They worked hard, overcame obstacles, bucked conventional wisdom, and touched our lives. Meet the most impressive, intriguing, and influential Texans of 1997.

The name of the gamer.

Doing the write thing.

Culinary assimilation.

Taxes are his target.

Here comes the judge.

She’s got a secret.

Good chemistry.

Culturally centered.

On the money.

Little miss hits.

Waste not.

The ice girl cometh.

Governed by generosity.

An animated personality.

Smoking out the truth.

Ready for her close-up.

Man equals myth.

Master builders.

Still plugged in.

Is there such a thing as privacy on the Internet?

Willie Nelson and I have been friends for years, so why did I decide only now to make him a character in one of my mystery novels? The plot thickens.

For Texas’ Kuehne kids, excelling at golf is par for the course—and the least their father will accept.

Cash-poor PBS stations can’t seem to come up with innovative new ideas, so they ought to resurrect an innovative old one: Newsroom, the best local public- affairs program in Texas history.

Until recently, I couldn’t. Then I enrolled in language school in the charming Mexican town of Guanajuato, and two weeks later I was comfortably conversant in español.

The governor’s media guru is accused of spousal abuse.

By trying to have it both ways in the coup against Newt Gingrich, Dick Armey hurt the Republican party—and himself.

The heavenly hits of God’s Property.

A bat man builds a super cave (holy conservation!).

A history mystery involving ranching’s King family.

What respiratory ailment afflicted Jimmie Rodgers, prompting fans to shout “Spit ’er up and sing some more”?

Attacking the House of Yahweh: defending Texas pols.

Will you enjoy the smoke-roasted shrimp at Houston’s Moose Cafe? You can plank on it.