Louis Lamour

Louis L'Amour (born Louis Dearborn LaMoore) was an American author renowned for his Western novels and frontier stories, authoring over 100 books with well-researched depictions of frontier life. Leaving school at 15, he worked as a miner, sailor, prizefighter, and world traveler before achieving success with his first novel Hondo in 1953, which became a bestseller and film starring John Wayne. He received prestigious awards including the Congressional Gold Medal in 1983 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1984.