Tony Hillerman: His Works and Awards

Anthony Grove Hillerman was born in Sacred Heart, Oklahoma on May 27, 1925. After high school he attended college until the death of his father. He served in the infantry during World War II where he earned a purple Heart, a Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster and a Silver Star.

In 1948 Hillerman got married and had six children from this marriage. He worked as a journalist in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico from 1948 until 1962. At that time he returned to college. He completed college and became a faculty member at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque in 1966. He was employed with the university until 1981 in the capacity of teaching and department chair.

Hillerman appreciated southwestern culture and the tribes there. This is shown in the details of his writings. His mystery novels are written about the tribal police of the Navajo tribe. His main characters in these novels are Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee, and many of the stories deal with the Navajo culture. Tony Hillerman published his first book about Joe Leaphorn in 1970. This book was The Blessing Way. He went on to write 17 more books in this series. He also completed three novels and authored seven works of non-fiction.

In 1974 he won the Edgar Award for the best novel. In 1988 he received the Anthony Award for best novel. Then he won the Macavity Award for best novel in 1988. In 1989 he was again a nominee for the Edgar Award. Hillerman also was awarded the Agatha Award for best non-fiction in 2001.

Tony Hillerman passed away in Albuquerque, New Mexico on October 16, 2008 at the age of 83.