Roy Rogers Collection

Roy Rogers Collection

Born Leonard Franklin Slye on November 5, 1911 in Cincinnati, a son of Andrew Earlin and Mattie Womack Slye, Roy Rogers spent his formative years in Scioto County, Ohio. Originally from Portsmouth, Andrew brought his family back to Portsmouth on a house boat when Leonard was only one year old. Leonard attended Union Street School until his father purchased land in Rush Township on Duck Run Road. Leonard attended McDermott High School until his sophomore year when his family moved back to Cincinnati, where his father worked in a shoe factory. During 1930-31, Leonard moved to California and onto fame as one of America's cowboy heroes. Portsmouth's local hero is remembered through his many visits, a mural on Portsmouth's floodwall, a star on the floodwall signed by Roy, a downtown esplanade and a county road named for him. Roy's homestead still stands as a reminder of Portsmouth's own. These photos are used with permission from the Southern Ohio Museum and Cultural Center.