Walt Hecox (1917-1991) was born in the mining town of Grass Valley, California. He joined the Marine Corps during World War II, shortly after dropping out of school to start his journalism career with an up-and-coming publication. In 1943, he was shot in the leg and honorably discharged. Back home, he picked up where he left off, writing for sports columns and detective publications such as True Detective and Master Detective. He received a Pulitzer Prize nomination for uncovering a Mafia scandal and published hundreds of detective stories throughout his career.
