Anthony Grove Hillerman was born Mary 27, 1925 in Sacred Heart, Oklahoma to August A. and Lucy Grove Hillerman. He was the youngest of their three children. His father, August, was a storekeeper and farmer. Tony attended St. Mary’s Academy at Sacred Heart, Oklahoma from 1930-38. Although he is not Native American he was one of several boys to attend the boarding school for Native American girls. In 1942 he graduated from Konowo High School.

Tony joined the army in 1943. He was in World War II and served as a mortar man. In 1945 he was wounded in combat and was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.

In 1948 after being discharged from the army Tony attended the University of Oklahoma and graduated with a B.A. degree. In 1948 he married Marie Unzner and they have six children.

From 1948 to 1962 Tony worked as a journalist in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. Tony attended graduate school at the University of New Mexico and in 1963 earned an M.A. degree in English. From 1966 to 1987 he taught journalism at the University of New Mexico.

Tony was an award-winning American author. He wrote detective novels, western novels and non-fiction mystery novels. His first mystery novel was done in 1970 and the second was done in 1973. The second book won the 1974 Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Novel. He also received the MWA’s Grand Master Award, the Nero Award, the Center for the American Indian’s Ambassador Award, the Silver Spur Award and the Navajo Tribe’s Special Friend Award.

On October 26, 2008 Tony Hillerman died from pulmonary failure at age 83.