Ted Thackrey Jr

Ted Thackrey Jr. was a Korean War vet, an author and newspaper reporter who, after stints at several newspapers, ended up in 1968 at the Los Angeles Times, where he became known over the next two decades for his colorful news stories, columns, and obituaries. His novel The Preacher was an Edgar Award finalist that led to two sequels, Aces & Eights and King of Diamonds, and the movie Wild Card starring Powers Boothe. He also  wrote the non-fiction books The Gambling Secrets of Nick the Greek and The Thief: The Autobiography of Wayne Burke and ghostwrote over 40 books and several screenplays. Thackrey Jr. died in 2001.