User:NYCBruno1/Bryan Sterling

Bryan Sterling

Bryan Sterling (b. January 27 1922, Vienna, Austria d. April 13 2008 New York, New York)

Most notable for being recognized as the leading authority on the life and works of Will Rogers. Sterling, with his wife Frances, researched and wrote the largest volume of privately published work about Will Rogers.

Born Bruno Zwerling in Vienna, Austria, he fled Nazi occupied Europe during the Anschluss to England, and he came to the US permanently in 1951.

His interest in WIll Rogers began in the late 1950's after he had heard him quoted and read a biography on Rogers. He was struck by the way his humor crossed cultural and language barriers. Sterling began to collect information about Rogers, which would eventually lead to a Nationally syndicated daily newspaper column, "Will Rogers Says" that combined quotes from Rogers with then current events. Much of the information was gathered alongside his wife Frances Sterling, while traveling the United States and interviewing friends, family and people Rogers had worked with. He compiled most of the material used in the one man stage show "Will Rogers U.S.A." which stared James Whitmore Together or independently with Frances, he published seven books and one LP of Will Rogers voice recordings. Sterling's interview tapes from this time period are now part of the collection of the Will Rogers Memorial in Claremore, OK.

Bryan and Frances Sterling received the Western Heritage Award in 1983, and the 1997 Will Rogers Communicator Award for promoting the memory and message of Will Rogers.