Again and again Bob told the story, embellishing it more with each
telling. Who was the character? What was the story all about? The story Bob May
created was his own autobiography in fable form. The character he created was a
misfit outcast like he was. What was the name of the character? A little
reindeer named Rudolph, with a big shiny nose. Bob finished the book just in
time to give it to his little girl on Christmas Day. But the story doesn't end
there.
The general manager of Montgomery Ward caught wind of the little
storybook and offered Bob May a nominal fee to purchase the rights to print the
book. Wards went on to print, ‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ and distribute it
to children visiting Santa Claus in their stores. By 1946 Wards had printed and
distributed more than six million copies of Rudolph. That same year, a major
publisher wanted to purchase the rights from Wards to print an updated version
of the book.
In an unprecedented gesture of kindness, the CEO of Wards returned
all rights back to Bob May. The book became a best seller. Many toy and
marketing deals followed and Bob May, now remarried with a growing family,
became wealthy from the story he created to comfort his grieving daughter. But
the story doesn’t end there either.
Bob's brother-in-law, Johnny Marks, made a song adaptation to
Rudolph. Though the song was turned down by such popular vocalists as Bing
Crosby and Dinah Shore, it was recorded by the singing cowboy, Gene Autry.
‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer’ was released in 1949 and became a phenomenal
success, selling more records than any other Christmas song, with the exception
of ‘White Christmas.’
The gift of love that Bob May created for his daughter so long ago
kept on returning back to bless him again and again. And Bob May learned the
lesson, just like his dear friend Rudolph, that being different isn't so bad. In
fact, being different may be a
blessing.
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