Wild West

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WILLIAM SECREST

ighly regarded California historian and author William Boyd Secrest, 89, a lifelong resident of Fresno who specialized in writing about the outlaws, lawmen and Indians of his home state, (1994), (2000), (2003) and (2015). Among his 100-plus magazine articles were features for on such subjects as Calamity Jane, California Ranger Harry Love, California grizzly bears, Yosemite stagecoach robberies and Buffalo Bill Cody’s rivalry with Will Carver. His last feature for the Virginia-based magazine, “Cody vs. Carver,” ran in the February 2016 issue. “Bill Secrest was my close friend and mentor for more than 35 years,” said fellow California author John Boessenecker. “Bill was the kindest and most generous gentleman you could ever meet. He lived a long and fruitful life, and his passing is a great loss to the historical community and even greater personal loss to me.”

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