Hollywood technical advisor Arvo Ojala
(February 21, 1920 – July 1, 2005)

In the opening credits of Gunsmoke!, Marshal Matt Dillon draws his
gun at the bad guy. Who is the gunslinger? A Finnish-American gun master named Arvo Ojala (above). The quick-draw specialist not only trained James Arness in gunfighting, he also trained Robert
Culp, James Garner,  and Paul Newman in the art.

As a joke on the producers, James Arness and Arvo actually did the opener once with Dillon falling to the ground.

Accordiing to Wikipedia, Ojala taught himself marksmanship and
how to quick-draw a handgun while living on his father’s ranch
near Yakima, Washington. He said he sharpened his skill by  
shooting the heads off rattlesnakes.

Behind the camera view.

Cased Third Generation Colt SAA Arvo Ojala/Gunsmoke Commemorative revolver, .45 cal., 7-1/2” barre.

Earnie Dee Shaver (August 31, 1944 – September 1, 2022)

(ESPN) – Earnie Shavers, who is often considered the hardest
punching boxer of all time, had a professional record of 74-14-1
with 68 total knockouts during his 26-year-career that spanned
from 1969 to 1995. He died Thursday, September 1 from a short-
illness at his daughter’s home in Virginia. 

Muhammad Ali (left) Vs. Earnie Shavers.

1977

GERONIMO (THIRD FROM LEFT) SURRENDERING TO
GENERAL NELSON MILES IN ARIZONA.

On September 4, 1886, Apache leader Geronimo surrendered to
U.S. government troops. For 30 years, the Native American warrior
had battled to protect his tribe’s homeland; however, by 1886 the Apaches were exhausted and outnumbered. General Nelson Miles accepted Geronimo’s surrender, making him the last Native
American warrior to formally give in to U.S. forces and signaling
the end of the Indian Wars in the Southwest.

Geronimo (on horseback center) with his warriors.

Geronimo (‘the one who yawns’)
(June 16, 1829 – February 17, 1909)