Tony Hillerman - a eulogy.

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Tony Hillerman - a eulogy. - 11/1/2008 7:35:09 AM

DarkSteven

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Obit here.

Website devoted to him here.

Hillerman was a Journalism prof at the University of New Mexico when I was an undergrad there. I once walked past him and said Hi to him, knowing who he was from the book jacket pictures of him. He said Hi back but obviously didn't know who I was.

I worked my way through college by tutoring Native Americans in technical subjects under the NAPCOE program. One of those students was John King, who is starting to get recognized now (the SOB looks now just like he did way back then!). I have two paintings from John, one which he gave to me, and the other which I bought from him as a birthday gift to my grandmother.

One of Hillerman's students was a friend of mine named Kathryn. Inspired by him, she wrote and published a book, Satan's Angel, under than pen name Kathryn Atwood (Atwood was actually her middle name). It was her dream to be an author, and he helped her realize that dream.

His books were murder mysteries based in the world of the Dine (Navajo). After I moved from Albuquerque, they helped me stay in touch with that world. I always considered Dance Hall of the Dead to be his best.

Goodbye, Tony, and thanks for your books.

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RE: Tony Hillerman - a eulogy. - 11/1/2008 8:14:26 AM

BlackPhx

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His words will live on...

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RE: Tony Hillerman - a eulogy. - 11/1/2008 10:00:31 AM

OttersSwim

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We drove across the Navajo and Hopi reservations while listening to one of his Jim Chee mysteries. We also were privileged to hear him speak in Denver and got to meet him, shake his hand and thank him for his wonderful books. :)

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