Paul Henning

A native of rural Missouri, Paul Henning is renowned as the creator of "The Beverly Hillbillies" and "Petticoat Junction." An aspiring singer in his youth, Henning gradually transitioned into writing for television. During the 1950s, Henning wrote for a number of popular programs, most notably contributing to "The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show" and "The Bob Cummings Show," the latter of which also featured him as a producer. In '61, Henning co-wrote the popular Hollywood romantic comedy "Lover Come Back," and, the following year, he unveiled his most famous project, "The Beverly Hillbillies." With the runaway success of this show, Henning, who even penned the program's famous theme song, was asked to create another rural-themed sitcom, and the result was "Petticoat Junction." Henning even had his hand in a third country-oriented series, "Green Acres," though this time only as an executive producer. Though all three shows were cancelled in the early '70s, they continued to be popular in reruns. Henning died in 2005, and is fondly remembered for his lighthearted and amusing TV creations.