Tony Hillerman was an American mystery writer who is best known for his award winning Navajo series of mysteries. He was born in Sacred Heart, Oklahoma on May 27, 1925. His family farmed for a living and he went to grade school at a Native American all-girl boarding school. He graduated in 1942 and briefly attended college until his father died.
He joined the US Army in 1943 and fought in World War II. After being severely wounded, he received the Purple Heart, the Silver Star and the Bronze Star in 1945 and was honorably discharged. He went back to college at the University of Oklahoma and got his Bachelors Degree in 1948. He then worked at many different newspapers performing numerous journalist positions until 1962. He then went on to be a college professor in journalism.
During his life, Hillerman wrote eighteen Navajo books and more than thirty other books. He received many honors for the Navajo series because of the way they mixed mystery and the spiritual beliefs of the Navajo Indians. He also wrote an autobiography called Seldom Disappointed. Some of his books were made into television shows and big screen movies.
Hillerman's later life was plagued with health issues, some existing because of the injuries he received in World War II. He had a minor heart attack and cancer, but that was in remission when he died on October 26, 2008 of heart failure. He was 83 years old at the time of his death.
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