Did you know that Caddo had produced an actor? I didn’t! If you knew, then you should have emailed me and told me all about it. Not only was the man from Caddo, but according to the 1930 census, his family lived on the same street as my great-grandmother.
Horace William Sargent, Jr. was born in Caddo on October 1, 1927 to Horace William and LaRuth Sargent. His father was a radio salesman. According to the 1930 census H.W. Jr. had two sisters, Patricia (1+) and Jacqueline (3mos.). His grandparents were James L. and Elner (Etner?) Sargent, and his great-grandparents were James G. and Mary L. Sargent. James is listed with his family in the 1900 census and it says he was a farmer from Alabama.
*I borrowed this photo from a science fiction convention advertisement. I hope they don't send aliens to suck out my brians while I'm sleeping.
Here's an obit I found:
LOS ANGELES -- H. William "Bill" Sargent Jr., entertainment impresario who pioneered pay-per-view television, put such stage plays as Richard Burton's "Hamlet" into motion picture theaters, and produced the landmark film "Richard Pryor Live in Concert," has died. He was 76.
Mr. Sargent died Oct. 19 in his hometown of Caddo, Okla., of a heart attack, according to producer David Permut, who worked with Sargent on the 1979 Pryor film. "He's Mike Todd and P.T. Barnum rolled into one. I have never met a more flamboyant or brilliant promoter," Permut said of Mr. Sargent in 1986 when he was considering a film about his mentor.
Mr. Sargent held 400 patents on tape heads, distribution amplifiers, electronic camera components, and other assorted gadgets.
Mr. Sargent, who burned down the family home trying to repair a radio for his father at age 6, became a licensed ham radio operator by 9 and taught high school math at 11. He started out as an electronics specialist, making his first six-figure income installing public address systems for schools and hotels. He brought his varied talents to Los Angeles in 1959 and embarked on a charmed two decades of earning millions one month and spending or losing them the next.
Hi _____________
I'm sorry, I don't even know your name. I know my sister-in-law, Kathy (Sargent) Hassenmiller, of Alturas, CA, has been in touch with you, but I didn't catch the name.
Anyway, we will be coming to Caddo next weekend for a family reunion and I'd like to find out what the weather is going to be like this time of year so I'll know exactly what to bring and not drive my husband crazy!!!
I would greatly appreciate any help you can give me,
Sincerely,
"Gina"
Posted by: Gina Sargent | October 08, 2006 at 10:31 AM
Just a few corrections about my dad, Bill Sargent, (Horace William Sargent, Jr.) He was actually born April 17,1927. Likely after the census data you obtained, he had a sister, Mary Eloise, and a brother, Mike. (And you guessed right, his grandmother's name was, in fact, Etner. Because time was a big factor in getting him the kind of obituaries he deserved, they all seem to contain one major piece of disinformation, and that is that he actually died IN Caddo, instead of just being born and living there. He died in Oklahoma City, where he lived with his wife of many decades, my mother, Helen Marie (Hendrix) Sargent. I appreciate that you took the time to remember him. Thank you. Sincerely, Serene Tami Sargent
Posted by: Serene Sargent | August 14, 2012 at 09:05 PM
Thanks Serene. I will add this information to the end of his obit for my future reference.
Posted by: mary | August 15, 2012 at 05:18 AM