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Stan Paregien, Editor

Leon Claire Metz


Leon Clair Metz was born in Parkersburg, West Va. on Nov. 6, 1930 and moved to El Paso in 1948. He spent four years in the Air Force, getting out in 1952. He attended the University of Texas at El Paso. He married Cheryl Schilling, a speech therapist by trade, in 1970.

Like many writers, Leon Claire Metz worked at many different occupations early on. He is a former milkman, policeman, oil worker for Standard Oil Co. of Texas (1953-57), university archivist at UTEP from 1967 to 1979, and executive assistant to the mayor of El Paso from 1979 to 1981. From 1981 to 1983 he was assistant to the president of UTEP, and from 1984 to 1988 he was the public affairs officer for the M Bank in El Paso.

After writing numerous reviews of western books, Metz decided to write one. The newspaper's book editor told him to talk with Professor C.L. "Doc" Sonnichsen at UTEP. And it was Sonnichsen who gave him a tip on gunfighter John Selman, a tip that led to the writing and selling of his first book.

Leon Claire Metz was awarded the highest honor the WWA can bestow when on June 27, 1985 the organization presented him with the Saddleman Award. He served as WWA president from 1980-81. He is a former sheriff of the El Paso Westerners Corral, a former president (twice) of the El Paso County Historical Society, former president of the El Paso Council of Arts and Humanities, former president (5 times) of the Mission Heritage Association, and a former vice-president of the El Paso Zoological Board.

Leon Metz is the author three books for the University of Oklahoma Press: Pat Garrett: The Story of a Lawman (1974, 1983), John Selman, Gunfighter (Hastings House, 1966; University of Oklahoma Press, 1980), and Dallas Stoudemire (Pemberton Press, 1969; OU Press, 1979). For Mangan Books in El Paso he has written Turning Points in El Paso, Texas (1985), The Shooters (1976), Fort Bliss (1981). He has also written City at the Pass: An Illustrated History of El Paso (Windsor Publications, 1980). And he is the author of A Roadside History of Texas.

In a effort to establish himself as a serious historian, he spent 13 years researching and writing a history of El Paso, a book titled Border. And for that effort he received the coveted T.R. Farhenbach Award in 1990.

Leon Metz's articles have appeared in True West, Montana, Password, Texas Military History, Arizona and the West and El Paso Magazine. His awards include the Texas Book Award for Biography in 1966 for John Selman, the Border Regional Roundup for Biography in 1974 for Pat Garrett, the Texas Historical Commission Award for best history published in Texas in 1982 for Fort Bliss.

Emile Meyer


(Deceased)
Emile Meyer, actor, was born on August 18, 1910. Emile Meyer was a character actor, probably best remembered as the villianous "Ryker" in the Western classic, "SHANE" (1953).

Emile Meyer died on Alzheimer's disease on March 19, 1987. His remains are in the Greenwood Cemetery in New Orleans, LA.

Ben Mikaelson


Ben Mikaelson, author, won Golden Spur Award from the Western Writers of America in 1999 for his children's book, Petey. He also won the International Reading Association Award.In addition, his novels have won many state reader's awards, including California, Nebraska, Maryland, North Dakota and Wyoming state awards.

Ben Mikaelson's novels include Rescue Josh McGuire, Sparrow Hawk Red, Stranded, Countdown and Petey. Mikaelson's articles and photos have appeared in numerous magazines around the world. His novels have been carried by Scholastic and Troll book fairs, and are recorded on unabridged audio tape with recorded books. His novel, Rescue Josh McGuire, has also been optioned for big screen use.

Ben Mikaelson and his wife, Melanie, live in a log cabin near Bozeman, Montana.

CLICK HERE to go to Ben Mikaelson's own web site.

Ronald Dean Miller


Ronald Dean Miller is the author of Shady Ladies of the West (Westernlore) and Mines of the High Desert (La Siesta, rev. ed., 1985).

Marlys Millhiser


Millhiser was born in 1938. She has degrees in history from the University of Iowa and the University of Colorado. She was a junior high school history teacher from 1963 to 1965. She is married and has two children.

Marlys Millhiser is the author of several published suspense novels, including Michael's Wife (1972), Nella Waits (1974), Willing Hostage (1976), Nightmare County (1981), The Mirror(1978; Ballentine, 1981), and The Threshold (Putnam, 1984; Fawcett, 1985).

Chuck Milner


This working cowboy makes his home near Reydon, Oklahoma.

He is a poet, songwriter, singer and guitarist. He has worked with the Oklahoma State Arts Council as an "Artist-In-Residence," making appearances in schools throughout Oklahoma.

And he has appeared on most of the annual Oklahoma Cowboy Poetry Gathering shows at the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City.

Sal Mineo


(Deceased)
Sal Mineo was born Salvatore Mineo, Jr., on January 10, 1939 in Harlem, New York. He was a gang member by the age of eight. At the age of ten he began acting lessons, and he progressed very quickly. By 1955, at age 16, he had a large role in James Dean's "Rebel Without A Cause". He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in this movie and "Exodus" (1960).

Sal Mineo's Western credits included Giant (1956), Tonka (1958), Cheyenne Autumn (1964), The Dangerous Days of Kiowa Jones (1966, TV), and Stranger on the Run (1967, TV).

Sal Mineo was stabbed to death on Feb. 12, 1976 in West Hollywood, CA. A man was arrested and convicted of the crime, but robbery was not the motive. It is unknown whether his homosexual lifestyle was a factor. At the time he was living in a small apartment and his estate was later valued at only $8,500. His remains are at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, New York.

Nono Minor


Nono Minor writes a regular column for Real West entitled, "The American Indian". She is a former curator of Plains Indians for the Kansas City Museum of History and Science. She and her sister, Marz, have co-authored three books, including The American Indian Craft Book (University of Nebraska Press, 1978).

This listing is far from complete and may contain errors. Therefore, all Western writers and/or their agents are requested to submit recommended changes by contacting Stan Paregien through his e-mail address.

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
--- Bible: Romans 12:16

© 2003 by Stan Paregien, Sr.