The Sons of Philo Gaines received the first-place Gold Medallion for Western Fiction at the Will Rogers Medallion Award Ceremony in Fort Worth on Saturday, October 23, 2021.

The Will Rogers Medallion Award was originally created to recognize quality works of cowboy poetry that honored the Will Rogers heritage but has expanded to include other works of Western literature and film, highlighting current books that embody strong content, excellent production values, and enduring interest. 

The awards competition takes place annually, and the awards ceremony is held every fall in Fort Worth, Texas.

Charles Williams, the WRMA Chair, said, “The Sons of Philo Gaines is everything you want in a Western; admirable heroes, dastardly villains, crisp dialogue, a page-turning pace, a dash of humor, descriptive settings so real you can smell the dust and feel the heat, and enough mystery to keep you turning the pages.” He adds, “Michael R. Ritt has written a thoroughly satisfying tale that leaves you wanting more of the three brothers.”

The Sons of Philo Gaines had previously been named a finalist for the 2020 Peacemaker Award by Western Fictioneers for “Best Western” and “Best First Western.”

The full list of 2021 Will Rogers Medallion Award winners can be found here.

Watch the Award Presentation for The Sons of Philo Gaines

Video Clip Courtesy of the Will Rogers Medallion Awards

(Advance the video to the 1:16:05 mark)