Wasn't U.S.(President/) Forest Ranger Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt originally somehow involved with rescuing "Smokey Bear" from a forest fire in Montana? I always had the understanding that the plush-toy,"Teddy Bear" was so-named after "Teddy" for rescuing "Smokey Bear", so-nameinf the bear he found having climbed a tree in effort to escape the flames...!?
My grandpa was the original voice of Smokey all the way until the early 90’s. I was 3 when he died. It’s only now I’ve really dug deep into the history of the character in my mid 30’s. Thank you for this.
It's a wonderful story. Another fantastic one deals with Teddy Roosevelt and the rescue of a baby bear. It spawned the toy "Teddy Bear" many of us older folks had. I was given mine when I was four years of age. (I've added an additional 4 score to that). Uncle Bear 🐻
@teegees8180; wasn't he "ending-up in a zoo" where he was loved, cared and provided for of, as well to serve his counter-parts in creation to keep in there minds "Truck Driver's Prayer" (by Red Sovine) better than letting him perish?
