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Biography Of Maggie Smith Depicts Pioneer Woman Who Navigated The Texas Border

Heather Claborn
/
KACU
Bill Wright, author of "The Whole Damn Cheese"

“The Whole Damn Cheese” tells the story of Maggie Smith, a pioneer woman who grew up in the early 20th century, ranching and learning to make a life along the border between Mexico and Texas.  For her it wasn’t much of a border.  Fluent in Spanish, Maggie Smith lived on either side of the dividing line between the U.S. and Mexico at various points in her life.  She served both communities as a healer, entrepreneur, and negotiator; and she delved into a few more nefarious business ventures. 

Bill Wright is an award winning author and photographer-and has been honored by the city of Abilene with the Outstanding Citizen award and by the Texas Chamber of Commerce, which recognized him as the Outstanding West Texan.

His other books include The Tigua: Pueblo Indians of Texas, winner of the Border Book Award, and The Kickapoo: Keepers of Tradition, and Portraits from the Desert: Bill Wright’s Big Bend.

Heather Claborn joined KACU as news director in January 2018. She oversees daily newscast and feature reporting and works with KACU’s news anchors to develop newscasts. She also conducts two-way interviews, reports for newscast and feature stories and maintains the station’s social media and website content. In 2020, Claborn helped staff develop the daily newsletter that is delivered by email.