Walter Rundell Jr.

Walter Rundell Jr. (November 2, 1928 – October 25, 1982) was an American author, academic, and historian who was distinguished in the field of Western American history.

Background Rundell was born in Austin, Texas, the son of Olive (née Spillar) and Walter Rundell. At Lee College, he was editor of The Lantern, the student newspaper, a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, and received its Outstanding Student Award when he graduated in 1948. While in the Army, he began working on a graduate degree in history at Georgetown University.

Rundell was president of the Society of American Archivists from 1977 to 1978. The award is given to doctoral candidates whose dissertation subject on the North American West. She was a graduate of Texas Women's University where Rundell was teaching. They had three children—Jennifer, David, and Shelley.

Rundell was a member of First United Methodist Church in Hyattsville, Maryland. Although he left music for history, he never lost his love of it. He joined the National Cathedral Choral Society, the University of Maryland chorus, and the choir of First United Methodist Church.

He died of a heart attack in 1982 at his home in University Park, Maryland.