Todd Downing (writer) facts for kids
George Todd Downing (born March 29, 1902 – died January 9, 1974) was an important writer from the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. He was one of the first Native American authors to have mystery books published for a wide audience. He was also one of the first successful mystery writers from Oklahoma.
Todd Downing was born in Atoka, which was then called Indian Territory, on March 29, 1902. His family had deep roots in the Choctaw Nation. His grandmother, Millissa Armstrong, came to Oklahoma in 1830 as part of the Choctaw Trail of Tears. This was a difficult journey when many Native American people were forced to move from their homes.
Millissa married George T. Downing. Their son, Samuel, was born in the Choctaw Nation in 1872. Samuel, Todd Downing's father, was a very active person. He served as an interpreter with the Rough Riders, a famous group of soldiers. He also helped Oklahoma become a state by being part of a group that went to Washington, D.C. Samuel was also a member of the Choctaw Tribal Council. In 1899, he married Maude Miller, who became Todd Downing's mother.
Education and Early Career
Todd Downing was a very smart student. He attended the University of Oklahoma and was a Phi Beta Kappa member, which is a high honor for students. He studied many languages and earned his Bachelor's degree in 1924. He then earned his Master's degree in 1928. He could speak five languages: Choctaw, English, Spanish, French, and Italian.
While he was a student and after he graduated, Todd Downing wrote book reviews. He wrote for magazines like Books Abroad and newspapers like Daily Oklahoman. From 1928 to 1934, he worked as the business manager for Books Abroad.
Becoming a Mystery Writer
Todd Downing also led tours to Mexico. These trips gave him ideas for his first book, Murder on Tour. This book introduced a character named Hugh Rennert, who was a U.S. Customs Agent.
Over nine years, Downing wrote many books. He published six mystery novels featuring Hugh Rennert. He also wrote two other mysteries with a character named Sheriff Peter Bounty. Besides his mystery novels, he wrote a non-fiction book called The Mexican Earth. This book shared Mexican history from the viewpoint of Native people.
After becoming a successful writer, Downing moved to New York City. Later, he moved to Philadelphia and worked in advertising. In 1942, one of his novels, The Cat Screams, was made into a play on Broadway. The play was shown at the Martin Beck Theatre.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1951, Todd Downing returned to his hometown of Atoka. He took care of his elderly parents in the family home. He started a new job as a high school teacher in Atoka.
Downing also continued his work with the Choctaw language. He wrote newspaper articles about it and sometimes taught Choctaw at colleges. In 1971, the Bureau of Indian Affairs published some of his writings about the Choctaw language in a book called Chahta Anampa.
Todd Downing passed away on January 9, 1974. For a while, his books were not being printed anymore and were not widely known. However, in 1996, the University of Oklahoma Press reissued The Mexican Earth. More recently, other publishers like Coachwhip Publications, the Mysterious Press, and Open Road Media have brought his mystery novels back into print. This means new readers can discover his exciting stories.
