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EMPORIA, Kan. (AP) - Don Coldsmith, a family physician who gained worldwide fame with a series of historical novels on Plains Indians, has died. He was 83.
Coldsmith, of Emporia, died Thursday at the University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kan., his wife, Edna, said. He had suffered a stroke June 20 after attending a conference of the Western Writers of America in Oklahoma City, she said.
Coldsmith was born in Iola in 1926 and served as a combat medic in the Pacific during World War II. He earned his medical degree from the University of Kansas in 1958 and practiced medicine in Emporia for three decades.
Coldsmith began work in the 1980s on what would become his 29-volume series "The Spanish Bit Saga." The novels chronicle the momentous change in the lives of Plains Indians wrought by the introduction of the horse by Spanish explorers.
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Comments
emporia123 (anonymous) says...
Don was a great doctor and writer and a credit to Emporia. Having read every one of his books, I was always anxiously awaiting the next book. His newspaper articles, "Horsing Around" were my favorite part of the newspaper. He was a common, everyday man who looked at life with a keen sense of humor and was able to pass that on to others through his writing. Don Coldsmith will be truly missed. Heaven has gained a great man.
June 28, 2009 at 9:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
spaceks1603 (anonymous) says...
Mr. Coldsmith came to our local library in Leavenworth and was so generous with his time after his talk on his books. He had the first 10 of the Spanish Bit Saga series out at that time. My favorite was the fifth book which he signed "To Stephanie, who understands". He is my favorite author and fellow lover of the Flint Hills. A good man.
June 28, 2009 at 9:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )