Robert Roy Gentry
EARLY CHILDHOOD
Robert Roy Gentry was born Jan. 5, 1940 at Montrose, LA. (1) His parents were Mr. and Mrs. Edward Earl Gentry Sr. The family lived at Marthaville, LA and that is where he grew up, except for the World War II years when the family lived in Beaumont, TX where his father worked at Pennsylvania Ship Yard Co. The family home was in the country. Gentry was graduated from Marthaville High School in May 1958. His first step into the field of journalism came at age 10 when he was elected assistant reporter for the Junior 4-H club. While in school he was active in 4-H club work winning the Reporters Contest two years at Achievement Day and attended 4-H Short Course two years at LSU in Baton Rouge. In addition he was reporter for the Future Farmers of America and was awarded Chapter Star Farmer two years and served as a delegate to the State FFA Convention. He was reporter for the school, for many of his classes, the Jennings Chapel Congregational Methodist Church where he attended and the community. He was editor of the school newspaper “Bear Tracks.” While in high school, he also did freelance reporting for “The Natchitoches Enterprise.”
Higher Education In the fall of 1958, Gentry entered Northwestern State College in Natchitoches, LA. and received a degree in journalism. (2) In his first two years at NSC he worked as a photographer in the Audio-Visual Department at Northwestern, thanks to Dr. Thomas Hennigan. He also worked at The Natchitoches Enterprise and was a stringer for the Shreveport, LA Times, Shreveport, LA Journal, Alexandria, LA Town Talk and KNOC Radio in Natchitoches He was also a freelance writer for other area newspapers. In 1963-64 he served as editor of the college newspaper, “The Current Sauce,” the year the newspaper celebrated its 50th Anniversary. (3)
Newspaper Work and Politics While continuing at Northwestern, in early 1960, Gentry went to work for Publisher Charles Cunningham at “The Natchitoches Times.” Also, in the summer of 1960, he worked as the last Public Relations Man for Gov. Earl K. Long who at the time was running for Eighth District Congressman. (4) Two years later he served as Public Relations Man for Congressman Harold B. McSween and in 1964 he held the same job for Congressman Gillis W. Long. In 1963 he worked for William J. (Bill) Dodd in his successful race for State Superintendent of Education and also New Orleans Mayor Chep Morrison who was running for Governor. In other campaigns, he assisted Gov. Edwin W. Edwards, Congressman Joe D. Waggonner Jr., Appeals Court Judge Elizabeth Pickett, Sabine Sheriff Guffey Lynn Pattison and many others. In 1963, he served as editor of the short-lived “Southern Republican,” published in Alexandria, LA. (5)
Rebel Historic Site In 1960, while in college, Gentry wrote a feature about an Unknown Confederate Soldier who was buried in the woods near his hometown of Marthaville. The story got so much attention, that he held a Memorial Day to honor the memory of the Soldier there on June 24, 1962. From that Rebel State Historic Site was created and Memorial Days, Bluegrass Festivals, Fox Hunts, Gospel Singings, Country Music Concerts and other program were produced there by Gentry for 50 years. With the assistance of Gov. Edwin W. Edwards, the park was taken into the State system in 1970. It is the home of the Louisiana Country Music Museum. (6)
Journalism Calls After working for Charles Cunningham at the Natchitoches Times for more than four years, in September 1964, with Cunningham’s assistance, Gentry went to work for the Sabine Index in Many, LA. (7) On Jan. 1, 1965 Cunningham purchased the newspaper and assigned Gentry to run it for him. They had a gentleman’s agreement that when Gentry created enough profits to pay back the initial investment, he would receive half ownership in the paper. Later on Nov. 15, 1973 Gentry purchased the other half of the paper. He operated the paper successfully until January 2011 when he sold. During his tenure, the newspaper won many state and national awards and commendations. Gentry’s philosophy was “We don’t make the news, we just print it.” He printed the news and let the chips fall where they may. While Gentry was at the helm, The Index celebrated its 100th and 125th anniversary. In addition. on July 28, 1975 Gentry started a free companion publication “The Sabine Shopper,” which on Dec. 15, 1993 reviving the name “The Sabine Banner.” He sold the paper Jan. 31, 2011. (8)
Businesses In addition to being a newspaper publisher, Gentry started the Many Pawn Shop in 1985 and operated it until 2003. In 1990 he opened the Robert Gentry Museum in the Pawn Shop and operated it until 2003. (9) It had a large collection of Country Music Memorabilia, Indian Artifacts, Vintage guns, Civil War Artifacts, Sport Memorabilia and a hundred and one other items. In 1999, Gentry started Sweet Dreams Publishing Co., which published a total of 15 books. Beginning in 1979 Gentry Enterprises started purchasing gold and silver, Civil War and Indian artifacts. At one time he operated Gentry Properties, which had 50 rental properties in Many, LA. He was an investor in Watertown Water Park in Shreveport, LA and Mini-Storage South in Many. In 1974, Gentry and Mansfield, LA newspaper publisher John Blanchard purchased “The Sabine County Reporter,” in Hemphill, TX., which they operated two years. In 1987 he formed the Gentry Mint to issue sets of gold, silver and bronze coins honoring Roy Acuff on his 50th Anniversary as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. In 2003, he founded The Peregrine Agency, formed to book Country Music acts. Starting in 2008, he and wife Laurie formed Old Paths, New Dreams Publishing Co. to print books dealing with Country Music.
