Jeff Carroll is a Texan whose ancestors arrived in the 1820s. Reared in Houston and Weimar, he served in the U.S. Coast Guard, earned a Bachelor's Degree of Forestry from Stephen F. Austin and a Master's Degree of Environmental Education from the Universtiy of Michigan. During a 25-year career with the U.S. Forest Service, he advanced from being the first "Interpretive Forester" in the Southeastern Region, to the International Coordinator of Education. Jeff Carroll's Legendary Texas Back home, his "Legendary Texas" column appeared in 21 newspapers, and his radio program reached listeners on 62 stations. After writing for the new Handbook of Texas, he taught Texas history at Texas A&M University and then at Blinn College, where he received the Teaching Excellence Award and twice was elected by students to Who's Who Among America's Teachers. He is the author of six books and a life member of the Texas State Historical Association.