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Many people love the American Southwest without truly understanding it. Ross Randall Calvin did and we are the richer for it. Calvin began his search as a pilgrim health-seeker, believing he had left the "known world" behind when he fled the East for New Mexico. There he soon found to our benefit that he could use his observational skills and intellect to fashion a picture that helped him and us comprehend those unique factors that make New Mexico what it is-its history, people, culture, climate, and so much more. Those lessons learned he shared with us. His books and essays can open our eyes to New Mexico if we but heed them. Calvin's story as discoverer and interpreter unfolds in rich detail in this essential work. * * * * *
Ron Hamm has written widely and extensively on New Mexico as a journalist, then later as author and biographer over some five decades. His previous books have been "The Bursums of New Mexico: Four Generations of Leadership and Service" and "New Mexico Territorial Era Caricatures" (Sunstone Press 2014). Ross Calvin gave him a fresh insight into New Mexico through "Sky Determines" and "River of the Sun." "Ross Calvin, Interpreter of the Southwest" is Hamm's most satisfying work.
About the author
Ron Hamm had previously written only about men. Now he has attempted to address that oversight by exploring the contributions of women in his home state of New Mexico. In the process of researching this project he discovered far more notable New Mexico women than he originally imagined. Hamm began working life in high school as a journalist, then after a career in public relations and a stint in teaching, transitioned to writing biographies. He received a Bachelor's degree in Journalism from Florida State University, a Master's degree in English from Texas A&M University-Kingsville, a PhD in Higher Education Administration from Texas A&M University, and an honorary Master's degree in Business Administration from the "Escuela Internacional de Negocios de América Latina" in Mendoza, Argentina. He is also the author of "Ross Calvin, Interpreter of the American Southwest," "Tales from the Range: Stories from the Saddle," and "New Mexico Territorial Era Caricatures," all from Sunstone Press.
