Tony Hillerman was a 1945 United States Army World War II Veteran. Although he was the son of a farmer, he was also raised among the Seminole and Pottawatomie Indians.

The famous Tony Hillerman is a mystery author who was born May 27, 1925 in Sacred Heart, Oklahoma. Hillerman then resided in Albuquerque, New Mexico with his wife Marie.

Hillerman attended several universities in Oklahoma and one in New Mexico where he earned a B.A and M.A. in Journalism. That was between the years of 1943 to 1966.

Tony has received many awards and honor throughout his career. Some of his work was detective and non-fiction novels. He is also a well known American author for his Navajo Tribal Police mystery novels.

He earned the Grand Master and Edgar awards. Many other awards received are the Navajo Tribe's Special Friend Award, Center for the American Indian's Ambassador Award and the Silver Spur Award for best novel set in the West.

Based on the Native American Culture, Hillerman also has written several bestselling books like, "A Thief of Time," "Sacred Clowns" and "Coyote Waits." There are more than 30 novels written by him that also include 18 in the Navajo series. Much of his work was placed into big screen and television movies.

On Sunday October 26, 2008, Tony Hillerman died at the age of 83 due to pulmonary failure. He had a private burial at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. Hillerman left behind his children of six and wife Marie, age 60.