Tony Hillerman was born on May 27, 1925, in the small town of Sacred Heart, Oklahoma. Before he became an author, he was no stranger to hard work. Hillerman was raised by his mother and father. His mother was a homemaker, while his father held down two jobs. Hillerman was a storekeeper and took care of the farm his family lived on. When Tony graduated high school, he attended college until his father passed. After his father’s death, Hillerman returned to the farm where he was raised. Shortly after he returned home, he joined the army and fought in World War II.
Hillerman was discharged from the army two years later, due to major injuries he received in battle. He received two broken legs, burns on his face, and temporary blindness, along with other numerous injuries. While he was still in the medical ward, Hillerman was awarded with the Purple Heart. After he recovered from his injuries, he returned to college and, in 1948, had earned a B.A from Oklahoma State University. The same year he graduated from college, he married the love of his life, Marie Unzner. The two had six children together. From 1970 to 2006, he went on to write and publish over a dozen novels and several short stories.
Tony Hillerman left the family farm in Oklahoma, became a war hero and is now a pretty well known author. He made a good life and name for himself and his family. In 2008, Tony Hillerman passed away due to heart failure, leaving behind his wife and six children. Hillerman is loved and missed by his fans all around the world.
