, including Cow Dog, which was nominated for an Academy Award, and The Incredible Journey.

Allen died at the age of 78 in Tucson when, after collapsing from a heart attack, he was accidentally backed over by his caretaker driving Allen's Cadillac. His ashes were scattered around his statue in Railroad Park, and his horse, Koko, was buried at its foot. 

This bronze statue, created by artist Buck McCain, stands just across from the Rex Allen Museum and Cowboy Hall of Fame.