A fifth-generation Texan born in Dallas, I came to SHSU in 1972 and until 1982 served as the Chairman of the Department of Geography. My wife Nancy and I have two children. Sandy and her husband Max live in Houston where Max is employed with Exxon. Sandy has her own book publicity business based in Washington, DC. She and Max are the parents of three of our favorite grandchildren - Pete, Joe, and Dominic. Son Rick and his wife, Jennifer, live in Los Angeles where he is the Director of Digital Merchandising and Account Management for Sony Corp. of North America. Rick and Jennifer are the parents of our two other favorite grandchildren, Nora and Lucy.

My research interests are historical-geographical in nature and center around the Sabine River-Caddo Lake border area of Texas and adjacent Louisiana during the early Republic of Texas period. Recent publications have dealt with historic-era Caddo villages, Mexican and Republic of Texas land surveys, and early Anglo settlement in eastern Harrison/Panola Counties, Texas and adjacent Caddo Parish, Louisiana. Recent books include: (2008), with my brother Wayne, our Tiller family history book entitled: Our American Adventure: The History of a Pioneer East Texas Family, 1657-1966. The book won the 2008 Texas State Genealogical Society's First Place Award, Category I, Family History Book by a Non-Genealogist; (2010), Before the Line, Vol. I, An Annotated Atlas of International Boundaries and Republic of Texas Administrative Units Along the Caddo Lake-Sabine River Borderland, 1803-1841. Volume II of the Before the Line series, subtitled Letters from the Red River, 1809-1842, should be published in the late spring/summer of 2011.

When not in the office or visiting grandkids, I like to sit in a rocking chair and gaze down on the cool, clear Comal River in New Braunfels.