An elected member of the Texas Institute of Letters, Mike Cox is the author of fourteen non-fiction books. Over a freelance career of more than forty years, he also has written hundreds of articles and essays fo a wide variety of publications. His most recent book, The Texas Rangers: Wearing the Cinco Peso, 1821-1900 (New York, 2008), received excellent reviews and has been a national best-seller among books about the Old West.

A former award-winning reporter, he was a longtime spokesman for the Texas Department of Public Safety and later communications manager for the Texas Department of Transportation before retiring in 2007.

These days he devotes full time to his freelance writing while still being able to work in a little fishing and hunting. He lives in Austin with his wife and daughter.

Dr. Spellman received his Ph.D. from the University of Houston. He has been a Professor of U.S. and Texas History at Wharton County Junior College since 1997, where he currently serves as chair of the Division of Communications & Fine Arts. He is the author of five books on early Texas history, including Spindletop Boom Days; Captain John H. Rogers, Texas Ranger; and Captain J.A. Brooks, Texas Ranger. He is currently working on a book of World War I letters from an American soldier in France, a children's book about Buffalo Gap, Texas, and a historical novel based on the murder of William Marsh Rice.

Born in Corpus Christi, he qualifies for Descendants of Austin's Old 300 and the Sons of the Republic of Texas as a descendant of Zadock and Minerva Woods.

Dr. Spellman and his wife Kathleen live in Richmond.

Dr. Stephen L. Hardin is a professor of history at The Victoria College in Victoria, Texas.

He is the author of The Texas Rangers (Osprey Elite Series, 1991), the award-winning Texian Iliad: A Military History of the Texas Revolution, 1835-1836 (University of Texas Press, 1994), The Alamo 1836: Santa Anna's Texas Campaign (Osprey Campaign Series, 2001), and Texian Macabre: The Melancholy Tale of a Hanging in Early Houston (State House Press, 2007).

When not engaged in the classroom, Dr. Hardin serves as an on-air commentator, appearing on such varied venues as the A&E Network, the History Channel, Discovery Network, and NBC's TODAY show.

Distinguished for his readable approach to history, he is an inductee of the prestigious Texas Institute of Letters, and a member of Western Writers of America. He served as historical advisor for the John Lee Hancock film "The Alamo" (2004). Chronicles of Higher Education examined his work on that film in a featured article.

Dr. Hardin lives in Victoria, Texas, with his wife, Deborah, and his children, Walker and Savannah.

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