OKLAHOMA CITY, April 18 (UPI) -- More than 1,200 people honored the best in Western culture at the 50th annual Western Heritage Awards ceremony in Oklahoma City, officials say.
A "star-studded" crowd gathered Saturday at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, The Oklahoman reported.
Actor Rex Linn from "CSI-Miami" and Ed Harris of the movie "Appaloosa" kept things moving as the best of Western film, TV and literature from the last year were recognized.
Stuart Whitman, who appeared in more than 200 movies, including Hollywood's first interracial kiss in "The Decks Ran Red," was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers.
Also inducted was the late character actor Andy Devine, perhaps best known as the character Jingles in the TV series "Wild Bill Hickock."
But the event also honors "Great Westerners" without any ties to Tinsel Town.
Former Oklahoma "Cattleman of the Year" Ralph Chain was also inducted Saturday, the newspaper said, as was the late veterinary scientist O.M. Franklin.
