My wife Nelda and I recently drove 170 miles to attend a book signing by Elmer Kelton at the Cactus Book Store in downtown San Angelo. Why would I drive 340 miles round-trip just to get a few books signed? Well, it was a trip to celebrate my birthday, and Kelton is my favorite author.

He has written more than 50 novels that take place in Texas, and I have a copy of almost all his books. Some of my favorites, such as "The Time It Never Rained," occupy several slots on the bookcase.

Kelton is now past 80, but he continues to write. He signed three of my books. These included "The Good Old Boys," "Many A River" and "Texas Sunrise."

I purchased the latter book at the store. It is actually a hard copy of two previous novels that were published in paperback -- "Massacre at Goliad" and "After The Bugles." The books tell the story of two brothers from Tennessee who immigrate to Texas to settle in Austin's Colony, and relates the beginning of the Texas Revolution.

The other novel takes up after the Battle of San Jacinto and describes how the new Republic of Texas faced problems for years after independence.

These two novels although fiction, contain a lot of Texas history. As in all his books, Kelton is historically correct, not politically correct.

Kelton also signed his latest novel "Many a River." It also is a story of two brothers whose parents planned to settle in Texas but were killed by Comanches. One brother hides during the attack and is raised by other members of his family. The younger brother is captured and then sold by the Comanches to a Comancheo, who raises him in New Mexico.

Years later, the younger brother, now fluent in Spanish, agrees to serve as an interpreter for Confederate troops marching to Santa Fe during the Civil War. Kelton gives a good description of the Battle of Gloreita Pass. Although won by the Confederate Army, the army had to retreat back to Texas for lack of supplies and ammunition.

Later, the brothers are reunited in Texas. As I said before, the book is a novel, but it contains a lot of history. Kelton conducts detailed research for all his books.

The last book he signed was "The Good Old Boys," one of his most critically acclaimed novels.

Although Kelton is one of the most, if not the most, respected author in Texas and the U.S., he is a humble man. I heard him say once, "If I am so famous, why do I have to show my driver's license every time I write a check a few blocks from my home?"

I hope he continues to write as long as he is able. If you haven't read any of Kelton's work, you are missing a real treat, and I would suggest you purchase one of his books as soon as possible. Kelton is truly one of the good old boys.

Every time we visit San Angelo, we stop at Zentner's Daughter restaurant for one of their excellent steaks. Although not a large city, San Angelo is blessed with several quality steak houses and many fine Mexican food restaurants.

If you visit San Angelo, stop by the historic downtown area along Concho Street where the bookstore is located. Also, across the Concho River is Fort Concho.

Fort Concho is one of the best restored and maintained forts in the nation. In the post-Civil War period, Concho was one of the primary forts established to control the threat of Indian attacks. It also served as headquarters of the 10th Cavalry, made up of African-American troops called Buffalo Soldiers.

Kelton wrote a novel about the Buffalo Solders at Fort Concho titled "The Wolf and the Buffalo." In my opinion, it is one of his best, and I heartily recommend it.

For more information about Fort Concho, visit the Web site at www.fortcocho.com.

Former Soil Conservation Service employee and longtime writer Mat Taylor offers his outdoors column for Dispatch Record readers. He can be contacted at (254) 518-2262 or via e-mail at mntaylor@agristar- .net.