Cactus Pryor Comments

Star of radio, TV, movies, plays and newspaper, Cactus Pryor was a true Texas legend whose remarkable career spanned 60 years. Cactus entertained Presidents and world leaders, but he also used his amazing sense of humor to delight Austin radio and TV audiences with stories of our city that Cactus loved so much. Cactus was on Congress Avenue with his radio microphone broadcasting live in 1945 when Austinites filled downtown, celebrating the U.S. victory over Japan and the end of World War Two. He was also the first face seen on Austin TV in the 1950’s as he began a TV career that included his highly popular children’s show and the Darrel Royal U.T. football show. John Wayne asked Cactus to appear in two of the Duke’s movies, The Green Berets and The Hell Fighters. They became good friends during the filming of the movies and Cactus had very fond memories of the Duke’s exploits when the cameras were turned off. But it was beyond the radio microphones and TV and movie cameras where Cactus had his most profound effect on the lives of countless Austinites. He worked tirelessly for decades to advance charitable and civic causes, giving his time and enormous talent to help raise vast amounts of money to uplift the lives of the less fortunate in Austin. Cactus Pryor was a giant in so many ways, yet he always remained the smiling, charming, humble man who grew up on Speedway in Austin and brought a beautiful spirit of life to generations of Austinites.