A Wonderful Man of Wonderful Words .....

... has passed away. Tony Hillerman, whose lyrical, authentic and compelling mystery novels set among the Navajos of the Southwest blazed innovative trails in the American detective story, died Sunday at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque. HERE is a complete obit from the New York Times.

I had the pleasure and privelege of getting to know Tony when I was a student at the University of New Mexico in the 1970s. He was nearing the end of his tenure as a college administrator there - part of what was already a long and accomplished life and career that included distinguished military service in WWII, and a career in journalism - crime reporter for The Borger News-Herald , city editor of The Morning Press-Constitution in Lawton, a political reporter in Oklahoma City, UPI bureau manager in Santa Fe, and executive editor of The Santa Fe New Mexican.

A graduate of Oklahoma A&M. he decided to return to school, earning a master's degree and joining the faculty at UNM, eventually becoming chairman of the journalism department.

And it didn't end there ... while recuperaring from the wouunds he suffered in the war, Hillerman witnessed an Enemy Way, a curing ritual for a Navajo soldier who - like himself - was returning home from battle, and needed to be purged of all traces of the enemy. That ceremony inspired the writing of Blessing Way, which would be the first of Hillerman's detective novels set in the Four Corners region of the American Southwest, and following the exploits of Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee.

My dad loved those books, and a sure-thing gift - for birthdays, Fathers Day, Christmas, whatever - was one of Tony's books, inscribed by the author. And that was no problem ... the door to Tony's office, on the first floor of Scholes Hall, was always open, and so was he, ready to not just sign the book, but also pass the day with you, to inquire about your progress ... and where onemight go, and what one might do after college. He was like that with everyone, and in no small way contributed to a wonderful burst of local colorism in literature, ignited by his works as well as those of fellow UNM prof's Leslie Silko and Rudy Anaya, and John Nichols.

A man of great gifts ... and great generosity in sharing those gifts with others ... and great character in doing so much to encourage others to develop and share their own gifts.

Hágoónee'