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Larry McMurtry

Author/Screenwriter
Graduate of Archer City High School

Son and grandson of Texas cattlemen, author Larry McMurtry was born June 3, 1936, in Wichita Falls. He graduated from high school in nearby Archer City, which was later immortalized as the backdrop of the movie “The Last Picture Show,” based on his 1966 novel of the same name.

After receiving his bachelor’s degree from North Texas State University and his master’s degree from Rice University, McMurtry moved to Washington, D.C., in 1969 to focus on writing.

It was in Washington where he opened what would become the first of three bookstores specializing in rare and out-of-print books. One of McMurtry’s bookstores is located in Archer City, a few blocks away from the movie theater made famous in “The Last Picture Show.” The Texas State Travel Guide lists his Archer City bookstore as offering one of the largest collections of antiquarian books in the country.

Beginning in 1961 with the release of Horseman, Pass By (the novel that spawned the movie “Hud”), McMurtry wrote more than 20 books, two collections of essays, and more than 30 screenplays.

Many of his notable titles have been turned into movies, including Terms of Endearment, Texasville, and The Evening Star. He was the winner of the 1986 Pulitzer Prize for Lonesome Dove.

McMurtry’s first novels dealt with life in the West but it wasn’t until Lonesome Dove that he met with worldwide recognition for his skills as a master storyteller.

“McMurtry is an American landmark in the world of fiction.” said critic Jami Edwards. “Whether he’s guiding us through sagebrush or skyscrapers, his literary expeditions are compelling, unforgettable, and fun.”