Ranger Bill

David Bawden

Ranger Bill was a Christian radio adventure serial, and aimed at the younger generation. This turned out to be one of the most successful radio broadcasts, and with an amazing longevity of over twelve years. The very first fifteen minute episode was aired on October 2, 1950, but this later changed to a half hour episode, beginning May 14, 1954 and running right through until 1962.

Hear the exciting introduction again for the first time in many years, you'll get goosebumps when all of the memories of being a young kid come flooding back! Here's how it went...

"Ranger Bill, Warrior of the Woodland, struggling against extreme odds, traveling dangerous trails, showing rare courage in the face of disaster, in the air, on horseback, or in a screaming squad car. Ranger Bill, his mind alert, a ready smile, unswerving, loyal to his mission. And all this in exchange for the satisfaction and pride of a job well done."

Although it does stress positive Christian values throughout, I don't feel that these are particularly 'in-your-face' - the adventure stories were a real thrill for young people.

Starring Miron Canaday, the series follows the adventures of Bill Jefferson, the chief forest ranger of Knotty Pine in the Rocky Mountains. Bill and his friends were tasked with many different adventures, crimes to solve, cattle rustlers, prisoners and all manner of animals and beasts, from cats and dogs to snakes, elephants and an abominable snow man!

Cast: Miron Canaday Director: Charles Christensen, Jim Grant Writer: Charles Erkhart, John Rowan Sound Effects:John McCombe

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Kids & FamilyKids & Family

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All of the crazy things that can happen to us Rangers have already happened, right? Wrong! This is a story that will show you just what Rangers have to put up with in this business. Being a Ranger isn't all glory, marching bands and newspaper stories. In fact, being a firefighter doesn't mean that all of the fires we have to fight are real live flaming ones...

Episodes

All of the crazy things that can happen to us Rangers have already happened, right? Wrong! This is a story that will show you just what Rangers have to put up with in this business. Being a Ranger isn't all glory, marching bands and newspaper stories. In fact, being a firefighter doesn't mean that all of the fires we have to fight are real live flaming ones...

Ranger Bill was once relieved of his command suspended until further notice, and here he tells us what happened. We all live by a book of rules. Sometimes the book is real, and sometimes the book is a code of ethics and actions that we've setup in our own minds. In our story today, we run into a man who lives his life by a real book...

They Called Him A Coward

They Called Him A Coward

Rain has a great deal to do with the adventure today. Rain and what happened after. As you know, Bill is a forest ranger in the west. and his job is an interesting one. Sometimes he is called a natural resources conservationist - which means he looks after the trees, meadows and animals - and his territory is in what people used to call the Wild West. Of course it's not very wild anymore - well, until nature decides to go on a rampage - which is what has happened today.

Cattle Rustlers Of Coconino

Cattle Rustlers Of Coconino

Here's a story of the old west, brought up to date in a new and strange way. A way that took a lot of figuring out! Most of us, when someone mentions the west, we think of cowboys, cattle and cattle rustlers. Rustle is an old American slang word that meant to 'borrow' something that wasn't yours - usually late at night. It also meant that when you borrowed it, you had no intention of returning it!

Oil Well aka Ashbys Folly

Oil Well aka Ashbys Folly

Miles Ashby is struggling. He's been drilling for oil, but he hasn't struck anything and now the bank won't loan him any more money with no warning. He can't pay his workers, and without the oil he can't pay back the bank. On the surface it looks like bad luck, but is it a coincidence that there's a shark circling who wants to buy the land and all of the 'worthless' drilling equipment...

Rules aka The Runaway Boy

Rules aka The Runaway Boy

After tidying Norman's room over and over again, his mom has made the decision to toughen up and make a new rule. From now on, he must keep the room tidy, and to ensure he knows how serious she is about it, Norman has been grounded. He has to stay in his nice tidy and clean room all day today so that he can get used to how it feels. But Norman thinks his mom is being too strict...

Tangerine the pig is the very special, and very loved pig of siblings Jody and Jill. Things have been going pretty poorly at their parent's farm, and they're relying on Tangerine winning them the top prize in the contest tomorrow, which comes with lots of prize money...

