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John Wayne's lifelong leading role as American patriot celebrated at Fort Worth museum

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John Wayne's lifelong leading role as American patriot celebrated at Fort Worth museum

A legendary American actor’s love affair with the United States is retold today in the heart of Fort Worth, Texas. 

John Wayne: an American Experience opened in Dec. 2020 in the Forth Worth Stockyards. The museum is devoted to the life of the legendary film star, national icon and unabashed patriot. 

The museum sits in a perfect location for the performer famed for his starring roles in the biggest western films of all time, including “Fort Apache,” “El Dorado” and “Rio Bravo.”

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It faces Cowtown Coliseum, one of the nation’s premier rodeo venues, and is steps from Billy Bob’s Texas, the sprawling nightclub and live-music venue that dubs itself “The World’s Largest Honky Tonk.”

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“Dad was super popular in his lifetime and he’s still popular today,” son Ethan Wayne, one of the family members who operates John Wayne Enterprises and the museum, told Fox News Digital. 

“America, Why I Love Her,” was a spoken-word 1973 album by actor John Wayne. The legendary actor’s deep patriotism is celebrated at John Wayne: An American Experience in Fort Worth, Texas. The museum opened in Dec. 2020 in the Fort Worth Stockyards.  (Kerry J. Byrne/Fox News Digital)

“Every time you saw John Wayne you went on an adventure with him. But you also saw him make tough decisions and put self-respect over financial gain,” said his son. “He made moral choices rather than poor choices. Sprinkled in with those lessons, you got adventure, humor, toughness and compassion.”

Wayne wore his American heart on his sleeve with a blend of fierce toughness and deep compassion, his son said. He displayed both on movie screens around the world. 

His career, perhaps unmatched, headlined half a century of films that spanned the Golden Age of Hollywood. 

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Wayne was born Marion Morrison in Iowa in 1907, his father a Civil War veteran. He was raised in California. 

He was a star athlete at Glendale High School, stunningly handsome and, at an imposing 6-foot-4 inches tall, earned a spot on the University of Southern California football team. 

He focused on acting after injuries cut short his sports career; while just a teenager, he had already earned uncredited and extra roles. 

A mural is shown at John Wayne: An American Experience, a museum in Fort Worth, Texas. “America, Why I Love Her” was a 1973 spoken-word album by the actor.  (Kerry J. Byrne/Fox News Digital)

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He appeared in 36 films by age 25 — with 100 more productions to follow.

John Wayne: the American Experience lists all of them, from “Bardelys the Magnificent” in 1926, to his 1939 star-making performance in “Stagecoach” and his last film, “The Shootist,” in 1976. 

Wayne died in 1979, at age 72, after battling cancer.

“You ask me why I love her? I’ve a million reasons why.”

The museum displays images and memorabilia spanning the entirety of the actor’s career, with insight into his life off the screen.

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Wayne emerged as a larger-than-life entertainment figure and an American folk hero. He became a symbol of the nation itself — both here in the United States and around the world. 

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The actor returned the nation’s loving embrace. At the center of John Wayne: the American Experience are displays of his patriotism.

Wayne entered the 1970s at the top of his career. He won the 1970 Academy Award for Best Actor — his first and only Oscar — playing Rooster Cogburn in the 1969 western “True Grit.”

John Wayne: An American Experience in Fort Worth, Texas, celebrates the career and the patriotism of one of the most popular actors in American history.   (John Wayne Enterprises)

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In 1973, he earned a Grammy nod from the recording industry for his performance in the spoken-word album of poetry, “America, Why I Love Her.” 

He also released a children’s book of the same name. 

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“You ask me why I love her? Well, give me time, and I’ll explain. Have you seen a Kansas sunset or an Arizona rain? Have you drifted on a bayou down Louisiana way? Have you watched the cold fog drifting over San Francisco Bay?” Wayne booms with stirring conviction in the album’s title track. 

He says at the end of the poem: “You ask me why I love her? I’ve a million reasons why. My beautiful America, beneath God’s wide, wide sky.”

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The Chisholm Trail ran through Fort Worth, Texas. This marker is situated between John Wayne: An American Experience and rodeo venue Cowtown Coliseum in the Fort Worth Stockyards. Right, a rodeo rider gets ready to compete at the Coliseum.  (Kerry J. Byrne/Fox News Digital)

The words were written by James Mitchum, brother of actor Robert, who appeared with Wayne most recently in the 1970 western “Chisum.”

But they spoke deeply of Wayne’s own heartfelt faith in the nation, its people and the unmatched opportunity it has given many millions of people around the world. 

“He made that album coming out of the trials and the tribulations of the 1960s, and he believed that America was made up of all kinds of different people who all had a lot of things in common,” said Ethan Wayne. 

“He believed a lot of his success was because of America and that belief really meant a lot to him.”

