In the late 1800s and early l900s, East Texas was widely known for its outlaws--men and women) who did much as they pleased. Law enforcement was still handicapped by a lack of resources and, public support.

       As an early sheriff observed, most of the early outlaws were “bad to the bone” and deserved shooting on sight.

       Bob and Doris Bowman of Lufkin have put together a unique collection of outlaws who rode rampant across East Texas, leaving behind legacies of malice and mayhem. The best known of the outlaws was John Wesley Hardin, who killed his first man as a teenager near the small community of Moscow in Polk County. When he was gunned down in El Paso, he had killed between 30 and 50 men.

       Bob and Doris Bowman are among the most prolific writers in East Texas and Mr. Bowman authors a weekly history and folklore column for about 90 newspapers in the region. “Bad to the Bone” is the Bowmans’ 51st book.

       The Bowmans’ books reflect the past and contemporary life of East Texas, touching on such diverse subjects as ghost towns, the Alamo, historic murders, ghosts of the pineywoods, Indian atrocities,  and famous hangings.

       Bob and Doris are the only husband and wife to serve as presidents of the Texas Council for the Humanities, and Bob has served on the Texas Historical Commission, the Texas Sesquicentennial Commission, and the Texas Capitol

Centennial Commission.

       He is also a past president of the East Texas Historical Association and Doris is a past president of the Texas School Public Relations Association.

       The Bowmans live in Lufkin where they own Bob Bowman & Associates, a successful marketing, advertising and public relations company, and Best of East

Texas Publishers, which has published more than 100 books for authors throughout East Texas.

       “Bad To The Bone” may be ordered from Best of East Texas Publishers, 515 South First Street, Lufkin, Texas 75901, or by calling 936-634-7444.