Rabies Scare aka In Shape

Rabies Scare aka In Shape

Two Christian young men have conflicting ideas about what kind of physical condition young Christian fellows should be in. You'll be able to draw your own conclusions after you hear today's story...

Marty Patton's Piano

Marty Patton's Piano

Marty Patton's parents have a piano delivered to their top floor apartment, which causes no end of noise pollution to the other tenants in the block. However, nobody complains...

Henry's Crisis Of Faith

Henry's Crisis Of Faith

When Henry saw Harvey from across the street he could hardly believe his eyes. He hasn't seen him for at least two years, since he went away to college. He is studying botany there, and since Henry's boys club are going on an all-day hike on Saturday, he wants Harvey to go with them, because he might be able to share some of his knowledge of nature.

The Reckless Driver

The Reckless Driver

Have you ever known people who somehow were always in hot water? Nothing serious, but they're just a little on the daring side - and perhaps think after it's too late? Some folks call them foolhardy, others call them a nuisance. Nevertheless, it seems that this type of individual pulls one hair brained stunt after another - and that's a perfect description of Norman Marks...

Vacations are supposed to be fun. Many people travel to far away places they've never been before, some visit relatives, while others go to the nearest lake, pitch a tent and enjoy the beauty of nature. That's exactly what Stumpy, Mary Lou, Henry and Bill did - but on the first night Mary-Lou wakes Henry as she's frightened. For a little while now, she's been able to hear a strange sound. Henry's not much comfort, and is just as frightened, so they wake Bill...

Elizabeth And The Stranger

Elizabeth And The Stranger

Carol got her senior woodsman badge at camp, and has decided to take an overnight hike, all alone to the edge of the forest. She's planning to leave right after her babysitting duties are over, but she doesn't realize that the little girl she is looking after, intends to follow her. Unfortunately, little Elizabeth gets lost in the forest, and stumbles across a stranger with sinister motives. A good lesson for children on how they should act around strangers.

Bill Gets Lost In A Cavern

Bill Gets Lost In A Cavern

The folk of Knotty Pine are having a town meeting, and Ranger Bill has a few words to say to everyone. Except he's not there. Well, he is, but he wants to demonstrate another way to communicate. He's talking about a new piece of equipment which is to be adopted into use by the Rangers. It's a transistor walkie-talkie, and Bill will soon be glad of his!

Crazy Man Comes Back

Crazy Man Comes Back

Henry's shocked by how much is changing in Knotty Pine every week - it's getting more like a big city! There's been a population explosion in the world, and Henry's worried that there won't be enough land for all of the new buildings...

Ranger Bill has received an important message from Washington, so he instructs Henry to acknowledge receipt of the message, and then make at least fifty copies, whilst Grey Wolf and Stumpy need to prepare envelopes to every ranger in this district, along with a register for each ranger who receives it.

Cotton and Candy

Cotton and Candy

Bill has arrived at the ranger station, and he's got a job which he thinks Henry can handle. He's brought a little bunny, which he found out the back. It looks like the bunny's leg may be in bad shape, which likely came from something falling on him. Anyhow, Bill thinks that Henry might be able to nurse him back to health...

Glacier Cave-In

Glacier Cave-In

The frontiers of exploration aren't closed today. We often think that they are, but the truth of the matter is, there are still many new explorations to be made. Some through a microscope, some with a satellite exploring the heavens, some with a deep sea diving bell, and others right here on the good old, solid earth. Yes, the surface of the earth has many places still to be explored...

Henry, Ronnie and the boys are having their meeting in a classroom today, thanks to Sam opening up for them. He asks them to make sure they don't make a mess, and leave the place as they found it. Next week, they agree they'll do the same, but will also to do a nature study, and Ronnie's idea is to bring a bear...

Trouble In Tunnel 13

Trouble In Tunnel 13

Knotty Pine Mine has employed a new foreman, Randy, and his first job is to head up the crew down in Tunnel 13. The trouble is, the lab men have been running tests and it looks as though Tunnel 13 is going through a bit of a sandy patch, which could compromise the safety of the tunnels...