This month started off with the most wonderful recognition from the Will Rogers Medallion Awards. Normally, receiving a Gold Medallion like we did this year for Pintsized Pioneers would have been the highlight, but the 2025 WRMA banquet was different as I received the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award. I don’t know that I deserved it as there are so many fine Western writers out there, but it was indeed a high and touching honor, especially after hearing the introduction crafted by WRMA Executive Director Chris Enss. Here’s what she said:
“The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes authors, publishers, and illustrators who have made significant contributions to Western literature. Preston Lewis is an accomplished author who has indeed contributed mightily to the Western genre.
“In the rich tapestry of Western literature, few voices have echoed as vividly and humorously as that of Preston Lewis. A gifted storyteller, a historian at heart, and a true son of the American frontier, Preston Lewis has brought the Old West to life not only through his detailed knowledge of its history, but through the wit, charm, and humanity of his characters.
“Lewis’s works stand apart for their unique blend of historical accuracy and rollicking humor. Whether he was weaving tall tales in his H.H. Lomax series or recounting the more sober heroics and hardships of frontier life, Lewis paints the West not as a dusty myth, but as a living, breathing world filled with colorful personalities, sharp conflict, and enduring spirit.
“His ability to satirize the genre while still honoring its legacy is a rare literary gift—one that earned him accolades, including multiple Will Rogers Medallion Awards many for his humor writing, Spur Awards from the Western Writers of America, and an induction into the Texas Institute of Letters for his literary achievements.
“Beyond the page, Preston Lewis was a generous steward of Western storytelling. He has mentored up-and-coming writers, championed the genre’s enduring relevance, and ensured the voices of the West—both old and new—continue to be heard. Preston Lewis’s pen never merely writes stories—it carves out entire landscapes, resurrects forgotten voices, and reminds us that the West is more than just a place in time. It was, and remains, a testament to grit, irony, resilience, and hope.
“To read Preston Lewis is to ride alongside him through the canyons and camps of American legend—laughing, learning, and marveling at a master craftsman who always knows that the truth of the West was best told with a twinkle in the eye and a steady hand on the reins.
“Ladies and gentleman, my wonderful friend and the 2025 winner of the Will Rogers Lifetime Achievement Award, Preston Lewis.”
Wow! Thank you, Chris. Now I had to respond to such a powerful introduction. As I arose from my chair to accept the WRMA’s Lifetime Achievement Award, so did the audience with the second standing ovation of my life. I had to answer with some humor and an eloquence to match Chris’s introduction. Too, I had to do it from the heart and without notes.
Here’s what I said: “In my younger years I never fully appreciated a standing ovation, but at my age I now know how hard it is to get out of a chair, so I’m not only grateful for your ovation but I’m also impressed with your athleticism. [Continued below gallery]
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“From the time I learned to read, I always dreamed of becoming an author, but I never dreamed it would lead to a moment such as this. Once I learned to read, I fell in love with American history, especially that period between 1849, the California Gold Rush, and 1949, the year before I was born. During that period no American with the possible exception of Mark Twain better captured the American spirit nor chronicled the American Experience than did Will Rogers. And, he did so with honesty, humility and humor, three traits that are sadly lacking in today’s political and cultural discourse. So, it is a great honor having my name associated that of Will Rogers in this way. The honor is made even more meaningful knowing that the great granddaughter of Will Rogers, the executive director of the Will Rogers Memorial Museum and a panel of distinguished writers were involved in the selection. I am indeed honored.
“You do not reach this stage of your life or career without being indebted to several people. I should like to acknowledge eight. First, my late parents John and Jurdene Lewis instilled in my brother and me a work ethic, whether we wanted it or not. They also taught us the value of honesty in all our dealings, the importance of self-reliance in success and the need for a sense of humor to get through it all.
“My first writing influence was David McHam, my primary journalism professor at Baylor University. McHam, as we called him, was the perfect mix of the practical and the intellectual and always stressed the importance of story in everything you wrote. In one of my early interactions with him as a dumb freshman, I asked, “Do I really have to take the required editing courses because I want to be a writer, not an editor.” He smiled and replied, “Preston, I think you will find good writing is good editing.” That’s the best single piece of writing advice I ever received because it lessened the tyranny of the first draft.
“The first Western writer I ever met was the greatest, Elmer Kelton. He accepted a copy of my first novel and not only read it but also sent me a handwritten note telling me how much he enjoyed it. He helped me make publishing connections that have served me well to this day.
“The person I consider my fiction writing mentor was Jeanne Williams, who was a mentor to several writers of my generation. She gave us encouragement when we needed it, told us we had talent when we doubted it and implored us to stick with it. She told me it had been her observation that perseverance always trumped talent so keep at it. This honor is a testament to perseverance.
“I should also like to acknowledge Charles Williams, the first executive director of the Will Rogers Medallion Awards, who several years ago for reasons mysterious to me invited me to serve on the board of this organization. I was honored by his faith in my capabilities because we were barely acquainted.
“I should also like to thank his successor as executive director, Chris Enss. Chris is a fine writer and historian and she has a big heart. I doubt there’s a person in this room who has not benefitted from her largesse. She is one of those rare individuals who not only has vision but also the talent to implement that vision. WRMA has certainly benefitted from that vision as I have from her friendship.
“Finally, we come to the most important person in my life and that would be Harriet. I don’t know that she made me a better writer, though she probably did. I do know that she made me a better person with her example as a Christian wife, mother, grandmother, therapist and educator. I would not be standing here tonight had she not been standing by my side over the last six decades.
“So, thank you ladies and gentlemen for your athleticism; thank you WRMA for this wonderful honor; and, most of all, thank you Harriet Kocher Lewis for your love and devotion for the last 55 years.”
The presentation pieces included a plaque and medallion from WRMA as well as a trophy from the Will Rogers Memorial Museum featuring the “Dog Iron” brand used by Will Rogers on his ranch. All are now proudly displayed at our home. It was an unforgettable night for Harriet and me.
