In the 1950s, amid the Dark Ages for people with disabilities, Rex Trailer was a pioneering advocate, says State Sen. Mike Barrett, who last week testified in favor of a bill he’s filed to designate Trailer the Official Cowboy of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Trailer, who passed away at age 84 in January, starred in the local Children’s TV show Boomtown during the 50’s, 60’s and early 70’s.
While cereal-eating kids of that era recall Trailer singing, roping and riding his horse Gold Rush, he’s also remembered for his efforts on behalf of people with disabilities. “Rex pioneered the concept of full inclusion on local children’s TV,” says Barrett, Senate Chair of the Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities. “Boomtown featured a broad range of youthful humanity, kids with physical and developmental challenges included.”
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“Not only was he an honest-to-goodness cowboy from Texas,” Barrett continues, “but he was literally a pioneer for people with disabilities. In 1961 he led a wagon train across Massachusetts to raise awareness of the challenges they face.” That trail ended at the State House, where Barrett is now pushing the legislation to recognize his efforts.
Trailer was a fixture in Barrett’s state senate district. He lived in Sudbury and owned a television studio in downtown Waltham. Barrett filed the legislation at the initiative of CC Carole, a Chelmsford constituent and longtime friend of Rex.
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“As fun and entertaining as the show was,” says Carole, “I didn’t realize at the time I was being taught a life lesson.” The lesson: “inclusion of all individuals with disabilities.” Carole adds that when she grew up it was rare to see children who had disabilities, but Rex’s Boomtown “changed all that for me and thousands of others.”
Testifying alongside Barrett at the Tourism Committee hearing, Carole said, “I stand before you today giving back to a wonderful man who gave so much to all of us.” In a serendipitous twist, Carole is the constituent of the House Chair of the committee, State Rep. Cory Atkins (D-Concord).