An Epic Page-Turner

Relative youngster pens instant classic

Congrats to my young friend Paul Andrew Hutton who has a new gig as the interim curator of the Buffalo Bill Museum in Cody, Wyoming. I say young because Paul is three years younger than me (he’s 75). Also, I must say Paul sure is ambitious for being so distinguished. He just retired as Distinguished Professor of History at the University of New Mexico after 40 years, but rather than retire and bask in his glory (he has written or appeared in over 300 television documentaries), he also has written a massive tome that almost killed him and came out in August: The Undiscovered Country. We are proud to run a sneak peek of this epic page-turner in this issue of True West because we are proud of the young man, and we love him. We are not alone.
What’s Love Got to Do With It?
Everything. Tracy Hutton wanted to surprise her hardworking husband with a show of support for his new book, so she bought him an ad out of her own pocket. It’s on page 57.

The Distinguished Professor Paul Andrew Hutton in his prime. Photo by Tara Walch

When our Western Film & TV Editor, Henry C. Parke, told his wife, Stephanie, about You’re No Indian, the fascinating documentary about tribal disenrollment, she said, “That has been a big controversy in my family for years.” Henry did a double-take. She explained, “My great great grandmother and grandfather, Lutishia and Charles Eggbert Stamphill, were enrolled Choctaw members, and they got kicked out. No one’s ever been able to agree on what happened and why.” Well, Henry found out what happened and why. See page 32. “And,” he adds, “I’m writing a book about the Dawes Commission, which is responsible.” Stay tuned.

Henry C. Parke Photo by 5 Mile Cave, costumer Jenna Miller

True West has a prominent place on the Texas Trail of Fame at the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District. The walkway features bronze markers that resemble a frontier marshal’s badge. Our star is embedded in the sidewalk just outside the front door of Chef Tim Love’s Lonesome Dove restaurant near the corner of Main and Exchange. Fort Worth is our featured True Western Town in this issue on page 64.