Alabama Authors

Category: All

  • DUNNAVANT, ROBERT VERNON “Bob”, JR., 1947-1995

    Biography: Disc jockey, radio news director, award-winning journalist, historian, and author. Born – June 29, 1947, Athens, Alabama.  Parents – Robert (Bob) and Marjorie Dunnavant. Education – Athens State College. An aggressive, hard-charging newsman, Dunnavant was a reporter for The News from 1985 – 1995, covering news and feature stories across the Tennessee Valley. He wrote extensively about the space industry…

  • DUNNAVANT, KEITH, 1964 –

    Biography: Author, documentary filmmaker, magazine executive, entrepreneur, writer, and sportswriter.  Born:  November 2, 1964, Athens, Alabama. Parents: Robert (Bob) and Marjorie Dunnavant.  Education: The University of Alabama. Keith Dunnavant is the author of seven books, including SPY PILOT, a true story of Cold War intrigue and redemption (with Francis Gary Powers, Jr.), and definitive biographies of football…

  • McWILLIAMS, TENNANT S., 1943-

    Biography: Historian, university professor, administrator. Born– September 12, 1943, Birmingham. Married– 1975. Children– One. Education– A.B., Birmingham Southern College, 1965; M.A., University of Alabama, 1967; Ph.D., University of Georgia, 1973. Employed as professor at Walker College, 1967-1968; University of Georgia, 1968-1973; Tidewater College, 1973-1974;  at University of Alabama at Birmingham beginning in 1974, chairman, Department of History;…

  • McMURRY, MILDRED FRANKLIN DODSON, 1897-1965

    Biography: Denominational administrator. Born– Franklin, Ky., November 18, 1897. Parents– Franklin Pierce and Deliah (Mays) Dodson. Married– William Meense McMurry, 1924. Children– Two. Education– A.B., Tennessee College for Women, 1920; postgraduate work, University of Chicago, 1924. Employed as Mission Study Director of the Woman’s Missionary Union, Birmingham 1951-1954; secretary, Department of Missionary Fundamentals, 1954-1957; Director…

  • McLESTER, JAMES SOMERVILLE, 1877-1954

    Biography: Physician, university professor. Born– January 25, 1877, Tuscaloosa, Ala. Parents– Joseph and Nannie (Somerville) McLester. Married– Ada Bowron, 1903. Children– Three. Education– A.B., University of Alabama, 1896; M.D., University of Virginia, 1899; postgraduate, Gottingen, Freiburg, Berlin and Munich. Employed as chief of medicine, Camp Sheridan, 1917; commanding officer, evacuation hospital, 1918; professor of medicine,…

  • McLAURIN, MELTON ALONZA, 1941-

    Biography: Historian; university professor. Born– July 11, 1941, Fayetteville, N.C. Parents– A. Merrill and Thelma (Melton) McLaurin. Married– Sandra Cockrell, November 23, 1961. Children– Two. Education– B.S., East Carolina University, 1962; M.A., 1964; Ph.D., University of South Carolina, 1967. History instructor, University of South Alabama, 1967-1977; University of North Carolina, Wilmington, 1977-2004; Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs,…

  • McKOWN, DELOS BANNING, 1930-

    Biography: University professor. Born– August 30, 1930, Muir, Mich. Parents– Laurel Ellis and Irene Elizabeth (Banning) McKown. Married– Anna Louise Watts, September 4, 1958. Children– Two. Education– B.A., Alma College, 1951; B.D., Lexington Theological Seminary, 1955; M.A., University of Kentucky, 1958; Ecumenical Institute, Geneva, Switzerland, 1958; Ph.D., Florida State University, 1972. Employed as clergyman, Disciples…

  • McKINNEY, KATE SLAUGHTER, 1859-1939

    Biography: Writer. Born– February 6, 1859, London, Ky. Parents– James Love and Lucinda Jane Price Slaughter. Married– James Isaac McKinney, May 7, 1878. Lived in Montgomery, where her husband was superintendent of the L & N Railroad. Education– Daughters’ College, a private girls’ school in Harrodsburg, Kentucky. Began writing poems in her teens; published in local and national…

  • McKINNEY, JOHN WILLIAM, 1908-1989

    Biography: Agriculturalist; editor. Born– August 12, 1908, Greenville, S.C. Parents– Scion Blythe and Sue (Smith) McKinney. Married– Adelaide Wigington, 1931. Children– Five. Education– Clemson University, 1926-1928; Iowa State College; University of Southern California, 1929; B.S., Cornell University, 1930. Employed as a vocational education teacher, South Carolina Department of Education, Madison, 1935-1941; farm supervisor, Farm Security…

  • McILHENNY, EDWARD AVERY, 1872-1949

    Biography: Businessman; conservationist; explorer. Born– March 29, 1872, Avery Island, La. Parents– Edmund and Mary Eliza (Avery) McIlhenny. Education– Wyman’s Institute (Ill.), 1885-1887; Holland School (N.Y.), 1887-1890; Lehigh University, 1890-1892. Married– Mary Matthews, June 9, 1900. Children– Three. Served as president of the McIlhenny Company (produced Tobasco Sauce), Petite Company, Jungle Gardens, Jan Jean Lafitte…

