OKC's Western Heritage Awards honors Lou Diamond Phillips, 'Dark Winds' and more

The stars were shining, the Code of the West was celebrated and a love for horses was shared at the 62nd Western Heritage Awards in Oklahoma City.

Emmy-nominated actor Lou Diamond Phillips, the late "King of Western Swing" Bob Wills, Oklahoma businessman Robert A. "Bob" Funk Sr., the late Texas rancher Daniel Webster “80 John” Wallace and Colorado beer mogul Pete Coors were among the honorees April 15 at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

The event annually honors the year's top releases in Western literature, music, television and film and inducts new members into the Hall of Great Westerners and Hall of Great Western Performers. Winners received the "Wrangler," a bronze sculpture created by Oklahoma artist Harold T. Holden.  

Country Music Hall of Famers Brooks & Dunn, actors Barry Corbin, Patrick Wayne and Robert Carradine and former Oklahoma governors Frank Keating and George Nigh were on hand for this year's festivities, where "Yellowstone" cast member Mo Brings Plenty served as master of ceremonies.

Here are a few of the highlights of the 2023 Western Heritage Awards:

Lou Diamond Phillips pleads on behalf of special needs children

Born in the Philippines and raised in Texas, Phillips has earned more than 150 credits in his almost 40-year acting career, from the famed films "La Bamba" and "Stand and Deliver" to acclaimed TV series like “Prodigal Son" and “Longmire." As he was ushered into the Hall of Great Western Performers, he finished his Western Heritage Awards acceptance speech with a request as a father of a child on the autism spectrum.

"I would ask you, if your heart speaks to you, talk to your representatives and please reconsider the corporal punishment for special needs kids," Phillips said to loud applause.

He was referring to House Bill 1028, which would have banned corporal punishment for kids who have a disability as defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and eliminated the parental waiver that allows spanking of those kids.

The state Legislature made national headlines in March when the bill failed to pass, with Rep. Jim Olsen (R-Sallisaw) quoting Biblical verses in Proverbs — "He that spareth his rod hateth his son" — in opposition.

"Our kids don't need the rod. They need our love, our support, our help and our compassion," Phillips said. "So, think about that ... and if this speaks to you, talk to somebody about it."

A modified version of HB 1028 is still alive in the Legislature and has until the end of May to be passed by the Senate. But if it is to become law, the House will have to vote on it again.

"It was important for me to address this for very personal reasons," Phillips added on Twitter after the event. "Our reps, especially at the state level, should be bound to the will of their constituents. The feedback was immediate and profound. Anyone who has ever worked with special needs kids knows this is wrong."

Father-and-son Grammy nominees perform Route 66 tribute

Grammy-nominated father-and-son musicians Michael Martin Murphey and Ryan Murphey helped get the awards show started with an acoustic performance of their rambling song "Blues for 66." Named Outstanding Original Western Composition, the duo's ode to Route 66 is included on their 2022 album "Road Beyond the View.”

"I've won many Wrangler Awards, and I treasure every single one of them. ... I thought when I got the Lifetime Achievement Award (in 2019), it was all over, and I would never get another one. Thank you for confirming that life goes on for me," Michael Martin Murphey said.

Surprise presenters Brooks & Dunn celebrate Western Visionary

Grammy-winning duo Brooks & Dunn made a surprise appearance at this year's ceremony to present Pete Coors with the Western Visionary Award.

"He's been a great friend to us: he's been a hunting buddy, an honorary band member, whenever we needed a mean pair of spoons or a cowbell played during our shows,” Brooks said with a grin.

The brewing mogul is just the third person — after Phillip Anschutz and Foster Friess — to receive the rare honor bestowed on a person who has made "a national impact on preserving Western heritage and Western ideals." His company provided every attendee with a metal copy of Jim Owen's 10-part "Code of the West."

"It is and always has been the backbone of my life philosophy: Basically, knowing right from wrong … and living the ideal that a handshake is all that's needed to seal a deal," Coors said.

'Long Rider’ and ‘King of Western Swing’ share a love of horses

A deep affection for horses emerged as a theme of the Western Heritage Awards, where "The Long Rider" was named top documentary. The film chronicles aspiring journalist Filipe Leite's eight-year journey on horseback from his adoptive home in Canada to his family's home in Brazil — and beyond.

"The true reason why I'm standing here today (is) my 11 majestic horses, my heroes, my kids. The horse is the true reason why we are all here today: The horse gave birth to the cowboy, the horse helped write history, and what I learned crossing the Americas at 3 miles an hour and 20 miles a day is that the horse is a common language that brings people together," Leite said, getting emotional.

"Every day, I needed to knock on a stranger's door and ask for help: No one ever denied me help. And out of all the doors that were opened along the way — whether it was by a politician, a rancher or sometimes a drug lord — those doors were opened thanks to my beautiful horses."