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“Most of us came here from different backgrounds but with common goals and common dreams to be free and to pursue our own happiness,” said the son. 

“You know, he came from pretty humble beginnings — but he was able to achieve an incredible amount of success. He believed a lot of his success was because of America and that belief really meant a lot to him.”

John Wayne: An American Experience recently completed a 4,000-square-foot expansion. It hosts a three-day festival later this month ending on May 26, celebrating what would have been the actor’s 117th birthday. 

John Wayne: An American Experience is a museum in Fort Worth, Texas, that celebrates the life and patriotism of the legendary American actor.  (Kerry J. Byrne/Fox News Digital)

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Ethan Wayne believes some of his father’s perpetual popularity stems from the fact that many people see in him a personification of the United States itself.

“My father was smart, he was articulate, but he had this larger-than-life and bold personality,” the son said. 

“He was very kind and loving and very gentle. But he had the capacity to be tough and violent if he needed to be. But he didn’t want to be if he didn’t have to be. He was reliable, consistent, worked hard, had a positive attitude and believed in right and wrong.” 

For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle.

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Ted Cruz endorses Texas state Rep Steve Toth in GOP primary challenge to Dan Crenshaw

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Ted Cruz endorses Texas state Rep Steve Toth in GOP primary challenge to Dan Crenshaw

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U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has endorsed Texas state Rep. Steve Toth, who is challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw in the Lone Star State’s 2nd Congressional District Republican primary.

“I am proud to endorse @SteveTothTX for Congress in Texas’s 2nd Congressional District. Steve faithfully served the people of Texas in the Texas House of Representatives, championing our Texas values of liberty, limited government, and constitutional governance,” Cruz said in a post on X.

“Steve is an unwavering fighter for school choice, fiscal responsibility, and the next generation of Americans. Washington needs bold leadership and representatives who will stand up for Texans at every turn,” Cruz continued.

Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw speaks during a showcase hosted by TerraFlow in Houston Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025. (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

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“Steve has the experience, the courage, and the conviction to do just that. I’m honored to support his campaign and urge voters in Texas’s 2nd Congressional District to join me in electing Steve Toth to Congress,” he added.

While President Donald Trump has not made an endorsement in the race, he previously backed Toth for Texas state House in 2022 and 2024.

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Texas House incumbent Rep. Steve Toth gives a brief statement before the start of a gubernatorial debate held at Grace Woodlands Church and put on by the True Texas Project on Monday, Jan. 10, 2022 in Spring, Texas. (Michael Wyke/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)

“State Representative Steve Toth is doing a fantastic job representing Texas State House District 15. A Small Business Owner and an Ordained Minister, Steve is fighting tirelessly to Secure our Elections, Grow the Economy, Eliminate Needless Regulations, Strengthen the Border, Support our Great Military/Veterans, and Protect and Defend our under siege Second Amendment. Steve Toth has my Complete and Total Endorsement!” Trump wrote in a 2024 Truth Social post.

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The last day of early voting for Texas’ March 3 primary contests is Friday, according to the Texas Secretary of State website.

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Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, arrives for the cloture vote on the government funding bill in the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

Crenshaw has served in Congress since early 2019.

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Nancy Guthrie neighbors’ Ring camera captures vehicles on possible route from crime scene

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Nancy Guthrie neighbors’ Ring camera captures vehicles on possible route from crime scene

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EXCLUSIVE: TUCSON, Ariz. — A resident in the Catalina Foothills neighborhood has a street-facing Ring camera that caught 12 cars passing by on the morning of Nancy Guthrie’s suspected abduction.

The recordings took place between midnight and 6 a.m. on Feb. 1, and some of the activity occurred near the 2:30 a.m. mark, which is around the time authorities said the 84-year-old Guthrie’s pacemaker device last synced with her iPhone.

The homeowners, Elias and Danielle Stratigouleas, told Fox News Digital that police had not canvassed their neighborhood in the 25 days since Guthrie is believed to have been taken from her bed in a home invasion kidnapping. The FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department have been alerted to the video. It was not immediately clear whether the video is of any use to the investigation or whether the vehicle had ever been on Guthrie’s street.

Guthrie is the mother of “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie, a Tucson native.

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Left: A still image from Ring camera video shows a vehicle passing a home near Nancy Guthrie’s on Feb. 1, the morning she is believed to have been abducted. Right: Nancy in an undated family photo. (Courtesy of Elias and Danielle Stratigouleas, Courtesy of NBC)

The Stratigouleas house is on a back road that leads out of Guthrie’s neighborhood, avoiding major intersections. And they live about 2.5 miles away from the crime scene, which is outside the 2-mile radius of neighbors who received a Ring alert asking for video taken from Jan. 1 to Feb. 2.

