Will Rogers, American cowboy philosopher-humorist, born November 4, 1879, Oologah, Indian Territory (now Oklahoma), died August 15, 1935, Point Barrow, Alaska, in a plane crash with Wiley Post.

Will Rogers was a man of many talents: star of stage, screen and radio; goodwill ambassador; aviation enthusiast; book author; newspaper columnist; and humanitarian. He wrote more than 4,000 columns, syndicated in 600 newspapers, in addition to six books and numerous magazine articles, radio commentaries and speeches.

A common characteristic of his writing is its simplicity. He once said, "I love words, but I don't like strange ones.” It's remarkable how many of his sentences have short, simple words. Many of his familiar sayings contain words of one or two syllables. For example (number of two or more syllables in parentheses):

All I know is what I read in the papers. (1)

I never met a man I didn't like. (2)

Rumor travels faster but it don't stay put as long as truth. (3)

I don't make jokes, I just watch the Government and report the facts. (2)

We are here just for a spell and then pass on…So get a few laughs and do the best you can. Live your life so that whenever you lose, you are ahead. (2)

No man is great if he thinks he is. (0)

Will Rogers' legacy as one of America's most popular and influential writers is defined in comments made about him by some of the outstanding figures in journalism and literature:

"Will Rogers was the greatest communicator America ever produced." -- Dr. Laurence Peter.

"Will Rogers was undoubtedly America's most complete human document. One-third humor. One-third humanitarian. One-third heart." -- Damon Runyon.

"Will's astute observations, his ability to put into words what his generation knew to be right, raised him to a level of influence unparalleled in the history of America." -- Bryan Sterling, author of many books on Will Rogers.

"No one ever had quite the same hold on the American public that Will Rogers did." -- Richard M. Ketchum, biographer.

"(Will Rogers was) a formidable craftsman of words, humor and ideas." -- Ben Yagoda, biographer.

"Here was a man who was born on the rugged American frontier in a log house devoid of radio, electric light bulbs, indoor toilets and water faucets. Yet, Will had cannily mastered all the communication media that had burst upon civilization during his ensuing fifty-five years." -- Joseph H. Carter, biographer.

More detailed information about Will Rogers and Writing may be found on the Will Rogers, Writer blog. Also visit www.willrogers.com and www.willrogers.org.