Carolyn Wills, daughter of the late "King of Western Swing," also got emotional recalling her father's iconic steed as he was inducted posthumously into the Hall of Great Western Performers.

"I know if he were here tonight, my father would be honored and humbled. He would lift his hat in salute to everyone. In fact, he might, as he was known to do, ride his stallion Punkin across the room and up on the stage to say thank you the Bob Wills way," she said.

French photographer and New York writer receive Wrangler trophies

Presenter Sean Gleason noted that author Andrew Giangola, winner of the Outstanding Nonfiction Book award for "Love & Try: Stories of Gratitude and Grit from Professional Bull Riding," "happens to be the only man receiving a Wrangler that lives in a 500-square-foot apartment in Manhattan."

"It's Brooklyn," Giangola corrected good-naturedly. "In a better world, recognition for a book celebrating values like cowboy heart, determination and un-toxic masculinity wouldn't be confined to gatherings like this. Our world is far from perfect, but thankfully, buoyed by the love and try of everyone living the Western way, we're moving in the right direction."

Born and raised in France, Anouk Masson Krantz won the best photography book Wrangler for "Ranchland: Wagonhound.”

"I'm a Frenchwoman living an American dream here," she said.

Reba congratulates Lifetime Achievement winner Red Steagall

She didn't attend in person, but Oklahoma native Reba McEntire appeared in a video sending "lots of love and the biggest congratulations ever" to Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Red Steagall. A songwriter, recording artist and radio host, Steagall is credited with helping Reba launch her music career. 

A five-time Western Heritage Award winner and 2003 Hall of Great Westerners inductee, Steagall has written more than 200 songs; among his well-known tunes are "Here We Go Again," "Freckles Brown" and "Lone Star Beer and Bob Wills Music." He also hosts the RFD-TV show "Red Steagall Is Somewhere West of Wall Street," which won Outstanding Western Lifestyle Program for its episode profiling Reba.

"I am the most blessed human being on the face of this Earth because I've been able to do exactly what I wanted to do the way I've wanted to do it," Steagall said.

Filmmaker Walter Hill plans another Western

Walter Hill, who produced the "Alien" movies, directed the 1980s blockbuster "48 Hrs." and won Primetime Emmy Awards for "Broken Trail" and "Deadwood," accepted the top movie award for "Dead for a Dollar." He directed and co-wrote the indie Western starring Oscar winner Christoph Waltz, Oscar nominee Willem Dafoe and Emmy winner Rachel Brosnahan.

"Obviously, I like Westerns; obviously, all of you like Westerns. I believe they generally tell good stories that demonstrate self-reliance and proper ethical codes. I think we can use those in our country always," Hill said.

"I just finished a new script, and it's a Western."

'Dark Winds' producer returns with promises of more mystery

"Dark Winds," the acclaimed AMC series based on the mystery novels by Oklahoma-born and bred novelist Tony Hillerman, was named Outstanding Fictional Drama for its premiere episode, "Monster Slayer." Chickasaw Nation citizen and Ardmore native Graham Roland, the series' creator, returned to his home state to accept the honor.

In particular, he credited two of the executive producers — film icon Robert Redford and "Game of Thrones" mastermind George R.R. Martin — with fighting to make "Dark Winds" a hit.

"To give you an idea of how long that fight was, when Bob first optioned Tony's books, I was 7 years old — that was a long time ago," quipped Roland, also a writer and executive producer on the series.

The series is based on Hillerman's best-selling books about fictional Navajo detectives Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon) and Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon). Along with the cast, crew and creative team, Roland thanked the Navajo Nation, AMC and the fans "for getting us to the second season and hopefully many more."

'Longmire' star praises those who came before him

It was fitting that Phillips' induction followed the win for "Dark Winds," since the actor played Jim Chee in the 1991 film adaptation "The Dark Wind."

"I think I would be remiss to not pay special respect and homage to a lot of the Native men and women who helped me along the way, who validated me and endorsed me and guided me," Phillips said, naming Floyd "Red Crow" Westerman, Tantoo Cardinal, Gary Farmer and more.

"And I've gotten to play the cowboy, too.”

Working with the likes of Jack Palance, Brian Keith and James Coburn, the "Longmire" star said, "I was a sponge learning from them and wanting to carry on this incredible tradition ... that's brought us all here together."

"There are a lot of people who do Westerns — some who shouldn't. I mean, you can put on the hat, but sometimes it just don't play," Phillips said with a grin. "It really comes from a place inside to be able to play these characters ... and a certain amount of desire to get it right."

Contributing: The Oklahoman's Dale Denwalt. 

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: "Deadwood" producer, "Longmire" star and more honored at Western Heritage Awards