Woodward Maurice “Tex” Ritter was born January 12, 1905 in Murvaul, Texas, a son of Martha Elizabeth Matthews Ritter & James Everett Ritter. He passed away January 2, 1974 in Nashville, Tennessee of a heart attack. He was almost 69 years old. He grew up on his family’s farm in Panola County. Tex attended grade school in Carthage; South Park High School in Beaumont and graduated with honors from the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied pre-law and majored in government, political science, and economics. In 1970 he entered Tennessee’s Republican primary election for U.S. Senate and lost. Tex married actress Dorothy Fay on June 14, 1941 and they were still married when he died. They had two sons; Thomas Ritter and actor John Ritter. Tex was a country music singer and movie actor. Songs he is known for include “You Two-Timed Me One Time Too Often”, “There’s a New Moon Over My Shoulder and “Jealous Heart”. Some of his films include Flaming Bullets (1945), Cheyenne Roundup (1943) & The Mystery of the Hooded Horsemen (1937).

Awards/Honors:
Hollywood Walk of Fame:
Star at 6631 Hollywood Blvd.
Western Performers Hall of Fame:
1980 Induction at National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
Museum named for him in Carthage, Panola County, Texas
One of the first to be installed in the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in Carthage.