Kiss Country Towns We Love – Shreveport

Every week we are saluting a different Kiss Country town. This week its Shreveport, home of just over 218,000 smiling Southern faces. That equals 436,000 muddy rubber boots (not counting those boots hanging out between the cab of your truck and the tool box).

Our city is the 3rd largest town in this great State with our exciting history and ability to cook anything that slithered, swam or once lurked along roads or bayous. We cook, we sing, we play sports, we drink--no really, we drink ALOT, and we drive our mommas to drink. And some of us get famous for singing and such (most of them drink too).

Shreveport was founded in 1836 by the Shreve Town Company, a corporation established to develop a town at the juncture of the newly navigable Red River and the Texas Trail, an overland route into the newly independent Republic of Texas and, prior to that time, into Mexico --Wikipedia

Remember when we were the capitol of Louisiana? Of course you don't! Because it was in 1863! From 1863 to 1865, during the Civil War, Shreveport served as the State's capitol. Yeah, we're getting all historical on ya.

A few hometown folks who've made a big name for themselves:

Scott Baker, Captain Shreve baseball standout who went on to pitch for the Minnesota Twins. Scott received unfortunate news a couple months ago. His 2012 season with the Twins has been cut short due to a season ending elbow issue that will require surgery. Hopefully Scott makes a full recovery and continues to make a living playing a sport he grew to love on the diamond right here in Kiss Country.

Terry Bradshaw has been making us proud since he took Woodlawn High School to the State Football Championship game in 1965 (unfortunately they lost that game). But, Terry's career didn't suffer from that loss at all. After an impressive career with the Pittsburgh Steelers we still enjoy Terry and his "aw shucks country boy" style on gameday through his television career as a sports analyst.

Kix Brooks was born in Shreveport and went on to sell more than 30 million albums as half of one of Country's most famous duo "Brooks and Dunn". Since the duo's retirement Kix has been busy with his broadcasting and film careers along with working on his solo project.

William Joyce is a Shreveport native who is doing us proud with his success and keeping his roots right here at home. Joyce most recently added Academy Award for Best Animated Short to his list of accolades. His imagination and talent has touched families world wide through his children's books, films and his novels. Joyce created Rolie Polie Olie and shared his incredible talent through his art and design in Toy Story, A Bug's Life and many, many more film and television projects. He is a writer, an artist, a creative producer, and a resident of Shreveport. Check out his latest project:

Hank Williams Williams Jr. was born 62 years ago in Shreveport. (Happy Birthday Hank! He celebrates tomorrow!) Well, where do we even start? It's been a rowdy 62 years. We imagine Hank was born with flashy gold framed glasses on and a mischievous smile. Here's to many more rowdy years for ya Bocephus!