Motivation to Do More Great Work
With one exception, the 27 awards listed below were presented for articles published during my 2007–24 tenure as managing editor and then editor of both Wild West and Military History magazines. To recognize the role editors and designers play in presenting articles, most associations granting such awards graciously provide the publisher with duplicates. Many of these festoon my bookshelves, reminding me of the talented people with whom I've had the pleasure and privilege to work.
SIX-SHOOTER AWARD FOR LIFETIME CONTRIBUTIONS TO WESTERN HISTORY
Presented by the Wild West History Association, 2025
A year after the HistoryNet magazine group closed its doors, WWHA recognized my 17-year tenure as managing editor and then editor of Wild West. I’m honored to receive a lifetime award for anything, though as I told WWHA Journal editor Matt Bernstein, with apologies to Mark Twain, “Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated!”
1
DISTINGUISHED WRITING AWARD (Journals & Magazines)
Presented by the Army Historical Foundation, 2023
I was pleased to be in attendance at the National Museum of the U.S. Army when the Army Historical Foundation honored Military History contributor Peter Zablocki (above right) for his January 2022 cover story "Generation Yank," about the namesake World War II–era U.S. Army weekly written by soldiers and about soldiers.
1
WESTERN HERITAGE AWARDS (Literary, Magazine Article)
Presented by the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum
Since 1961 the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City has recognized excellence in Western literature, film, music and television. During my tenure four Wild West authors earned the “Wrangler.”
Matthew Kerns, for “‘Texas Jack’ Takes an Encore,” in the April 2022 Wild West
Dan Flores, for “Coyote: An American Original,” in the April 2013 Wild West
Louis Kraft, for “When Wynkoop Was Sheriff,” in the April 2011 Wild West
Frederick J. Chiaventone, for “Taking Stock of the Pony Express,” in the April 2010 Wild West
4
WILL ROGERS MEDALLION AWARDS (Western Short Nonfiction)
Founded in 2003 to recognize excellence in cowboy poetry, the WRMA now honors the best of Western literature, film, photography, music and related media. Four Wild West contributors were so lauded.
Mike Coppock, gold, for “The Klondike!” published in the Summer 2023 Wild West
Louis Garavaglia, bronze, for “The Gun That Won the 1580s West,” in the Autumn 2023 Wild West
Melody Groves, gold, for “The Kid’s Mom,” in the Autumn 2022 Wild West
Preston Lewis, silver, for “There’ll Be a Caterwauling in the Old Town Tonight,” in the Winter 2023 Wild West
4
SPUR AWARDS (Best Western Short Fiction)
Presented by Western Writers of America
Since 1953 the WWA has honored writers with Spur Awards for distinguished writing about the American West. During my tenure five Wild West contributors earned their Spurs in the short nonfiction category.
Doug Hocking, for “The Mysterious Death of Johnny Ringo,” published in the Winter 2024 Wild West
Matthew Kerns, for “‘Texas Jack’ Takes an Encore,” in the April 2022 Wild West
Mark Lee Gardner, for “The Other James Brother,” in the August 2013 Wild West
Paul Andrew Hutton, for “The Alamo, Well Remembered,” in the February 2011 Wild West
Roger Di Silvestro, for “Teddy’s Ride to Recovery,” in the July 2009 Wild West
5
SIX-SHOOTER AWARDS (Best General Western History Article)
Presented by the Wild West History Association
Founded in 2008, the WWHA presents its Six-Shooter Award to individuals who make outstanding contributions to Wild West history, research, writing and service. An even dozen Wild West contributors were so honored.
Linda Wommack, for “Tom Horn’s Smooth Schoolmarm,” published in the February 2021 Wild West
John Boessenecker, for “They Shoot Horses, Don’t They?” in the October 2020 Wild West
Linda Wommack, for “Confidentially Told in Brown’s Park,” in the June 2019 Wild West
Jerry Lobdil, for “How Jim Miller Killed Pat Garrett,” in the August 2018 Wild West
Casey Tefertiller, for “Finding Wyatt,” in the October 2017 Wild West
John Boessenecker, for “Frank Hamer’s Del Rio Debut,” in the April 2016 Wild West
Erik Wright, for “James Leavy: Here Is Our Game,” in the February 2015 Wild West
Paul Lee Johnson, for “The Will of McLaury,” in the October 2013 Wild West
Jeff Broome, for “Wild Bill’s Brawl With Custer’s Troopers,” in the December 2012 Wild West
Bill O’Neal, for “Texas: Gunfighter Capital of the West,” in the October 2011 Wild West
Lee Silva, for “The Mysterious Morgan Earp,” in the October 2010 Wild West
Lee Silva, for “The Killing of Dora Hand,” in the August 2009 Wild West