The life of a remarkable individual began on a Choctaw Indian reservation, where his father, who was of Cherokee descent, played a significant role in shaping his early years. Growing up, he spent time in Texas, laboring in the cotton fields as a sharecropper, before his family made the transcontinental move to California, where they would pick fruit.
As he served in the Army during the Korean War, he discovered his passion for writing, a talent that would serve him well in the years to come. After his military service, he went on to earn a Master's degree from San Francisco State University.
In 1958, he penned his first novel, "As I Was Young and Easy," a remarkable achievement considering it was written in just 17 days. He went on to write three more novels, including "Spore 7" in 1979 and "Honktonk Man" in 1980, the latter of which was adapted into a film directed by and starring Clint Eastwood.
In 1995, he wrote "Children of the Dust," a Sidney Poitier-directed CBS mini-series that explored the settlement of Oklahoma. His remarkable literary career was marked by his ability to craft compelling stories that captivated audiences.
Tragically, his life was cut short, and he passed away at the South Austin Hospital, leaving behind a legacy that included two sisters, Peggy Lasado and Jane Sanders, a son named Steven, and four grandchildren who would carry on his memory.
