G Clifton Wisler was born May 15, 1950, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Soon afterward his family moved to Texas, where he made his home.
Wisler attended the Dallas public schools and graduated with honors from Hillcrest High School in 1968. At Hillcrest his writing aspirations received a boost from Hillcrest’s acclaimed journalism teacher, Julia Jeffress. He wrote sports and editorials for the Hillcrest Hurricane.
Wisler took that interest to Southern Methodist University. A journalism major who served four years on the sports staff of the SMU Daily Campus, he worked part time his senior year for the Dallas Morning News.
After receiving his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in journalism from SMU in 1972, Wisler taught journalism and sponsored the school newspaper and yearbook at Denton High School the following year.
He then returned to SMU, where he received his Master of Arts in English and Education in 1974.
From March 1974 to June 1984 Wisler taught English and served as publications advisor at Ben Jackson Middle School in Garland, Texas. Years of sharing stories led his students to encourage him to attempt his first novel. Doubleday published that book, My Brother, the Wind, in 1979. The American Booksellers Association nominated it for the 1980 American Book Award.
In 1984 Wisler left the classroom in order to devote all his time to writing. Except for a brief return to teaching in 1986 at Bowman Middle School in Plano, Texas, his primary focus became writing and speaking to school, educational, and literary groups.
He published 73 books, 22 short stories, and 4 articles. His work has been translated into five foreign languages.
Wisler’s many historical novels reflect his lifelong interest in history. After taking several classes at the University of Texas at Dallas in 1991, he undertook doctoral studies at the University of North Texas in 1993. He completed course work and was writing his dissertation, a history of the Ninth Texas Infantry Regiment in the Civil War when he passed in 2006.
His last 17 years Wisler resided in Plano, a suburb north of Dallas. He traveled widely throughout the United States and Europe, frequently while researching future writing topics. He was an active 47-year veteran of Boy Scouting. In 1984 White Buffalo District honored him with the District Award of Merit. Circle Ten Council applauded his service in 1985 by bestowing upon him the Silver Beaver Award, the highest recognition a local council can give a volunteer leader. In 1990 the National Order of the Arrow Committee, upon recommendation of Mikanakawa Lodge, presented Wisler with its coveted Founder’s Award. He remained an avid hiker and camper until his death.