Dallas Raymond McKennon was born on July 19, 1919, near La Grande, Oregon. His childhood was marked by hardship when his mother died while he was still young, after which he was raised by an aunt and uncle on their farm. Growing up in rural northeastern Oregon fostered a lifelong fascination with nature, history, and storytelling that would later influence both his educational work and his entertainment career. Information regarding his formal education is limited, as he entered the workforce at a