James Garner – Native Son - Norman Oklahoma - Living Statues on Waymarking.com

Text on a plaque near by reads:

James Garner – Native Son

James Garner was born James Scott Bumgarner on April 7, 1928, in Norman and is known to his friends as Jim. Jim’s family had no show business background, although his brother Charles was a talented guitar player and his brother Jack a good singer; most of the Bumgarner family were Oklahoma educators and teachers.

His mother, Mildred, who was part Native American, died when Jim was four. At that time all three boys went to live with other relatives while their father Weldon worked wherever work was available. Jim attended grade school and high school in Norman and was a talented athlete in football, basketball and track. At 14 Jim left home, did odd jobs, and at 16 signed on for a stint in the Merchant Marines with his best friend, Jim Paul Dickinson. After leaving the Merchant Marines, Garner joined his father in California and helped in the carpet-laying business, had a job modeling swimming suits and re-enrolled in Norman High School, reuniting with old friends and continuing his athletic career.

After finishing high school Jim was drafted into the army as the first draftee from the state of Oklahoma during the Korean conflict. He was assigned to the 24th Inf. Div. and shipped out to Korea. While in Korea Garner was wounded twice and awarded two Purple Hearts. Upon completion of his military service Jim moved back to Los Angeles in 1953; there his friend Paul Gregory offered him a small part in a Broadway production of The Caine Mutiny Court Martial. Perhaps as significant was the fact that the part included working with Henry Fonda, laying the foundation for a lifelong friendship.

Garner’s first big break – a starring role in the television series Maverick – brought him true stardom in 1957. He also created one of the world’s most famous private detectives, Jim Rockford, in The Rockford Files (1974 – 1980), for which he won an Emmy Award in 1977. Since 1994 Garner has recreated the two famous roles when he starred as Rockford in seven, made-for-television movies and his big-screen performance in the film Maverick.

Away from acting Garner is involved with auto racing. From 1967 – 69 he owned the racing team American International Racing, with its members driving at such sites as Daytona and Sebring and in off-road races such as Baja. He has driven the pace car at the Indianapolis 500 on three occasions – in 1975, 1977 and 1985.

Garner is also involved with many humanitarian causes. He helped organize Martin Luther King, Jr.’s march on Washington for civil rights in 1963 and went to Vietnam in 1967 to visit the troops. He is a member of the National Support Committee of the Native American Rights Fund and National Advisory Board of the United States High School Golf Association. He has been involved with the Save the Coast movement to stop offshore drilling in California and with Save the Children.