He was the son of Ellis Dean and Effie Teresa Knorr Shirley, one of five children.
Shirley graduated from high school in 1935 and worked for a year at the Stillwater Public Library before beginning his career in law enforcement with the Stillwater Police Department answering the telephone.
Soon, as a desk sergeant, he began an identification bureau dealing with the methods of fingerprint identification.
To enhance his knowledge, Shirley took an 18-month correspondence course from the Institute of Applied Science (IAS) School of Criminology in Chicago and received a diploma on May 28, 1937.
After being appointed as a police officer on December 9, 1937, he enrolled in a correspondence course in American Law and Procedure offered by the La Salle Extension University, and earned his Bachelor of Laws degree on November 5, 1940.
He went on to complete courses on scientific crime detection and photography. Shirley joined the army in July 1943 and served in the East Africa and Middle East theaters until 1946. During this time period, he sold his first article.
Upon his discharge from the Army on February 6, 1946, Shirley returned to Stillwater, resumed his peace officer duties, and married Carrie Mabel Jacob. They had two children, Kenneth Ellis and Glenda Lea.
In the spring of 1948, Oklahoma State University hired Shirely as an instructional material specialist in the Oklahoma Peace Officers Institute.
On May 2, 1949, he was appointed Captain of the Stillwater Police Department. Adding to his credentials, Shirley graduated from the International Criminologist School in Seattle, Washington on July 13, 1948, and the Delehanty Institute in New York on November 25, 1949.
In October 1950 he received a diploma from the Oklahoma Institute of Technology at OSU in the basic peace officers' training course covering 100 hours of instruction.
At this time he wrote his first book, Toughest of Them All, a work of mystery and detective fiction published in 1953. Around 1965, he began collecting Western history.
At the Stillwater Police Department, Shirley had risen through the ranks, but he retired in 1957 to focus on his writing, though he became a deputy sheriff and identification officer in the Payne County Sheriff's Office.
In 1959, Shirley became Assistant Chief of Security at OSU, a position he held until 1969.
Besides receiving the Oklahoma Literary Endeavor Award in 1960, he wrote six books during this time, in addition to numerous articles and short stories for several periodicals.
Between 1969 and 1979, Shirley was employed by the Oklahoma State University Press as a publications specialist and assistant director.
The Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame inducted him in 1981. Between 1984 and 1986 he served as an historical consultant and member of the editorial board for Western Publications, Inc., publisher of True West, Old West, and Frontier Times.
In 1989, he received the U.S. Marshals Service America's Star Award in recognition of his career in law enforcement and contributions to the law enforcement profession.
Throughout the 1990s, Shirley continued writing and received the University of Oklahoma's Professional Writing Award in 1990 and was inducted into the Oklahoma Professional Writers Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame in 1999. From the National Association for Outlaw and Lawman History, Inc., he received the Literary Award for Achievement.
Additionally, he was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Contributions to Outlaw-Lawman History from the Western Outlaw-Lawman History Association.
------------------------------------------------
The above edited biography summary and photograph is from the Dickinson Research Center located at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.)
Shirley graduated from high school in 1935 and worked for a year at the Stillwater Public Library before beginning his career in law enforcement with the Stillwater Police Department answering the telephone.
Soon, as a desk sergeant, he began an identification bureau dealing with the methods of fingerprint identification.
To enhance his knowledge, Shirley took an 18-month correspondence course from the Institute of Applied Science (IAS) School of Criminology in Chicago and received a diploma on May 28, 1937.
After being appointed as a police officer on December 9, 1937, he enrolled in a correspondence course in American Law and Procedure offered by the La Salle Extension University, and earned his Bachelor of Laws degree on November 5, 1940.
He went on to complete courses on scientific crime detection and photography. Shirley joined the army in July 1943 and served in the East Africa and Middle East theaters until 1946. During this time period, he sold his first article.
Upon his discharge from the Army on February 6, 1946, Shirley returned to Stillwater, resumed his peace officer duties, and married Carrie Mabel Jacob. They had two children, Kenneth Ellis and Glenda Lea.
