Wilburn McCurley

Wilburn Riley McCurley was born close to Shamrock, Texas in the panhandle. His mother Jewell Belle (Dunn) took care of the children while his father Doyle William McCurley worked in the cotton. Wilburn had three sisters, Frankie Jean (Stacy), Martha Jo (Bailey), Kay (Steward) and two brothers Doyle Lee McCurley and Weldon McCurley (still living). He grew up picking cotton with his family in and around Shamrock for many years. He attended school in Lela, Texas from the 1st to 8th grade (the school is not in use anymore but still standing) and continued on at Shamrock high school in Shamrock, Texas. As a young boy he played football, basketball and baseball and would hang out with a young singer who lived on the other side of the Texas border in Oklahoma....this young singer was named Roger Miller. After high school, Wilburn joined the U.S. Navy and was sent to Korea to fight in the Korean war. After Wilburn was discharged, he signed up for another stint a few years later and finished his 4 years. Wilburn was asked to enlist for the third time, and sent to Vietnam as an adviser. In between his military service, when stationed in San Diego, California he would often hitchhike to Yuma, Arizona and go to the rodeo dances. One day in February, 1958 he met Lillian Sparks, a beautiful young single woman and he could not take his eyes off of her. Wilburn asked Lillian to dance and two weeks later on March 14, 1958 they were married. After his third honorable discharge from the U.S. Navy, he stayed in Yuma, Arizona and raised a total of 8 children. Wilburn started a bail bond business in Yuma which is still in business and served as the Yuma County Constable. Wilburn got involved in the film business late in life after his son asked him to work on a movie with him. Wilburn became friends with Lee Majors, Barry Corbin, Johnny Dark, Derek Hamilton, Joel Silverman and Joey Travolta...just to name a few.