Their house is roughly a seven-minute drive from Guthrie’s address, according to Google Maps. One of their videos was recorded at around 2:36 a.m. on Feb. 1, which is roughly eight minutes after Guthrie’s pacemaker last synced with her iPhone, according to the sheriff’s timeline.

WATCH: Ring video shows vehicles on outskirts of Nancy Guthrie’s neighborhood morning of abduction

Danielle Stratigouleas said the number of cars passing that night was not unusual, but she and a friend found it “odd” that no one from law enforcement had visited her neighborhood.

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A map details the neighborhood surrounding Nancy Guthrie’s home on Camino Escalante in Tucson, Arizona, and a secondary route through the Catalina Foothills down Camino Real leading to East River Road. (Fox News)

A Ring camera image taken from video shows a vehicle driving south on Camino Real at 2:36 a.m. on Feb. 1, the morning Nancy Guthrie is believed to have been abducted from a home nearby in the Catalina Foothills of Tucson, Arizona. (Courtesy of Elias and Danielle Stratigouleas)

The FBI and Pima County Sheriff’s Department have been alerted to the video. It was not immediately clear whether it is of any use to the investigation. 

Retired NYPD detective and national security expert Pat Brosnan reviewed the video with his team. He tells Fox News Digital they believe the vehicle seen at 2:36 a.m. is a Kia Soul, based on its slanted roof, window design and rear-quarter glass. He also noted the vertical brake lights.

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The rewards are still outstanding, and anyone with information they think may be relevant is asked to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

The route itself had been flagged to Fox News Digital by another neighbor — who said she also saw a suspicious man walking in the area on Feb. 2, around the corner from what appeared to be an abandoned car. The young mother asked not to be named due to concerns for her children’s safety amid the unsolved kidnapping investigation.

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WATCH: Path out of Nancy Guthrie’s neighborhood avoids major intersections

She described him as about 5 feet, 9 inches tall, Hispanic, with a close-trimmed beard and wearing a silver bracelet. He was smoking a cigarette near the intersection of Camino Juan Paisano and Piedra Seca, which is between Camino Real and Guthrie’s home.

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The Pima County Sheriff’s Department did not return multiple phone calls and emails about the man or the vehicle, a dark red Honda SUV that the neighbor said was moved after three days.

A neighbor of Nancy Guthrie’s spotted this dark red Honda near Camino Real on Feb. 2, the day after Nancy Guthrie’s suspected abduction nearby. She told Fox News Digital that it remained in place for a couple of days after deputies examined it. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)

A neighbor of Nancy Guthrie’s spotted this dark red Honda near Camino Real on Feb. 2, the day after Nancy Guthrie’s suspected abduction nearby. She told Fox News Digital it remained in place for about three days before it was moved. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)

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Another unidentified man was spotted in mid-January, according to neighbor Aldine Meister.

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“He didn’t have your typical walking gear on, and he had his hat pulled really far over his eyes,” she told Fox News Digital.

She said she saw the man walking in the neighborhood, near an intersection leading to Guthrie’s home — and hadn’t encountered him before or after. 

Deputies examine a flyer taped to Nancy Guthrie’s mailbox on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026.  (Michael Ruiz/Fox News Digital)

“He was kind of younger, and he just didn’t look like he was going out for a walk,” she added. 

She mentioned it to her husband but did not report it to investigators until after Guthrie’s disappearance.

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FBI agents canvass homes near Nancy Guthrie’s home in Tucson, Friday, Feb. 6, 2026.  (Kat Ramirez for Fox News Digital)

Danielle Stratigouleas told Fox News Digital that she did see deputies searching what locals call a wash, a common terrain feature in the region, near her office, which is on Skyline Drive, another main road that borders Guthrie’s development. 

North Campbell, which was extensively searched by authorities and volunteers, connects to both main arteries. Camino Real connects only to East River Road.

“I think it sounds smart, and if they even sort of knew the area or actually cased the area beforehand, that road behind Camino Real called Camino Escuela would be an even better idea,” she told Fox News Digital. “There’s never anybody on it, and never a police car to be seen.”

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Fox News Digital approached five other homes with street-facing cameras on Camino Real. Three of the homeowners said they had not been visited by law enforcement, either. No one answered the door at the other two.

None said they had any notable video from Feb. 1.

Campbell also runs past the University of Arizona and is a much busier road, she said.

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An undated photo of Nancy Guthrie and Savannah Guthrie was provided by NBC in response to the disappearance of the 84-year-old. (Courtesy of NBC)

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“It’s always buzzing even on a Saturday night,” she added. “Camino La Brinca and Camino Piedra Seca also lead to Camino Real, and they’re a good way to get from Camino Zorella.”

The residents said they’re hoping more people outside the radius will check their cameras and submit anything that could help the FBI.

Guthrie is believed to have been forcibly abducted from her home on North Camino Escalante, according to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department.

