Frank Bogert championed, helped define Palm Springs

The last cowboy in Palm Springs died Sunday night, and the entire Coachella Valley mourns the passing of a man whose love of the desert put us on the map.

We'll never see another iconic figure of the stature and longevity of Frank M. Bogert. The former mayor, horseman, photographer, civic leader and cheerleader of Palm Springs led a made-for-the-movies life during his 99 years. We say farewell and pay tribute with a sad heart. We know that it was his unflinching, uncompromising passion for Palm Springs and the entire valley that triggered change and helped define the city's legacy — not just in this corner of California, but around the entire country.

Palm Springs pioneer

Bogert was a maverick who came to Palm Springs about 80 years ago. He was quick to stir up the then-sleepy little town, first as a rugged young horse wrangler who wasn't afraid of hard work and who knew what had to be done and did it.

He brought that same spirit to the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce and later to City Hall. As mayor, he focused not only on the city's movers-and-shakers, but also on the merchants, hotel operators and restaurateurs who depended so much on the economic lifeline provided by tourists and visitors.

In his broad-brimmed cowboy hat and trademark boots, Bogert thrust Palm Springs into the national spotlight, bringing politicians, two presidents — John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson — and even Queen Elizabeth II to the desert.

His political career was marked by periods of tremendous growth in the desert.

At his urging, houses were built, golf courses created.

The airport was finished and the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway was completed under his term. He raced to be one of the first in line when the tramway opened.

Early on, he made frequent trips to Hollywood, where he dabbled in acting, playing — you guessed it, a cowboy — in a couple of Westerns. Then he moved on to careers in public relations, photography and politics.

Later, he led a push to revitalize Palm Springs, to bring in hotels and developments and to revitalize downtown.

But he never let go of his cowboy roots or his boots, never stopped talking about how much he loved Palm Springs.

“His heart is the most generous I have ever met in his love for the desert. And anyone who knows him, will tell you so,” said Ray Corliss, Bogert's business partner and friend for more than 50 years.

Happy trails, Frank Bogert. To Palm Springs, you will always be the cowboy in the white hat — the hero.