May Folk Heroes

Bonnie & Clyde

What kind of folk heroes would kill 13 people and rob numerous banks? That would be the famous gangster couple Bonnie and Clyde. This folk hero duo chose to live outside the law, resulting in tragedy or triumph depending on how you look at it.Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow first met in January 1930. Bonnie was just 19 years old, while Clyde was 20 years old. From 1932-1934, during the height of the Great Depression, their gang evolved from petty thieves to nationally known bank robbers and murderers. On May 23, 1934, their spree ended when they were betrayed by a friend and shot dead at a police roadblock in Louisiana. While the duo is mainly known for their murderous ways, there are many not so known facts about Bonnie and Clyde. Here are just a few: 

Bonnie wore a wedding ring…but it wasn’t Clyde’s.Bonnie and Clyde may have claimed to be married, but Bonnie was actually legally married to her first husband, Roy Thornton. She was still wearing his wedding ring the day that she died and had their names tattooed on her knee.

Bonnie was an honor student.Bonnie was a very bright student during her school days.She excelled at creative writing and poetry, and continued to write during her bank robbing days.  

Clyde was rejected by the Navy.As a teenager, Clyde tried to enlist in the U.S. Navy. However, lingering effects from a serious illness resulted in him being rejected for medical reasons. Clyde had already tattooed "USN" on his left arm. 

Bonnie and Clyde were buried separately.While the couple wished to be buried side by side, Bonnie's mother would not allow it. She disapproved of her relationship with Clyde and had her daughter buried in a separate Dallas Cemetary. Clyde, on the other hand, was buried next to his brother, Marvin.

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