Born William Erksine Strange on September 10, 1929, in Denver, Colorado, Wayde Preston was raised in Laramie, Wyoming, with two younger sisters, Joan and Mary, by his schoolteacher parents John and Bernice Strange. He graduated in 1947 from Laramie High where he was active in football, track, ROTC and school band. He attended the University of Wyoming, studying pharmacy. An accomplished musician, his talent afforded him the opportunity to play string bass with various bands popular during the late 1940s. Drafted into the army in 1950, he attained the rank of First Lieutenant and was posted to an artillery unit at Fort Bliss, Texas. He later was transferred to Korea, where he saw action in the Korean War. Following his discharge he held a job as Park Ranger at Grand Teton National Park and also played the rodeo circuit in Wyoming. A licensed pilot, he was flying for TWA when he got his first career break. It was at this time that he met 'Carol Ohmart' . Wayde Preston passed away on February 6, 1992, losing a battle with colon cancer.
After "Colt.45" was cancelled he worked for a construction company piloting a cargo plane between Los Angeles and Mexico.
Drafted into the US Army in 1950, he fought in the Korean War as a lieutenant in an artillery unit.
