Elmer Kelton Biography

Noted Texas author Elmer Kelton will speak at the Euless Library Foundation fundraiser on Saturday, April 21, 2007. Kelton is the author of over 40 novels and has been published for more than 50 years.

Three of Kelton's novels have appeared in Reader's Digest Condensed Books. Four books have won the Western Heritage Award from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame, Oklahoma City; seven have won the Spur award from Western Writers of America.

In 1987, Kelton received the Barbara McCombs/Lon Tinkle Award for "continuing excellence in Texas letters" from the Texas Institute of Letters. In 1990 he received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Western Literature Association. The Texas Legislature proclaimed Elmer Kelton Day in April 1997. In 1998 he received the first Lone Star award for lifetime Achievement from the Larry McMurtry Center for Arts and Humanities at Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls, Texas. He also received honorary doctorates from Hardin-Simmons University and Texas Tech University. He was given a lifetime achievement award by the National Cowboy Symposium in Lubbock, Texas.

Kelton is a native of Crane, Texas. He grew up on the McElroy Ranch, with which his father, the late R. W. "Buck" Kelton, was associated for 36 years. After graduation from Crane High School he attended in the University of Texas at Austin in 1942-44 and 1946-48, earning a B.A. degree in journalism. He spent 15 years as farm and ranch writer-editor for the San Angelo Standard-Times, five years as editor of Sheep and Goat Raiser Magazine and 22 years as associate editor of Livestock Weekly, from which he retired in 1990.

He served two years in the U.S. Army, 1944-46, including combat infantry service in Europe. He and his wife Ann, a native of Austria, have been married over 50 years. They have two grown sons, a daughter, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

This popular award-winning Texas author promises is a great way to bring together your love of reading and Texas' western spirit.

Source: www.elmerkelton.net

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Last modified: 05/08/2008