Dearen Wins Gold at Will Rogers Medallion Awards
The Midland author's Halloween on the Butterfield Trail took the western young reader fiction gold medal in Tulsa.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Awards
Patrick Dearen received the gold medal in the western young reader fiction category for Halloween on the Butterfield Trail at the Will Rogers Medallion Awards on October 31, 2026. The novel, published by TCU Press, follows twin brothers on a Butterfield stage trip across North Texas on Halloween night in 1860.
Why it matters
The Will Rogers Medallion Awards recognize excellence in Western literature and media, and the award adds to Dearen's record of seven previous WRMA medals. The recognition highlights Western fiction written for young readers in the Odessa-Midland region.
The award was presented October 31, 2026, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Dearen's previous seven WRMA medals bring his total to eight. The source does not detail the judging criteria beyond the awards' focus on Western literature and cowboy heritage.
The players
Patrick Dearen
Patrick Dearen is a Midland-based Western author and former Reporter-Telegram reporter, a member of the Texas Literary Hall of Fame who has won seven prior Will Rogers Medallion Awards.
Will Rogers Medallion Awards
The Will Rogers Medallion Awards are presented annually in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to honor excellence in Western literature and media.
Barnes & Noble
Barnes & Noble is a national bookseller that operates retail bookstores across the United States.
The details
Halloween on the Butterfield Trail was selected for the western young reader fiction category, which the awards judge on literary quality and reflection of cowboy heritage values. Dearen, a former Reporter-Telegram reporter and Texas Literary Hall of Fame member, has lived in Midland since the 1980s.
Timeline
October 31, 2026: Dearen receives the gold medal at the Will Rogers Medallion Awards in Tulsa.
November 13, 2026: Barnes & Noble's new Odessa store holds its grand opening at 10 a.m., with Dearen cutting the ribbon.
November 13, 2026: Dearen holds a one-hour book signing after the ceremony.
Culture Shift
The Will Rogers Medallion Awards have long recognized Western literature, and Dearen's eight total medals place him among the awards' most consistently honored authors. This win reflects continued interest in Western fiction written for young readers.
Odessa readers can meet Dearen in person at the Barnes & Noble opening at the Chimney Rock Shopping Center on November 13. The signing offers a direct chance to purchase and have copies of Halloween on the Butterfield Trail signed.
The takeaway
Western young reader fiction continues to draw honors for storytelling rooted in Texas history, and Dearen's Butterfield novel is now a recognized example. Local readers can see the author in person at the Odessa store opening.
What happens next
Dearen will cut the ribbon at the Barnes & Noble grand opening in Odessa on November 13, 2026, at 10 a.m., followed by a one-hour book signing.
Further reading
Explore more Awards coverage from across the region.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Odessa American.