In more than three weeks, police have not publicly identified any suspects, persons of interest or vehicles connected to the case. They briefly detained but later released several people and have towed multiple vehicles, including those belonging to family members and the detainees.

No one has been charged with a crime as of Thursday morning, however.

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Exterior view of the front entrance of Nancy Guthrie’s home in Tucson, Arizona, Tuesday, February 3, 2026. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)

The FBI and Google teamed up to recover doorbell camera footage even though her Nest device is physically unaccounted for, and she did not have a cloud subscription. 

FBI Director Kash Patel released still images and video on Feb. 10.

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The video shows a masked individual with gloves on, prowling on her front porch. 

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These two images were released by the FBI, recovered from Nancy Guthrie’s Nest doorbell camera. It’s unclear whether they show the same person. (FBI)

According to two sources with knowledge of the investigation, one of the doorbell images was taken on a different date than the others. It shows an individual who may be the same masked intruder at Guthrie’s doorstep, without an Ozark Trail backpack or holstered pistol.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has called the timeline surrounding the images speculation. 

Savannah Guthrie is asking anyone with information in the case to dial 1-800-CALL-FBI or contact her directly.

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Travis County DA faces renewed ‘soft on crime’ criticism after career criminal charged with murder

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Travis County DA faces renewed ‘soft on crime’ criticism after career criminal charged with murder

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A Texas-based career criminal with a lengthy rap sheet is behind bars in Travis County after he was charged with murdering a father of five outside a 7-Eleven in Austin, reviving scrutiny of Travis County District Attorney José Garza and what critics call his controversial prosecutorial record and “soft on crime” approach.

Caleb Anthony Jenkins, described by police as a career criminal, was charged with murder in connection with a shooting last year that left a 25-year-old father dead outside a 7-Eleven. According to Austin police, Jenkins allegedly shot the victim and drove off.

But critics argue the killing may have been preventable. Garza’s office previously dismissed or declined to prosecute three separate gun charges against Jenkins in incidents dating back to 2022. He was also arrested in 2023 on a domestic violence charge and failed to appear in court, as Fox News reported. Most recently, he was re-arrested and released after his bond was raised.

Taken together, the developments have intensified public criticism of Garza, the Democratic district attorney backed by liberal mega-donor George Soros,

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District Attorney Jose Garza in Austin, Texas. (Spencer Selvidge for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Garza, who was elected Travis County DA without prior experience as a prosecutor, has faced criticism from police advocacy groups and victims’ families since taking office. They have accused him of deliberately slow-walking certain cases and embracing lenient sentencing policies.

The criticism has sparked national attention in years past. In 2023, the family of 25-year-old Doug Cantor, who was shot and killed in the 2021 Sixth Street mass shooting in downtown Austin, criticized Garza for slow-walking the trial of the gunman.

Family members told Fox News Digital in an interview at the time that they believed Garza had put the case on the “back burner.”

“It’s very clear that his focus and attention is not on this case,” Nick Kantor told Fox News Digital in an interview reflecting on the two-year anniversary of his brother’s death — and the way Garza, who has been widely criticized for soft-on-crime policies, has handled the case.

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Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza poses in front of the Austin skyline in a portrait from the county website. Garza has faced criticism for accusations that he aggressively prosecutes police officers accused of wrongdoing while going easy on career criminals. (Travis County DA Website)

“He’s doing things that are clearly causing distress on the trial and on the overall outcome of the case and for getting justice for my brother,” Kantor said. 

Other victims’ families cited similar behavior from Garza’s office in interviews with Fox News Digital. 

While overall reported crime in Travis County has declined, opponents argue dismissal rates have been “political,” and could further endanger public safety.

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It “appears that Garza has now become more of an advocate for the criminal than he has for the victim,” Dennis Farris, president of the Austin Police Retired Officer’s Association, previously told Fox News Digital.

“The prosecution is acting more like defense attorneys than they are prosecutors,” Farris said in an interview roughly one year after Garza took office. “Whatever his skewed view of what criminal justice reform is, it isn’t working. It sure isn’t working for the victims.” 

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George Soros delivers a speech at the 2022 World Economic Forum in Davos. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images)

“It used to be that they got the victims’ buy-in before offering plea bargains. Now it doesn’t appear he’s even doing that, because they’re not even communicating with them, and that’s what’s leading to the revictimization of these families.” 

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Current and former local law enforcement officers have criticized Garza’s actions and his alleged “war on cops,” after the Soros-backed district attorney campaigned on indicting police officers and “reimagining” policing in Austin.

Soros contributed $652,000 to the Texas Justice & Public Safety PAC in the months leading up to the 2020 Travis County DA election, according to campaign finance records.

That same PAC spent almost $1 million on digital and mail advertisements to help Garza’s campaign, as Fox News reported.

The Travis County District Attorney’s Office did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

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