You needed no other name than "The Virginian" to win over viewers in one of the television's longest-running westerns: a total of 249 walloping, 90-minute episodes, no less.
You also galloped into such series as "The Adventures of Briscoe County, Jr."; "Cheyenne"; "Gunsmoke"; "The Rifleman"; "The Lawman"; "The Texan"; "Rawhide"; "The Rebel"; "Death Valley Days"; "Wagon Train"; "Alias Smith and Jones"; "Black Saddle"; "Broken Arrow" and "Playhouse 90" (as Jesse James).
You also made "Firehouse" a weekly topliner, while finding time to say hello to "The Fall Guy"; "Walker, Texas Ranger"; "Ironside"; "Steve Canyon"; and "Richard Diamond, Private Detective", not to mention your juicy guest spot on "Alfred Hitchcock Presents".
In addition, you participated in some fine, feature-length stand-alones, including "Ten Who Dared"; "Love Me Tender"; "Backtrack"; "The Last Wagon"; "Ride the High Country"; "Good Day for a Hanging"; "The Gambler Returns"; "Third of a Man"; "The Tender Trap"; "Breakout"; "Bernadine"; "Hell to Pay"; "Pollyanna"; "Toby Tyler"; and the science-fiction classic, "Forbidden Planet".
"The Young Warriors", based on Richard Matheson's novel, "The Beardless Warriors", was the definite stand-out in your movie career: a WWII sojourn that personified duty and courage in a most tumultuous time.
You were a hero to many, Mr. Drury, and for good cause. Your personas exuded salt-of-the-earth charisma. We desperately need more icons like you today, but will remain grateful that you were at least here to show us the way.
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