Tony Hillerman, an award winning and bestselling American author of detective novels, was born May 27, 1925 and died recently on October 26, 2008. He was not a Native American, but he grew up with the Pottawatomie and Seminole Indians. He even went to an Indian boarding school. While serving in World War II, Hillerman earned the Silver Star, The Bronze Star with Oak Leaf cluster, and a Purple Heart.

Known for his “cultural details” his novels are usually about the Hopi, Zuni and Navajo Police. His most famous novel series comes from his knowledge of Native American Culture, featuring Jim Chee and Joe Leaphorn of the Navajo Tribal Police. He was known for a deep “appreciation of the natural wonders of the American Southwest.” He wrote 18 novels in this series, and also had several best selling novels that include Sacred Clowns, Coyote Waits and a Thief of Time. Some of his stories were made into big screen and television movies, many with the help of Robert Redford.

Mr. Hillerman served as past president of the Mystery Writers of American and received their Edgar and Grand Masters Award. In 2002, he was awarded the Malice Domestic Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2001, he was given “Agatha for Best Non-Fiction Book of the Year for Seldom Disappointed.” In Addition, in 1997 he was an Oklahoma Hall Of Fame Inductee. In 1991, he won the Arrell Gibson Lifetime Award of the Oklahoma Center for the Book. The Public Services Award of the Department of the Interior was given to him in 1990. He also won the Center for the American Indian’s Ambassador Award, and the Navajo Tribe’s Special Friend Award. He won six additional major awards throughout his writing career.