With Memorial Day just around the corner: Anyone remember: Eric Hoss Cartwright in the NBC western television series Bonanza? He attended Texas Military Institute and in 1946 played football at Baptist-affiliated Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene, Texas. He graduated from Sul Ross State Teachers College in Alpine, where he earned a masters degree in the dramatic arts. (Although the Hoss character on Bonanza was conceived as lovable but slow-witted, Blocker was the only cast member with a graduate degree). Blocker was a high school English and drama teacher in Sonora, Texas, a sixth-grade teacher and coach at Eddy Elementary School in Carlsbad, New Mexico and finally, a teacher in California. He had worked as a rodeo performer and as a bouncer in a beer bar while a student. He is remembered from his school days for his size of 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m) and weight of 300 pounds (140 kilograms; 21 stone 6 pounds), and for being good-natured despite his intimidating size. Because of his large size combined with his pleasant nature, Dan was dubbed Hollywoods Gentle Giant. Korean War Blocker was drafted into the United States Army during the Korean War. He served as an Infantry sergeant in F Company, 2nd Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th infantry Division in Korea, December 1951 to August 1952. He received a Purple Heart for wounds in combat according to the June/July 2013 issue of VFW Magazine.
Posted on: Sat, 10 May 2014 16:28:35 +0000
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