  • McGINTY, BASIL BEASLEY, 1890-1975

    Biography: Baptist clergyman. Born– June 19, 1890, Riverview, Ala. Parents– William Levin and Laura (Eckles) McGinty. Married– Etta B. Suggs, October 23, 1910 (died 1922). Children–two. Married– Mary Malissa Hand, January 31, 1924. Children– two. Education– high school, correspondence courses.  Ordained Baptist minister. Employed as office employee; personnel director, textile firm; Baptist minister, 1914-1970. A director…

  • McEACHIN, ARCHIBALD BRUCE, 1837-1909

    Biography: Attorney. Born– November 18, 1837, Roberson County, North Carolina. Parents– Peter and Maria (McQueen) McEachin. Married–Eudora Somerville, January, 1861.  Children–six. Served as officer in the Confederate Army, 1861-1864. After the War moved to Tuscaloosa and practiced law until his death in 1909. Founder of the Southern Law Journal, 1876; served as its editor and publisher until 1878. Contributed articles to local…

  • McDONALD, WILLIAM LINDSEY, 1927-2009

    Biography: U. S. Army officer; historian; writer. Born– Florence, Ala., June 7, 1927. Parents– William Ervin and Pauline McRann (Lindsey) McDonald. Married– Dorothy Evelyn Carter, November 3, 1945. Children– Two. Education– B.S., University of North Alabama, 1952; Command and General Staff College, 1974; Industrial College of the Armed Forces, 1975. Employed by U.S. Army, 1945-1947,…

  • McDONALD, MARGARET SPAIN, 1919-1996

    Biography: Journalist; executive, non-profit organizations. Born– February 22, 1919, Chevy Chase, Md. Parents– Frank Edward and Margaret Ketcham (Cameron) Spain. Married– William Clifford McDonald, Jr., August 1, 1944. Children– Two. Education– Goucher College; Sophie Newcomb College; A.B. Birmingham Southern College, 1939. Employed as woman’s page editor, Birmingham Age Herald, 1931-1941; club worker, ARC CBI, 1943-1945; volunteer worker,…

  • McDONALD, DOROTHY CARTER, 1927-

    Biography: Artist; art teacher. Born– December 3, 1927, Florence, Ala. Parents– Edward Lacy and Alma Thora (Hall) Carter. Married– William Lindsey McDonald, November 3, 1945. Children– Two. Education– Famous Artists School, certificate, 1963; B.S., 1971, Florence State University; M.A., Florence State. Employed; private studio, 1963-1968; Florence Recreation Department, 1963-1966; Deschler High School, Tuscumbia, 1970-1971; taught…

  • McDERMOTT, JOHN CLARK,1988-1961

    Biography: Attorney, auditor. Born– November 3, 1888, Spring City, Tenn. Parents– John G. and Clark (Hansell) McDermott. Married–Mary Wilson, July 23, 1928.  Children–one. Education– U. S. Naval Academy; LL.B., Chattanooga College of Law. Employed as an attorney; tax assessor; auditor, State of Alabama. Died September 26, 1961. Source: SCRIPSIT; findagrave.com Publication(s): Probate Judge’s Handbook – State…

  • McCRACKEN, WILLIAM LIONEL, 1915-1965

    Biography: Dentist; professor of dentistry. Born– October 13, 1915, Greenville, Ill. Parents– William Arthur and Ruby Glenn (Ehrstine) McCracken. Married– Ruth Louise Malan, February 24, 1939. Children– Four. Education– Greenville College, Greenville, Ill.; D.D.S., 1938, St. Louis University School of Dentistry; M.S., University of Michigan, 1952. Self-employed as dentist, 1938-1943, 1946-1950; U.S. Army Dental Corps,…

  • McCORVEY, THOMAS CHALMERS, 1851-1932

     Biography: University professor; journalist, poet. Born– August 18, 1851, Monroe County, Ala. Parents– Murdock and Lydia Jane (Ranaldson) McCorvey. Married– Netta L. Tutwiler, July 22, 1880. Children– Four. Education– Monroe Institute, Erskine College; University of Alabama,  A.B.,1873; B. Laws, 1875; A.M, 1878. Employed as commandant of cadets, University of Alabama, 1874; professor of history and…

  • McCORD, LEON CLARENCE, 1878-1952

    Biography: Lawyer, judge. Born– June 21, 1878, Conyers, Ga. Parents– Henry and Ellen Grant (Davis) McCord.  Married–Bobbie Tanner, February 20, 1906.Education– Vanderbilt University; studied law under Jesse E. Brown, Scottsboro. Practiced law in Scottsboro, 1900-1903; secretary of the Supreme Court of Alabama, 1903-1909; private practice in Montgomery, 1910-1916; State Railroad Commissioner, 1911-1915; Judge of the 15th…

