Glendon Swarthout (1918 April 8-1992 September 23) taught English at Michigan State University (1951-1959) and at Arizona State University (1959-1963). He began writing novels in the 1940's and continued until 1988. He earned numerous awards, including the playwriting Award, Theater Guild (1947); the Hopwood Award in fiction (1946); the O. Henry Prize for short stories (1960); the Gold Medal, National Society of Arts and Letters (1972); the Spur award for best western novel, Western Writers of America (1975); and the Western Writers of America Owen Wister Award (1991) given annually for writing or filmmaking about the American West.
Kathryn Swarthout (1919 January 8-) taught elementary school, worked as a columnist for Women's Day Magazine, and co-authored books for children with her husband. The couple sponsored an annual Swarthout Award, a cash prize in fiction and poetry, that is conferred through ASU's English Department. They had one child, Miles.
From the guide to the Glendon and Kathryn Swarthout Papers, 1942-1994, (Arizona State University Libraries Special Collections)
