Disney’s movie, is based on the book by Daniel P. Mannix written in 1967. The protagonist, Amos, and his hunting dog, Copper, were modeled after Bee Dee Adkins and his favorite hunting dog, Copper.
Bee Dee was born in 1903 in Lamposo, Texas to Vancouver and Amanda Adkins. The family, which eventually grew to ten boys and one girl, moved to Mexico in 1916 and then to Mesa. At the age of fourteen, Bee Dee went off on his own. One of his many jobs included “cowboy hunter”, one who provided armed protection to ranchers from attacks by the Yaqui in the area.
The 1940 census shows Bee Dee, his wife, Viola and their three daughters living in what is now Catalina State Park. Sons William, George and Bee Dee Jr. were born later. During his time in the Oro Valley area, Bee Dee worked the old Baldwin place (a homestead in Catalina Park). He farmed crops as well as having a poultry farm. Bee Dee also started to work as an animal tracker for the state while here. He was well known for his excellent ability in training hunting dogs and his hunting skills. He was a renowned mountain lion tracker, an invaluable resource for local ranchers.
In 1944 Bee Dee and family moved to Perris, California. There he took up employment for the Fish and Game Commission and also led private hunting parties in California and Mexico. It was on a private expedition that Bee Dee met Daniel P. Mannix. Mannix was so enthralled with Bee Dee’s personality and adventuring spirit, that he incorporated Bee Dee’s experiences into magazine articles and books (i.e. “Dangerous Game” and Cowhand). Mannix portrayed Bee Dee’s mannerisms and somewhat gruff persona in the character, Amos, in The Fox and the Hound. The story line includes Bee Dee’s favorite hunting dog, Copper, and a fox, Tod. In preparation for writing the novel, Mannix studied foxes, both tame and wild, a wide variety of hunting techniques, and the ways hounds appear to track as witnessed on his expeditions with Bee Dee.
Bee Dee moved back to Arizona in the early 1950s and worked at the O. R Parker Ranch. In August of 1954 his life came to an unfortunate end when he tried to cross the flooded San Pedro River at Redington, and drowned. His body was carried downstream for six miles and found by ranch hands and sheriff’s deputies. Bee Dee is buried in Evergreen Memorial Park in Tucson.
The Fox and the Hound won the E. P. Dutton 1967 “Animal Book Award”. If you happen to have a first edition copy, it’s worth about $250.
Disney bought the rights to the Mannix book in 1967 but didn’t begin development until 1977. The animated film was released to theaters in 1981. The movie had a lifetime gross of $63.5 million.
In 1944 Bee Dee and family moved to Perris, California. There he took up employment for the Fish and Game Commission and also led private hunting parties in California and Mexico. It was on a private expedition that Bee Dee met Daniel P. Mannix. Mannix was so enthralled with Bee Dee’s personality and adventuring spirit, that he incorporated Bee Dee’s experiences into magazine articles and books (i.e. “Dangerous Game” and Cowhand). Mannix portrayed Bee Dee’s mannerisms and somewhat gruff persona in the character, Amos, in The Fox and the Hound. The story line includes Bee Dee’s favorite hunting dog, Copper, and a fox, Tod. In preparation for writing the novel, Mannix studied foxes, both tame and wild, a wide variety of hunting techniques, and the ways hounds appear to track as witnessed on his expeditions with Bee Dee.
Bee Dee moved back to Arizona in the early 1950s and worked at the O. R Parker Ranch. In August of 1954 his life came to an unfortunate end when he tried to cross the flooded San Pedro River at Redington, and drowned. His body was carried downstream for six miles and found by ranch hands and sheriff’s deputies. Bee Dee is buried in Evergreen Memorial Park in Tucson.
Disney bought the rights to the Mannix book in 1967 but didn’t begin development until 1977. The animated film was released to theaters in 1981. The movie had a lifetime gross of $63.5 million.
Claiming the Desert by James A. Williams
Images of America Oro Valley by Barbara Marriott
Both books are available through the Oro Valley Historical Society (contact tcolmar@comcast.net) or at Amazon.com
- - - WE WANT YOU! The Oro Valley Historical Society is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit volunteer organization, whose mission is “To promote research, preservation, education, and dissemination of historical information related to the greater Oro Valley area”. We invite you to become a member or volunteer. Visit us at ovhistory.org and help keep Oro Valley history alive!
We are currently looking for enthusiastic volunteers who are interested in becoming docents at the Pusch House Museum and for Steam Pump Ranch tours. Training sessions are being scheduled for the fall season. Contact: Teri at tcolmar@comcast.net
