Grandpa's handwriting on a card I found that he sent to my Mom. I don't know much about handwriting analysis, maybe someone out there does. I'll try to find more examples of his handwriting to post here.

Somebody once wrote that cowboys never die. Grandpa was a real cowboy when he was young. When he used those cowboy skills in Hollywood, his clothes and hat changed to give him a more glitzy image. Even though he was the rough 'em up stunt double for his brother, Jack, he could clean up for a photo shoot.

Great Grandma Hoxie (Stone)

Grandpa's surname comes from his stepdad, Bart 'Doc' Hoxie. His real birthname was Stone, he later changed it for reasons I will explain in a later post. The Hoxies moved to Oklahoma from Virginia around 1878. They lived in a small cabin on Kingfish Creek between Kingfisher and Guthrie, Oklahoma. Doc was a veterinarian, having attended veterinarian's school in Virginia. Doc Hoxie's demise was told by Bonnie Hoxie, grandpa's sister-in-law, "Matilda and the youngest of her four boys (the other three were in school) had walked the short distance to the town of Kingfisher to buy a few necessities. While they were gone, Doc attempted to treat a cut foot of a 'not-too-well-broke' Morgan stallion. When they came home, Matilda went to the corrals to look for her husband. She found him half outside and under the fence, beyond all earthly aid. The stallion's kick had nearly decapitated Doc. He died instantly" -- The Hoxie Boys by Edgar M. Wyatt, 1992. After Hoxie's death, widow Matilda moved her five children near Nez Perce lands in Idaho where she met and married a hog rancher named Scott Stone. My Grandpa, Al, was born to Matilda and Scott Stone, October 1, 1901.

Grandpa always won the heart of the leading lady. Even though the movies were silent, his charm came through in the eyes and smiles of his co-stars. If anyone knows the lady on the right, please email to have her name included here.

In 1919, Grandpa left his family in Idaho to work as a stunt double for his brother, Jack Hoxie in Hollywood, California. He would earn an extra $10.00 a day or stunts, often bringing home $17.50 day. In 1920, Grandpa landed his first role in the film Kentucky Colonel starring Joseph Dowling with Elinor Field and Francis McDonald.

A place to share Grandpa

There is a box and a binder full of black and white stills from Grandpa's movie days sitting in the corner of my living room. I have a terminal illness, what better activity to replace my job with than that of scanning Grandpa's photos and putting them here in a place where they can be viewed by family and friends. I should tell you that I admired him more than any other man in the history of my family. Maybe this admiration comes from the innocent eyes of a child who sat on the floor for hours and hours watching Grandpa jump off horses or balconies on to trains or cars and always, always making sure the lady was saved. Yes, Al Hoxie is my hero. I will attempt to write captions for each of the photos, however many are of people unknown. Maybe people can write with identities of those I do not know. That would be good. I guess it's important to note now I came to be Al's Grandaughter. His first daughter, Aunt Doris is my half-aunt. I came through Grandpa's second marriage to Merlene Hull. Together they had three children, two sons, Robert and Roger, and my Mother, Helen. I am Helen's first born. I have two sisters, DeEtta and Tracy, and two brothers, Tim and Joe. We grew up knowing Grandpa in law enforcement. He had many careers, beginning with his time in Hollywood B-Western silents. From there he worked in Anaheim as a Sheriff. After working as a Sheriff he was promoted to Detective, after which Grandpa worked for the Forest Service. Prior to retiring, he worked as a Security Guard for Patton State Mental Hospital in Redlands, California. I don't think I have photos that show all of Grandpa's life, I will know more when I open the box.