Tex Ritter Statue and Museum
Carthage, Texas
Woodward Maurice "Tex" Ritter was a Carthage hometown hero, radio's first singing cowboy, who went on to star in more than 70 B-movie Westerns. Although mostly forgotten now, his career at its peak rivaled Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. His crooning rendition of, "Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Dar-ling," was the theme song to the Hollywood blockbuster, "High Noon."
Tex died in 1973; his Carthage museum opened 20 years later, and in 2002 it merged with the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame, which has exhibits on performers such as Kenny Rogers, Willie Nelson, Tanya Tucker, and Mickey Gilley.
Outside of the museum is a bronze statue of Tex playing guitar, seated next to his horse. Inside the museum, among its other relics, are items from Tex's son: John "Three's Company" Ritter.
Carthage's other claim-to-fame is its status as the "Gas Capital of the United States."