In the spring of 1948, Oklahoma State University hired Shirely as an instructional material specialist in the Oklahoma Peace Officers Institute.
On May 2, 1949, he was appointed Captain of the Stillwater Police Department. Adding to his credentials, Shirley graduated from the International Criminologist School in Seattle, Washington on July 13, 1948, and the Delehanty Institute in New York on November 25, 1949.
In October 1950 he received a diploma from the Oklahoma Institute of Technology at OSU in the basic peace officers' training course covering 100 hours of instruction.
At this time he wrote his first book, Toughest of Them All, a work of mystery and detective fiction published in 1953. Around 1965, he began collecting Western history.
At the Stillwater Police Department, Shirley had risen through the ranks, but he retired in 1957 to focus on his writing, though he became a deputy sheriff and identification officer in the Payne County Sheriff's Office.
In 1959, Shirley became Assistant Chief of Security at OSU, a position he held until 1969.
Besides receiving the Oklahoma Literary Endeavor Award in 1960, he wrote six books during this time, in addition to numerous articles and short stories for several periodicals.
Between 1969 and 1979, Shirley was employed by the Oklahoma State University Press as a publications specialist and assistant director.
The Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame inducted him in 1981. Between 1984 and 1986 he served as an historical consultant and member of the editorial board for Western Publications, Inc., publisher of True West, Old West, and Frontier Times.
In 1989, he received the U.S. Marshals Service America's Star Award in recognition of his career in law enforcement and contributions to the law enforcement profession.
Throughout the 1990s, Shirley continued writing and received the University of Oklahoma's Professional Writing Award in 1990 and was inducted into the Oklahoma Professional Writers Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame in 1999. From the National Association for Outlaw and Lawman History, Inc., he received the Literary Award for Achievement.
Additionally, he was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Contributions to Outlaw-Lawman History from the Western Outlaw-Lawman History Association.
------------------------------------------------
The above edited biography summary and photograph is from the Dickinson Research Center located at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.)
He was the son of Ellis Dean and Effie Teresa Knorr Shirley, one of five children.
Shirley graduated from high school in 1935 and worked for a year at the Stillwater Public Library before beginning his career in law enforcement with the Stillwater Police Department answering the telephone.
Soon, as a desk sergeant, he began an identification bureau dealing with the methods of fingerprint identification.
To enhance his knowledge, Shirley took an 18-month correspondence course from the Institute of Applied Science (IAS) School of Criminology in Chicago and received a diploma on May 28, 1937.
After being appointed as a police officer on December 9, 1937, he enrolled in a correspondence course in American Law and Procedure offered by the La Salle Extension University, and earned his Bachelor of Laws degree on November 5, 1940.
He went on to complete courses on scientific crime detection and photography. Shirley joined the army in July 1943 and served in the East Africa and Middle East theaters until 1946. During this time period, he sold his first article.
Upon his discharge from the Army on February 6, 1946, Shirley returned to Stillwater, resumed his peace officer duties, and married Carrie Mabel Jacob. They had two children, Kenneth Ellis and Glenda Lea.
In the spring of 1948, Oklahoma State University hired Shirely as an instructional material specialist in the Oklahoma Peace Officers Institute.
On May 2, 1949, he was appointed Captain of the Stillwater Police Department. Adding to his credentials, Shirley graduated from the International Criminologist School in Seattle, Washington on July 13, 1948, and the Delehanty Institute in New York on November 25, 1949.
In October 1950 he received a diploma from the Oklahoma Institute of Technology at OSU in the basic peace officers' training course covering 100 hours of instruction.
At this time he wrote his first book, Toughest of Them All, a work of mystery and detective fiction published in 1953. Around 1965, he began collecting Western history.
At the Stillwater Police Department, Shirley had risen through the ranks, but he retired in 1957 to focus on his writing, though he became a deputy sheriff and identification officer in the Payne County Sheriff's Office.
In 1959, Shirley became Assistant Chief of Security at OSU, a position he held until 1969.
