When I was growing up, I became enamored with the American West. I watched westerns on television and at the movies, and I read many western novels.

So, when I was 28 years old, I left my native Tennessee and headed west. I’ve been out here ever since, only venturing back east of the Mississippi River to visit.

After reading, researching and writing about the West’s history for several years, I moved to Oklahoma to teach “The American West” (and other history courses).

In going from a fan of westerns as a child to studying the West as an adult I had to make the transition from the fictitious m...