A historian of Utah, Latter-day Saints and the American West who knows his roots Share this story Colter Peterson, Deseret News SALT LAKE CITY — When he was writing his dissertation for his doctorate in history, Paul Reeve sat down with a faculty member to go over his first draft. This was the conversation: Faculty member: “This sentence sounds like a hick from Hurricane wrote it.” Reeve: “But I am a hick from Hurricane.” Faculty member: “Well, you better not write like one.” Reeve laughs at the memory, partly because he can afford to — he got his doctorate. And partly because, ever the historian, he’s a stickler for accuracy.