Tony Hillerman, the award-winning author of mystery novels featuring Navajo characters, died on Sunday. He was 83.

Hillerman was born in Oklahoma in 1925 and attended an Indian boarding school where he served as a farm hand. He joined the U.S. Army and was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster and the Purple Heart during World War II.

After a career in journalism in New Mexico, Hillerman published his first novel, The Blessing Way, in 1970, and went on to write a series of award-winning books featuring Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee, two Navajo detectives. He was named Special Friend of the Dineh by the Navajo Nation Council.

Hillerman continued to reside in New Mexico up until his death.

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Hillerman, famed author of Navajo mystery novels, dies at 83 (AP 10/27)