Cleatus Rattan, a former working and rodeo cowboy, was born in Dallas, Texas, where he attended a private school through the fifth form (grade). At that time, his father moved him to the then little town of Irving, Texas where he could have "cowboy experiences." After Irving High School, Rattan attended Southern Methodist University for two listless years, certainly he would rather not list them, then joined the Marine Corps from which he graduated with the degree of sergeant four years later. Properly infused with academic vigor at this point, Rattan tried to return to SMU, but the school would not have him. Rattan's respect for SMU soared, but he earned bachelors and masters degrees from the University of North Texas, a second MA from Hardin-Simmons University, and the doctorate from Texas A&M University-Commerce. In 1995, Dr. Rattan re-entered SMU and earned the Master of Liberal Arts degree in 1998. He claims not to be well educated, but he is, he says, frequently educated.
    Rattan taught English at MacArthur High School in Irving for four years then joined the faculty of Cisco Jr. College where he continued for thirty-five years. He is as of 2004, Visiting Mayborn Professor of English at The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor.
    Rattan authored two chapbooks, 130 Miles to Dallas, winner of the 1982 Texas Review Poetry Prize. Free of the Flesh, published by Red Lion Press in Denton, Texas in 1994. In 1996, he received The Mesquite Poetry Award. In 2002, he received The Texas Review Poetry Award for The Border, his first full-length book of poems. Moreover, Rattan received The New Texas Poetry Award in 2002, and was a finalist in The Bright Hills National Poetry Contest, also in 2002.
    Approximately 250 of Rattan's poems have found their way into journals, and anthologies published throughout the United States. He has been selected as Poet Laureate of Texas for 2004-2005. In addition, Rattan's poetry has been selected by the Texas University Interscholastic League for contest study by students throughout the state seeking scholarships to college. Dr. Rattan is the only living poet to have been selected for this honor. Also in 2004, Cleatus Rattan was selected as a Distinguished Alumnus of Texas A&M University-Commerce.
    Dr. Cleatus Rattan received an "Outstanding Graduate" award from his old high school in 1992, but he had to agree to attend the award ceremony and say nice things about his old high school in order to receive the award.
    Rattan has been married for forty-three years to the former Connie Hood of Borger, Texas, a school beauty for each of the three years she required to earn a music degree from the University of North Texas. They have collaborated on three sons, all of whom are doctors of one sort or the other. The oldest is a PhD - clinical psychologist, the second born is a veterinarian - DVM, the baby son is a podiatrist - DPM. All three sons lettered in football for different Texas universities - the University of North Texas, Texas Tech University, and TCU. There. Love, Cleatus