Letter from William A. Lamoreaux, alias Buzz Barton, to the writer, Buck Rainey, on November 26, 1976:

I was born in Gallatin, Missouri, September 3, 1913 on a farm. We later moved to California. There was a Western street in Newhall and they kept horses and stagecoaches. I always liked horses and used to hang around there. It was there that I met Jack Perrin and he got me in the movies. I was 12 years old. I went to school in Newhall. During the time I was working on films, the studio furnished a private teacher for me. When I finished the picture I would go back to my regular schooling.

I enjoyed working with Jack Perrin. He was my life-long friend. I respected and admired him both as a person and as an actor. I was named Billy Lamar by Jack, as my real name Lamoreaux had to be shortened for picture work. Jack was a very good rider.

There was Tom Tyler, Bob Steele, and Frankie Darro under contract at F.B.O. I was under contract to the studio for five years. We had a good budget and spent a lot of money on the films. Most of our pictures took around three weeks. Most of the locations were here In California, since we had available rivers, lakes, mountains, and desert areas.

Rex Bell was a swell guy. He was very easy to work with and knew the scripts and dialogue. Picture-wise he was a good cowboy.

In the early thirties I traveled back East with Gorman Brothers Show. Mr. Gorman was head of the Balasco Theatres. During the time I was starring in the Gorman Brothers Show I endorsed Daisy Air rifles, along with Buck Jones.

I left the picture industry and joined the Navy during World War II. I was in Saipan, Guam, and Iwo Jima. (Author: Buzz was aboard the battleship "Missouri," along with Leif Erickson, for the U.S.A.-Japan peace treaty signing). When I got out of the service, I wasn't interested in the picture industry at that time. I went to work on a cattle ranch, then I got married on June 22, 1947. In 1950 my wife and I were transferred to a ranch in Arizona. Shortly after going to Arizona we adopted a baby girl. We left Arizona in 1956 and returned to Newhall, California. At this time I returned to the picture industry as a wrangler.

We bought us a home in Sylmar in 1962. Since that time I worked on pictures such as "The Greatest Story Ever Told," "The Way West," The Hallelujah Trail," "Cheyenne Autumn," "Major Dundee," "Alvarez Kelly," "The Appaloosa," "Paint Your Wagon," "Texas Across the River," "Chisum," and the latest was "The Shootist" with John Wayne. I wrangled his horses. My movies days were real good. I knew my dialogue and what was expected of me. I was a good rider. I did all my own stunts and also doubled leading ladies and kids, anything pertaining to horses.

My main director was Louis King. Those were the good old days. Everyone worked together. At the end we would have a big barbeque or watermelon feast and have a good time.

Our daughter Linda is married and lives close by and we see her frequently, as we are a very close family.