Tony Hillerman, acclaimed mystery writer, was born May 27, 1925 in Sacred Heart, Oklahoma. His parents, farmers who ran a small local store, raised him during the Depression. He was schooled along with his brother at an academy for Indian girls where he developed a lifelong link and respect for the Indian culture. In 1943 he curtailed his education at the University of Oklahoma to join the army. He was among the troops at D-Day and was badly injured by a mine in France. He earned the Silver and Bronze Stars for valor and the Purple Heart.

His writing ability was first noticed in the letters he wrote home from the war. He obtained work as a reporter and editor on newspapers in Oklahoma and Texas. He received a BA from the University of Oklahoma where he met and married his wife, Marie. He became a political reporter for United Press International based in Santa Fe where he worked for the Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper for ten years eventually becoming executive editor.

In 1963, he went to the University of New Mexico in pursuit of a Masters in English, which he received in 1966. He taught there until 1987. It was during his tenure there that he wrote his first novel in 1970. This novel featured the first of his two most famous characters. The second appeared in a novel in 1980. These two characters, Lt. Joe Leaphorn and Sgt. Jim Chee, were brought together in the same work in 1986. They were part of the Navajo Tribal Police. Their opposing beliefs in the customs, religions and culture of the Navajo led to a most successful crime team. Hillerman would have his greatest success and acclaim with this duo.

He received the Nero Wolfe and Agatha Christie awards as well as the Spur award from the Western Writers of America. Hillerman depicted the actual life and detailed geography of the Navajo people and the southwest. He died October 26, 2008.