The Rupert N. Richardson Award |
The Rupert N. Richardson Award recognizes the best non-fiction book published on West Texas History.
During his long career at Hardin-Simmons University, Rupert Richardson was both president and professor emeritus, and founder and long-time editor/director of the West Texas Historical Association. He was considered one of the preeminent Texas and Western historians and authored numerous books including "The Comanche Barrier to South Plains Settlement" (1933) and a history textbook Texas: The Lone Star State (1943) that eventually went through five editions. He was born on April 28, 1891, on Sandy Creek near Caddo, Texas, and died in Abilene on April 14, 1988. He held a B.A. degree from Hardin-Simmons in 1912 and a B.S. from the University of Chicago in 1914. He obtained both a M.A. and Ph.D. degree from the University of Texas in 1922 and 1928. The Rupert Richardson Award was established in 1996.
Eligibility requirements include:
- The book must focus on West Texas history.
- Eligible books are to have been published within the past two (2) calendar years.
- To be eligible, an individual must have been a member of the Association for at least one full year prior to the application deadline.
- Publishers or authors should submit three copies of each nominated book.
The award winner will receive a $500 cash award and a certificate.
The award application is due on January 10th.
The award winner will be announced at the annual meeting of the Association during the presidential luncheon.
Paul Carlson and Tom Crum, pictured here with Monte Monroe, were winners of the 2010 Richardson Award for Best Book. They generously donated their award check to the WTHA Student Scholarship fund.
Author Bill Neal, two time winner of the Rupert Richardson Award, donated his check back to WTHA for the scholarship fund. Photo by Gene Preuss.
Jim Matthews, with wife Becky, proudly shows his award plaque for his book, Fort Concho: A History and a Guide, 2006 Richardson award winner. | Richardson Award winners: 2023 - Jim Matthews, Always In The Vanguard: The Buffalo Soldiers of Company H, Tenth U.S. Cavalry 2022 - David Murrah, The Rise and Fall of the Lazy S Ranch 2021 - M. Scott Sosebee, Henry C. Hank Smith and the Cross B Ranch 2020 - Michael C. Collins, ed., A Texan's Story: The Autobiography of Walter Prescott Webb 2018 - Paul H. Carlson and Clint Chambers, Comanche Jack Stillwell: Army Scout and Plainsman 2017 - Janet Neugebauer, A Witness to History: George H. Mahon, West Texas Congressman 2016 - Glen Ely, The Texas Frontier and the Butterfield Overland Mail, 1858-1861 2015 - Sylvia Gann Mahoney, Finding the Great Western Trail 2014 - Alvin R. Lynn, Kit Carson and the First Battle of Adobe Walls: a Tale of Two Journeys 2013 - Bruce A. Glasrud and Robert J. Mallouf, Big Bend's Ancient and Modern Past 2012 - Patrick Dearen, Devil's River: Treacherous Twin to the Pecos, 1535-1900 2011 - Glen Ely, Where the West Begins: Debating Texas Identity 2010 - Paul Carlson and Tom Crum, Myth, Memory, and Massacre: The Pease River Capture of Cynthia Ann Parker 2009 - Bret Cruse, Battles of the Red River War: Archaeological Perspectives on the Indian Campaign of 1874 2008 - Bill Neal, "From Guns to Gavels: How Justice Grew Up in the Outlaw West." 2007 - Bill Neal, Getting Away with Murder on the Texas Frontier 2006 - Jim Matthews, Fort Concho: A History and a Guide 2005 - Tom Alexander, Rattlesnake Bomber Base 2004 - Marsha Pfluger, Across Time and Territory: A Walk Through the National Ranching Heritage Center 2003 - Paul H. Carlson, The Buffalo Soldier Tragedy of 1877 2002 - Jo Ella Powell Exley, Frontier Blood: the Saga of the Parker Family 2001 - Jim Pfluger and Bob Moorehouse, Pitchfork Country: the Photography of Bob Moorehouse 2000 - Paul H. Carlson, ed., The Cowboy Way: an Exploration of History and Culture 1999 - Frederick W. Rathjen, Texas Panhandle Frontier (2nd edition) 1998 - John Miller Morris, Llano Estacado: Exploration and Imagination on the High Plains of Texas and New Mexico, 1536-1860 1997 - Paul H. Carlson, Empire Builder in the Texas Panhandle: William Henry Bush 1996 - Ty Cashion, A Texas Frontier: The Clear Fort Country and Fort Griffin, 1849-1887 |
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