* Jerry Stanley was born in Highland Park, Michigan in 1941.ย ย When he was seventeen years old, he joined the air force and was stationed in California, where he has lived ever since.
* Once out of the air force, Jerry went to college, during which time he supported himself as a rock-'n'-roll drummer on the weekends.ย ย He received both his master's and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Arizona.ย ย
* Jerry is now is a professor of history at California State University in Bakersfield, where he teaches courses on the American West, the American Indian, and California history.ย ย In addition to his children's books, Jerry is the author of numerous articles for both scholarly journals and popular magazines.
* Among Jerry's hobbies are bowling, racquetball, fishing, drumming, and writing humor.ย ย He and his wife, Dorothy, have four children and live in Bakersfield, CA.ย ย