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Walker A Tompkins
Walker Allison Tompkins (July 10, 1909 - November 24, 1988) was a Santa Barbara historian and author.
He was born in Prosser, Washington, in 1909, the son of Charles E. and Bertha Tompkins, who ha...view moreWalker Allison Tompkins (July 10, 1909 - November 24, 1988) was a Santa Barbara historian and author.
He was born in Prosser, Washington, in 1909, the son of Charles E. and Bertha Tompkins, who had moved to Washington from Missouri. Tompkins grew up on a wheat farm in Walla Walla County before moving with his family to Turlock, California in 1920. He began his writing career in Turlock, at the age of fourteen, as a reporter for the Daily Journal. At the age of 21, he sold his first western novel to Street and Smith of New York, just before beginning college at Washington State. He also attended Modesto (California) Junior College.
During the 1930s, Tompkins worked his way around the world with his typewriter, traveling by steamer to Europe, Asia, Africa and the Dutch East Indies. During World War II he served for three years as an overseas correspondent for the Army. Following the war, Tompkins settled in Santa Barbara, California, and turned his attention to local history. He worked for the Santa Barbara News Press from 1957-1973. In 1962, he wrote a ham radio novel based on San Miguel Island, DX Brings Danger.
He married Barbara H. Tompkins in 1975, who became the editor for his many books, including The Yankee Barbarenos, which Walker A. Tompkins had left following his death in Santa Barbara in 1988 at the age of 79, and Mrs. Tompkins edited over a number of years and published in 2004.view less
Books by Walker A Tompkins
Santa Barbara’s Royal Rancho: The Fabulous History of Los Dos Pueblos