Leon Metz: Historian of the Old West

Leon Metz on the Wild West Leon Claire Metz is the most sought after lecturer in the Southwest on gunfighters, western and military lore. Leon has presented hundreds of his fascinating programs to groups in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona--and as far away as New York. Leon's workplaces have ranged from West Texas Oil Fields, to law enforcement, to the halls of higher learning as an archivist, assistant to a university president, aide to a large city mayor--all leading to his major role as a writing and speaking historian. Metz nurtured his fascination with the West while he assigned to Biggs Air Force base in El Paso, but his interest in gunfighters goes way back to when he was on 14 years old and read Walter Noble Burns' The Saga of Billy the Kid. "It spawned my interest in gunfighters," Leon said. "I would have gagged if someone suggested that I would later write a book about Pat Garrett, the man who killed Billy the Kid." But ironically Mr. Metz's third book turned out to be the definitive biography of Garrett. Legendary historian C.L. "Doc" Sonnichsen was Leon's mentor and benefactor. Sonnichsen, who took Leon under his wing, edited Metz's first book, John Selman: Texas Gunfighter, advised him on writing and research, and even paved the way for him to become archivist at the University of Texas at El Paso. Writers at all levels of development can gain inspiration from this truly great man.

John Wesley Hardin - John Selman - Dallas Stoudenmire - Pat Garrett
Books by Leon C. Metz
Autographed upon Request

Just like the gunfighters found in his exciting and informative historical books on the old west, author-historian Leon Metz rides across the stage with a force that leaves his audience spellbound. Metz brings the Old West into accurate focus. He is the premier researcher and debunker of the old west. His lively style relates facts, sometimes gritty, sometimes humorous, but always with a historian's accuracy. Leon's written and spoken stories range over the West like Remington's and Russell's paintings or a John Ford movie. In addition to his books, he writes for magazines, newspapers and historical journals. His three-part series, "Pancho Villa", was made into an HBO original movie. Leon was born and educated in Parkersburg, West Virginia and has lived in El Paso, Texas since 1948 when he was a Sergeant at Fort Bliss, which he later portrayed in his book Fort Bliss: An Illustrated History. He is past president of the Western Writers of America and was honored by the organization in 1985 with the prestigious Saddleman Award for his overall contributions to western writing.