2013 Golden Valley Hall of Fame Inductee Was 'The Lone Ranger'

The city of Golden Valley is inducting four citizens to the Golden Valley Hall of Fame, which honors those who have been affiliated with Golden Valley, made contributions to the community and become renown. The induction ceremony is 9 to 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 17, at Brookview Community Center.

Clayton Moore, spent much of his life entertaining the public, gaining fame and earning hero status with generations of American youngsters as the star of the pioneering television series, The Lone Ranger. 

Born Jack Carlton Moore in 1914, Clayton started as a circus acrobat at a young age and eventually performed with a trapeze act at the Chicago World’s Fair in 1934. He worked as a model in Chicago and New York before leaving for Hollywood in 1937. He appeared in more 70 motion pictures as well as serving in the Army Air Force during World War II. 

When "The Lone Ranger" began its television run in 1949, Clayton played the lead role for 221 episodes until the show ended in 1957. General Mills was a sponsor of both the original radio series and the television program. Clayton also starred in two Lone Ranger movies with his television co-star, Jay Silverheels. 

In 1964 Clayton moved to Golden Valley with his wife and daughter to be closer to his wife's family in Minneapolis. He obtained a Minnesota real estate license and planned to establish Ranger Realty with a relative. The Moores moved into a new house on Rhode Island Avenue in the Ewald Terrace subdivision. Residents recall Clayton as a kind, considerate man who particularly enjoyed entertaining children. He often handed out replica silver bullets, the Lone Ranger's signature calling card. 

Clayton continued to portray the Lone Ranger in promotional appearances nationwide, and the family eventually moved back to California. His autobiography, "I Was That Masked Man," recounts his successful challenge of efforts by a movie producer to bar him from portraying the Lone Ranger. 

Public and private accounts agree that Clayton truly transcended the fictional character and strived to live according to the virtues of the "Lone Ranger Creed." Golden Valley acknowledges Clayton Moore for enriching many lives with his performances.

Golden Valley’s Hall of Fame program was developed in 2011 by a group of citizens known as Bridge Builders as part of the community’s 125th Anniversary celebration. With support from the City’s Envision Connection Project Board of Directors, it recently became an annual community event.

(Information provided by the city of Golden Valley.)

Correction made: The wrong time for the Hall of Fame induction ceremony was mistakenly posted in this story on Golden Valley Patch. We apologize for the error.