Honors -1984, named Master Folk Artist by the Louisiana Folklife Center at Northwestern State University. -June 20, 1987 honored at 7th Annual Governor’s Conference on Music by Gov. Edwin Edwards for promotion of Country Music. (10) -Oct. 18, 1988, presented First Annual Community Service Award by Sabine Chamber of Commerce (11) June 16, 1999, recognized in Shreveport, LA Times as one of the most influential persons in business in Northwest Louisiana (12 ) Jan. 30, 2004, received the “Friends of Earl K. Long Award” from the Louisiana Political Hall of Fame and Museum in Winnfield, LA. -April 2004, Honored as a member of the +50-Year Club” by the Louisiana Press Association in Baton Rouge, LA. (13) -Dec. 11, 2004, selected as Grand Marshal for the Many Christmas Parade by Mayor Ken Freeman. (14) - Sept. 20, 2014, Gentry was selected to be the Grand Marshal for the Marthaville Good Ole Days Festival in his hometown. (15) April 2, 2013, Gentry was selected as the 16th inductee into the Sabine Hall of Fame at Many, LA. (16) August 12, 2017, Chairman of Gov. Edwin W. Edwards 90th Birthday Celebration. (17)
Membership -1961 at age 21, Gentry joined the Louisiana National Guard. -1965--Member Many Lions Club for 25 years, serving as president and program chairman. -1966—Appointed by State Supt. of Education Wm. J. Dodd to State Advisory Commission on Comprehensive State Planning for Vocational Rehabilitation Services. -1967-68—Board Member of Louisiana Press Association. -1968-81—Member Sabine Parish Democratic Executive Committee, served as secretary. (18) -1975—Appointed by Gov. Edwin Edwards to the Council of 100 to study ways to stimulate state’s cultural resources. -1975-76 – Chairman of the Sabine Parish Bicentennial Commission which celebrated America’s 200th Anniversary. (19) -1980-91—Appointed by Gov. Edwards to the Louisiana Sabine River Authority and re-appointed by Gov. Buddy Roemer in 1988, serving as Chairman, Secretary and Executive Committee Chairman. -1984-2010—Served on Board of Directors of Peoples State Bank, including chairman of Executive and Loan Committees. -1990’s –Member of Municipal Auditorium Museum Committee in Shreveport, LA. -1992—Appointed to the Board of the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum in Shreveport, LA. --1997- A founding member of the Sabine Hall of Fame (20) -1998 & 1999 – Served as chairman for Gov. Jimmie Davis 99th and 100th Birthday Celebrations. (21) -1998—Founding member of Sabine Hall of Fame. --Nov. 16, 1999, received the John Campanious Holm Award from the National Weather Service -2007—Established the Cunningham-Merrill Journalism Scholarship at Northwestern State University in honor of Charles Cunningham and Dr. John C. Merrill. (22) --June 2011, received the Dick Hagemeyer Award from the National Weather Service. (23) --2012 - Completed 45 years of service to the U.S. Department of Commerce as the Many, LA Observation for the National Weather Service. -2012--Appeared on three episodes of “Cajun Pawn Stars.” 2017—Served as chairman for four-time Louisiana Gov. Edwin W. Edwards 90th Birthday Celebration
Return of the Friendly Dragon In 1990, Gentry and a small group of Many, LA businessmen produced a parade called “Return of the Friendly Dragon.” It launched Edwin W. Edwards to win his fourth term as Louisiana Governor. (24)
Life Today (November 2016) On Oct. 8, 2006, Gentry married Laurie Elyse Sky at beautiful Throwncrown Chapel in Eureka Spring, AR. They enjoy a quiet, happy, peaceful life together, but also an active one. He maintains an office in downtown Many where he writes and purchases gold, silver, coins, Indian artifacts and the odd, interesting and unusual. They are members of the First United Methodist Church in Many. The couple enjoys traveling. He is the father of four daughters: Angela Gail Collins and Jody Gentry of Tega Cay, S.C., Verity Gentry, of Shreveport, La. and Amber Gentry of Zwolle, LA. He has six grandchildren: Andrew Collins, Alyssa Collins, Austin Collins, Jayden Gentry, Carson Sepulvado and Bree Lynn Martinez. Gentry also enjoys working on his old home place at Marthaville, LA. where he is a tree farmer.
