Julie Rogers Pomilia didn’t have a clue her grandpa was a Hollywood icon until she was in second grade. One day, her teacher called her up to her desk, pointing to a stack of magazines with Roy Rogers’s smiling face on them. "Do you know who that is?" the teacher asked. Julie casually replied, "Yeah, that's my grandpa." She recalls exclusively to Closer, "She made a big deal out of it in front of the class, but honestly, I just figured everybody’s grandpa had a TV show." It wasn’t until that moment that Julie realized her grandpa wasn’t just her grandpa—he was an American legend.
From 1951 to 1957, The Roy Rogers Show captured the hearts of millions, bringing viewers into a world of heroic cowboys and cowgirls standing up for what’s right. Alongside his wife, Dale Evans, Roy became a symbol of truth, faith, bravery, and kindness—not just on screen, but in real life too. "They were who you hoped they would be offscreen," says Julie, the author of the memoir Your Heroes, My Grandparents: A Granddaughter’s Love. Their on-screen personas weren’t just characters—they were reflections of who Roy and Dale truly were.
The duo first joined forces in 1944’s Cowboy and the Senorita. By that time, Roy had already carved out a name for himself as a western star, beginning his professional singing career at the tender age of 19. Dale, on the other hand, was a fiery performer who sang, danced, played the piano, and wrote songs. Together, they created a partnership that was as dynamic on screen as it was in real life.
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One of Dale’s most famous compositions, “Happy Trails,” became the iconic theme song that closed each episode of their show. It was a perfect example of how opposites attract—Roy, the quiet yet strong cowboy, and Dale, the outgoing and social spitfire, complemented each other in ways that made their relationship thrive.
Their daughter, Mary Little Doe Rogers (affectionately known as Dodie), shares with Closer, "Dad was on the quiet side, but he had an inner strength. Mom, however, was very social. She loved being around people and fit in wherever she went. They were very good for each other."
Building a Legendary Blended Family
Roy and Dale tied the knot on New Year's Eve 1947 in Oklahoma, creating not just a professional team, but one of America’s most legendary blended families. Roy brought three children from his previous marriages, while Dale had her son Tom. Together, they had a daughter, Robin, who tragically passed away at the age of 2 due to complications from mumps. Despite this heartbreak, they adopted four more children, building a family that was as diverse as it was loving.
Dodie, now 73, reflects fondly on her childhood. As the youngest of the family with Native American heritage, she and her sister Debbie, who was born in North Korea, were the youngest of the bunch. "The age difference was the biggest difference between the kids," she says. "We kind of got underfoot with the older ones, but we all blended in great."
Dodie is currently working on a book about her family, filled with cherished memories. "We all had a lot of fun together," she says. "There was always something happening, whether it was riding horses or playing with the animals."
Faith and Values at the Heart of Their Home
For Roy and Dale, faith was more than just words—it was a way of life. They instilled these values in their children, teaching them to live with integrity and kindness.
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"They lived their faith," says Julie. "Dale’s beliefs were particularly strong because of the hardships she faced before meeting Roy, who was her fourth husband. Born into poverty in Texas, she began singing as a child and longed for stardom. But being Southern Baptist, she wasn’t sure if her dreams of singing and dancing were allowed."
After eloping at 14 and giving birth to her son Tom the following year, Dale faced many challenges as a single mother. Her marriages and divorces were numerous before she found stability and purpose in her faith. "Before she met Roy, she was chasing fame, but that’s kind of a dead end," Julie explains. "She made a mess of her life, but she figured it out and learned from her mistakes. Accepting Christ and going back to church changed her life."
Roy, on the other hand, grew up on a farm in Ohio, where hard work was a way of life. "He never wanted to be famous," says Julie. "He wanted to be a doctor. But he had a beautiful voice and played guitar, and one thing just led to another." Despite his fame, Roy remained grounded, teaching his children the importance of responsibility and respect for their belongings.
A Family That Cherished Each Other
Dodie remembers her parents as strict but fair. "They had rules, and if you didn’t abide by them, there were consequences," she says. "Dad was very particular about taking care of your stuff. You didn’t leave tools outside or play with something you could mess up."
Despite their fame, Roy and Dale remained down-to-earth, creating a home environment where family always came first. "They could be staying at the White House one weekend—they were close with the Eisenhowers—but then they could come back home and be on the living room floor playing Old Maid with us," Julie recalls. "They loved being together with their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. They were wonderful family people."
Holidays at their home were nothing short of chaotic, with as many as 60 or 70 people gathering for Thanksgiving. "It was loud, but they were in their element," Julie says. "They loved being together."
Reaching Out to the World
Roy and Dale’s influence extended far beyond their immediate family. They felt a deep responsibility to give back to the world, championing causes like the Happy Trails Children’s Foundation, which helped children in need. "They reached out to kids that were poor, kids that were abused, and kids that were sick," Dodie says. "It really united people to know that these famous people really did care about them."
Through their actions, Roy and Dale set an example of how to live a life filled with love, kindness, and purpose. They weren’t just stars on screen—they were
