Alva Review-Courier -

Tony Hillerman was born in Oklahoma (in 1925) to parents who were the children of European immigrants. His mother’s people were English while his father’s folks were Germans.

The Hillermans raised their children (including Tony, another son, and a daughter) in the Pottawatomie County community of Sacred Heart, which is now a ghost town.

Many of the Hillerman children’s neighbors and classmates were Pottawatomies. This interaction with Native Americans gave Tony much knowledge of Indian culture – which became important to him once he became an adult and entered the work force.

Tony and his sibl...