Famed author Chris Meadows was a fifth-generation, life-long Taney County, Missouri resident. He was born near Bluff, Missouri in 1908. He was at times a commercial fisherman, deputy sheriff, deputy marshal, mechanic, steamboat captain, carpenter, dock builder, business owner, city alderman, volunteer firefighter, author, poet, and actor. In the early 1960’s Chris began playing the character that he would become known for, that of Old Matt in the stage adaption of Harold Bell Wright’s famous book, The Shepherd of the Hills. Chris wrote his first book, Short Stories and Poems of the Ozark Hills in 1971. His next book, a fiction tale entitled, Wanderer of the Hills followed was published in 1976. His third book, Old Matt’s Memories and Poems of the Ozark Hills was written in 1979, and finally, his last book, When Bull Creek Ran Red , was published in 1983. The books are a gold mine of personal stories about hardscrabble life in the Southwest Missouri Ozarks in early the 1900s centered around the then-budding tourist mecca, Branson, Missouri. They also include his personal poetry dedicated to the beauty of the Ozark Mountain area. This book is a compilation of the four books he published, plus bonus materials of previously unpublished writings, poetry, and photos.