Lon Tinkle

Lon Tinkle
Born(1906-03-20)March 20, 1906
DiedJanuary 11, 1980(1980-01-11) (aged 73)
Academic background
EducationSouthern Methodist University (BA, MA)
University of Paris
Academic work
DisciplineLiterature, French, Texas history
InstitutionsSouthern Methodist University

Julien Lon Tinkle (March 20, 1906 – January 11, 1980) was a historian, writer, and book critic, who specialized in French literature and the history of Texas. Tinkle, professor at Southern Methodist University and long-time book editor and critic for the Dallas Morning News, was known for his award-winning books, including a widely-read history of the battle of the Alamo and a biography of J. Frank Dobie. He was president of the Texas Institute of Letters from 1949 to 1952 and is today the namesake of its highest honor, the Lon Tinkle Award for Lifetime Achievement.