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DRIVING IS ONLY HALF THE FUN
John Wayne AKA The Duke
Wayne and Johnson moved into the cattle business in the 1960s, running a feedlot near Maricopa and a ranch near Springerville.
John Wayne was born Marion Morrison in Winterset, Iowa.
He grew up in Southern California and became a movie extra and then an actor after losing his scholarship to USC in the 1920s.
One of Wayne’s favorite watering holes was Table Top Tavern in Stanfield.
Johnson’s wife Alice put Wayne on a weight-loss program for his
movie roles.
At the peak of the Wayne and Johnson cattle partnership, they
While we’re extremely proud of our track, membership benefits extend far beyond the twists and turns of the course. With member only events, meet and greets with racing legends and industry personalities, exclusive collection viewings and fun family-focused activities; the APEX lifestyle is as much about connecting with others as it is about the cars. You don’t have to be an experienced driver to have fun and enjoy all that membership has to offer. • The best enthusiast community • Member only race series • Private coaching and instruction • Over four miles of road course • Private, trackside garages • Country Club style amenities
had 85,000 head.
Wayne died of cancer in 1979.
El Dorado Holdings CEO Mike Ingram campaigned to have a portion of State Route 347 (Maricopa Road) named John Wayne Parkway. The Duke Golf Course draws its name from Wayne’s nickname. Some streets within Rancho El Dorado — Sagebrush Trail, Rio Grande, Rio Lobo, Cahill and others — share names with Wayne movies.
Wayne bought 4,000 acres of farmland between Maricopa and
Stanfield in the late 1950s.
He partnered with local cotton farmer Louis Johnson, who managed Wayne’s farm. The two later merged their properties. Both now have roadways named for them in Maricopa.
InMaricopa.com/NewResidentGuide • New Resident & Visitor Guide 2021 The Official Vehicle of APEX Motor Club
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New Resident & Visitor Guide 2021 • InMaricopa.com/NewResidentGuide
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