Sherman author Alan Burton is returning to the publishing scene this spring with the release of a new true crime book, titled, “The 1965 Texas Coed Murders: We Saw What You Did,’’ (The History Press, $24.99.) The book is Burton’s 10th, second in the true crime genre, and will be available in early May. He retired as the special assistant to the president and director of university communications at Southeastern Oklahoma State University in 2023.
The story begins in 1965 — Sunday, July 18, 1965, started out like any other hot summer day in Texas. Shirley Ann Stark and Susan Rigsby, Chi Omega sorority sisters at the University of Texas at Austin, left their Dallas homes early and drove together in Shirley’s Corvair to Austin. Little did they know the fate that awaited them later that afternoon as they visited the apartment of a friend and fellow UT student. The following day, the women were reported missing. A twelveday nationwide search ensued, ending with the discovery of their bodies in a north Austin field.
As one Associated Press reporter would later write, “The story held all the elements of a classic murder case: Campus beauties, youth, mystery, terror, and social standing.’’
Burton revisits the forgotten, gruesome, and tragic double homicide that shook the Lone Star State, but was largely forgotten after the UT tower sniper shooting that occurred one year later in 1966.
His most recent book, “Fatal Exam: Solving Lubbock’s Greatest Murder Mystery,’’ was published in 2023. It detailed the slaying of a Texas Tech custodian on the campus in 1967.
He is also the author of a series of quote books, including, “Squib-Kick it To A Fat Guy – and 699 more memorable quotes from the playbook of Coach Mike Leach’’ (2016), which was an Amazon best-seller.
Burton’s professional writing career spans nearly forty years. His work has been honored by the Associated Press, Texas School Public Relations Association and Oklahoma College of Public Relations Association. Burton began his career as a sportswriter before embarking on a career in public relations in common education (K-12) and higher education. A native of Sherman, he is a graduate of Texas Tech University.)
For more information, visit https://alanburtonbooks. com.
