In April, 2007, Larry D. Thomas was appointed by the Texas Legislature as the 2008 Texas Poet Laureate.  He retired in 1998 from a thirty-one year career in social service and adult criminal justice, and has since that time published nine collections of poems.  His most recent book, New and Selected Poems, was issued by TCU Press in March 2008 as the fourth volume of the TCU Press Texas Poets Laureate Series.  Among the numerous prizes and awards which Larry has received for his poetry are the 2004 Violet Crown Award (Writers’ League of Texas), 2003 Western Heritage Award (National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum), two Texas Review Poetry Prizes (2001 and 2004), and a $2,000.00 grant from The Ron Stone Foundation for the Study and Advancement of Texas History.  His poetry has also received three Pushcart Prize nominations, a Poet’s Prize nomination (Nicholas Roerich Museum), and three Spur Award Finalist citations (Western Writers of America).  Larry’s Web site address is www.larrydthomas.com.