Donations 2014, Gentry donated his vast collection of photos, books, records, tapes, interviews, posters, Country Music memorabilia, political memorabilia, research materials, scrapbooks and other items to Cammie Henry Research Center at Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA and the Noel Memorial Library at Louisiana State University at Shreveport, LA (25)
Funeral Fete In another of his many unique endeavors, Gentry decided to hold his own funeral, well ahead of time, on Oct. 20, 2011 at Rebel State Historic Site near Marythaville, LA. He wanted to have his funeral while he could still enjoy it. Gov. Edwin W. Edwards delivered the eulogy, insults and other fitting remarks. County Music Legend Gene Watson and his Farewell Party Band performed. More than 750 persons attended, according to Historic Site personnel. (26) --Information as of Jan. 5, 2019
References[edit]
1. Personalities of the South, 1973, American Biographical Institute, subsidiary of News Publishing Co., Raleigh, NC 2. Ibid 3. The Current Sauce, Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, LA., June 28, 1963 4. The Current Sauce, May 1962 Special Literary Edition 5. The Southern Republican, Alexandria, La., Feb. 1963, Vol. 1 No. 4 6. Souvenir History-Picture Book, Rebel Memorial Committee, Spring 1977 7. The Sabine Index, Many, La., Nov. 12, 1964 8. The Sabine Index, Many, La., Feb. 2, 2011 9. The Sabine Index, Many, La., Dec. 29, 1999 10. Program Book, Louisiana Music Commission 7th Annual Governor’s Conference on the Music Industry, Bossier City, LA., June 20-21, 1987 11. The Sabine Index, Oct. 26, 1988 12. The Shreveport Times, Shreveport, LA. June 16, 1999, by Martha M. Fitzgerald
13. Louisiana Press Association, Baton Rouge, La., Bulletin, 2004 and Sabine Index, Many, La., May 5, 2004 14. The Sabine Index, Many, La., Dec. 1, 2004 15. The Natchitoches Times, Natchitoches, La., Aug. 21, 2014 16. The Sabine Index, Many, La., Feb. 20, 2013 17. Program Book, Edwin Edwards, 90th Birthday Celebration, Aug. 5, 2017 18. Personalities of the South, 1973, American Biographical Institute, subsidiary of News Publishing Co., Raleigh, NC. The Sabine Index, Many, La. June 13, 1968 19. The Sabine Index, Many, La., Sept. 19, 1974 20. The Sabine Index, Many, La., March 4, 1998 21. Official Program Book, Jimmie Davis, 99th Birthday, 1999 and Official Program Book, Jimmie Davis 100th Birthday, 2000 22. The Current Sauce, Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, La., March 22, 2007 23. The Sabine Index, June 22, 2011 24. Morning Advocate, Baton Rouge, La., June 23, 1990 25. The Shreveport Times, Shreveport, La., Sept. 18, 2014 26. The Sabine Index, Many, La., Nov. 9, 2011
Robert Roy Gentry[edit]
1. Personalities of the South, 1973, American Biographical Institute, subsidiary of News Publishing Co., Raleigh, NC 2. Ibid 3. The Current Sauce, Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, LA., June 28, 1963 4. The Current Sauce, May 1962 Special Literary Edition 5. The Southern Republican, Alexandria, La., Feb. 1963, Vol. 1 No. 4 6. Souvenir History-Picture Book, Rebel Memorial Committee, Spring 1977 7. The Sabine Index, Many, La., Nov. 12, 1964 8. The Sabine Index, Many, La., Feb. 2, 2011 9. The Sabine Index, Many, La., Dec. 29, 1999 10. Program Book, Louisiana Music Commission 7th Annual Governor’s Conference on the Music Industry, Bossier City, LA., June 20-21, 1987 11. The Sabine Index, Oct. 26, 1988 12. The Shreveport Times, Shreveport, LA. June 16, 1999, by Martha M. Fitzgerald
13. Louisiana Press Association, Baton Rouge, La., Bulletin, 2004 and Sabine Index, Many, La., May 5, 2004 14. The Sabine Index, Many, La., Dec. 1, 2004 15. The Natchitoches Times, Natchitoches, La., Aug. 21, 2014 16. The Sabine Index, Many, La., Feb. 20, 2013 17. Program Book, Edwin Edwards, 90th Birthday Celebration, Aug. 5, 2017 18. Personalities of the South, 1973, American Biographical Institute, subsidiary of News Publishing Co., Raleigh, NC. The Sabine Index, Many, La. June 13, 1968 19. The Sabine Index, Many, La., Sept. 19, 1974 20. The Sabine Index, Many, La., March 4, 1998 21. Official Program Book, Jimmie Davis, 99th Birthday, 1999 and Official Program Book, Jimmie Davis 100th Birthday, 2000 22. The Current Sauce, Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, La., March 22, 2007 23. The Sabine Index, June 22, 2011 24. Morning Advocate, Baton Rouge, La., June 23, 1990 25. The Shreveport Times, Shreveport, La., Sept. 18, 2014 26. The Sabine Index, Many, La., Nov. 9, 2011
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