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Gunsmoke: Old West Stories

Crowbait Bob: The Final Confession of a Forgotten Hero

Posted October 10, 2025 · 21 min

About this episode

Originally Aired: November 10, 1956 In Gunsmoke #239, “Crowbait Bob,” Dodge City’s Marshal Matt Dillon receives a strange request from a dying drunk—make a will and protect a mysterious box until after his death. As the ailing Crowbait Bob drifts toward his final breath in a jail cell, the motives of estranged relatives and the quiet compassion of saloon owner Kitty Russell converge around his last possessions. What’s in the box isn’t gold or silver, but something far more revealing: the story of a forgotten war hero and a life steeped in sorrow, regret, and quiet dignity. A poignant tale of legacy, memory, and unseen kindness. Cast: William Conrad, Georgia Ellis, Parley Baer, Howard McNear Tags: Western, drama, legacy, emotional, redemption, WilliamConrad, GeorgiaEllis, CrowbaitBob, oldtimeradio, mystery, dignity, U.S.Marshal, familydrama, confederatecurrency, vintageamerica, 1950sradio, classicwestern, podcasthistory

From Gunsmoke: Old West Stories by OTR.FM Network. Visit the show’s website.

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