Besides receiving the Oklahoma Literary Endeavor Award in 1960, he wrote six books during this time, in addition to numerous articles and short stories for several periodicals.
Between 1969 and 1979, Shirley was employed by the Oklahoma State University Press as a publications specialist and assistant director.
The Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame inducted him in 1981. Between 1984 and 1986 he served as an historical consultant and member of the editorial board for Western Publications, Inc., publisher of True West, Old West, and Frontier Times.
In 1989, he received the U.S. Marshals Service America's Star Award in recognition of his career in law enforcement and contributions to the law enforcement profession.
Throughout the 1990s, Shirley continued writing and received the University of Oklahoma's Professional Writing Award in 1990 and was inducted into the Oklahoma Professional Writers Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame in 1999. From the National Association for Outlaw and Lawman History, Inc., he received the Literary Award for Achievement.
Additionally, he was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Contributions to Outlaw-Lawman History from the Western Outlaw-Lawman History Association.
------------------------------------------------
The above edited biography summary and photograph is from the Dickinson Research Center located at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.)
Shirley graduated from high school in 1935 and worked for a year at the Stillwater Public Library before beginning his career in law enforcement with the Stillwater Police Department answering the telephone.
Soon, as a desk sergeant, he began an identification bureau dealing with the methods of fingerprint identification.
To enhance his knowledge, Shirley took an 18-month correspondence course from the Institute of Applied Science (IAS) School of Criminology in Chicago and received a diploma on May 28, 1937.
After being appointed as a police officer on December 9, 1937, he enrolled in a correspondence course in American Law and Procedure offered by the La Salle Extension University, and earned his Bachelor of Laws degree on November 5, 1940.
He went on to complete courses on scientific crime detection and photography. Shirley joined the army in July 1943 and served in the East Africa and Middle East theaters until 1946. During this time period, he sold his first article.
Upon his discharge from the Army on February 6, 1946, Shirley returned to Stillwater, resumed his peace officer duties, and married Carrie Mabel Jacob. They had two children, Kenneth Ellis and Glenda Lea.
In the spring of 1948, Oklahoma State University hired Shirely as an instructional material specialist in the Oklahoma Peace Officers Institute.
On May 2, 1949, he was appointed Captain of the Stillwater Police Department. Adding to his credentials, Shirley graduated from the International Criminologist School in Seattle, Washington on July 13, 1948, and the Delehanty Institute in New York on November 25, 1949.
In October 1950 he received a diploma from the Oklahoma Institute of Technology at OSU in the basic peace officers' training course covering 100 hours of instruction.
At this time he wrote his first book, Toughest of Them All, a work of mystery and detective fiction published in 1953. Around 1965, he began collecting Western history.
At the Stillwater Police Department, Shirley had risen through the ranks, but he retired in 1957 to focus on his writing, though he became a deputy sheriff and identification officer in the Payne County Sheriff's Office.
In 1959, Shirley became Assistant Chief of Security at OSU, a position he held until 1969.
Besides receiving the Oklahoma Literary Endeavor Award in 1960, he wrote six books during this time, in addition to numerous articles and short stories for several periodicals.
Between 1969 and 1979, Shirley was employed by the Oklahoma State University Press as a publications specialist and assistant director.
The Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame inducted him in 1981. Between 1984 and 1986 he served as an historical consultant and member of the editorial board for Western Publications, Inc., publisher of True West, Old West, and Frontier Times.
In 1989, he received the U.S. Marshals Service America's Star Award in recognition of his career in law enforcement and contributions to the law enforcement profession.
Throughout the 1990s, Shirley continued writing and received the University of Oklahoma's Professional Writing Award in 1990 and was inducted into the Oklahoma Professional Writers Hall of Fame in 1992 and the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame in 1999. From the National Association for Outlaw and Lawman History, Inc., he received the Literary Award for Achievement.
Additionally, he was presented the Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Contributions to Outlaw-Lawman History from the Western Outlaw-Lawman History Association.
------------------------------------------------
The above edited biography summary and photograph is from the Dickinson Research Center located at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.)