  • RAY, SANDRA KING

    See KING, CASSANDRA

  • KING, CASSANDRA, 1944-

    Biography; College instructor; writer. Born February 18, 1944.  Married–Pat Conroy, 1997.  Children–three.  Education:  Alabama College, B.A., 1967; University of Montevallo, M.F.A., 1988.  Taught English Composition at the University of Montevallo. Source; Contemporary Authors online Publications; Making Waves in Zion.  Montgomery: Black Belt Press, 1995. (Published as Making Waves, New York: Hyperion, 2003.) Moonrise. New York: …

  • BELL, HELEN NORRIS

    See Norris, Helen

  • HUDGINS, ANDREW, 1951-

    Poet; university professor.  Born–April 22, 1951, Kileen, Texas (grew up in Alabama). Married– Erin McGraw.  Education– Huntingdon College, B.A., 1974;  University of Alabama, M.A., 1976; M.F.A. University of Iowa, 1983. Additional study at University of Syracuse, 1976-78. Teacher at Carver Elementary School, Montgomery, 1973-74; instructor in composition, Auburn University at Montgomery, 1978-81;  at Baylor University,…

  • McCANN, FRANKLIN THRESHER, 1903-1969

    Biography: Literary scholar; college professor. Born– October 19, 1903, Dayton, Ohio. Parents– Judge B.F. and Laura Thresher McCann. Married– Esther Nelson. Children– Three. Education– B.A., Denison College; M.A., Harvard; M.A., Ph.D., Columbia University. Employed by Denison and Columbia; Alabama Polytechnic Institute, 1947-1969; acting head, English Department, Auburn University, 1953-1954. Member– Alabama College English Teachers Association; Auburn…

  • McCAMMON, ROBERT RICK, 1952-

    Biography: Novelist. Born– July 17, 1952, Birmingham.  Parents– Jack and Barbara (Bundy) McCammon, Birmingham. Education– B.A., University of Alabama, 1974.  Employed by Loveman’s Department Store, 1974-1975; Dalton Booksellers, 1976; copy editor, Birmingham Post Herald, 1976-78. Founding member, Horror Writers of America.  Received Bram Stoker Award from the Horror Writers of America, 1991 and 1992; World…

  • GEORGE, ANNE CARROLL, 1927-2001

    Biography; Writer, editor.  Born:  December 4, 1927, Calhoun.  Married–Earl A. George.  Children–one.  Education:  Judson College, B.A., 1949; aatended Samford University;  UAB, M.A., 19714; additional work at the University of Alabama.  Worked as an English teacher in Birmingham and Jefferson County schools for twenty-three years; founded Druid Press, a small publishing house, in 1982.  Published her first…

  • FOSTER, PATRICIA, 1948-

    Biography; Writer; university professor.  Born– May 2, 1948, Fairhope.  Parents–John Edward and Adeline LeClaire Donaldson Foster.  Married–David Wilder, 1990.  Education–B.A., 1968, Vanderbilt University; M.F.A. (Visual Art), UCLA, 1980; M.F.A. (Creative Writing), Iowa Writers’ Workshop, 1986; Ph.D., Florida State, 1993. Taught at Goddard College (Vermont), 1993-94; at the University of Iowa, 1994-2009. Published fiction and essays…

  • TUCKER, BETTY JEAN FOXHALL, 1931-2018

    Literary scholar; university professor of language and literature.  Born–Marengo County, May 17, 1931.  Parents–William Newman Foxhall and Adelle Yates Foxhall.  Married–William Howard Tucker.  Children–two.  Education–University of Montevallo, B.A.; University of West Alabama, M.A.; University of Alabama, Ph.D., 1970.  Teacher at Linden High School; reporter, Birmingham Post-Herald.  Professor of English at the University of West Alabama;…

  • EARLY, HANK

    See Mantooth, John

  • LYLE, IDALEE M., 1907-2001

    Biography: Teacher. Born– December 17, 1907, Goodwater, Ala. Parents– Rev. John S. and Leila Ophelia (Strong) Martin. Married– Albert Homer Lyle, June 14, 1930. Children– One. Education– Florence State University. Employed by the Limestone County and Morgan County boards of education; U.S. Government Redstone Arsenal Rationing Office; American Bread Company, Huntsvillle; National Woodworks, Birmingham. Published…

  • LUTTRELL, CAROLYN LANE, 1896-1976

    Biography: Educator, genealogist. Born– September 6, 1896, Sylacauga. Parents– James H. and Nancy Virginia (Roberts) Lane. Married–Mynatt Winston Peace (died 1937). Married– John D. Luttrell, November 11, 1949. Education– B.A., Woman’s College of Alabama, 1917; M.A., Smith College, 1919; further study, University of Chicago. Employed as teacher, Woman’s College of Alabama (Huntington College); genealogist, historian.…

  • LOWRY, INA FINCHER, 1927-1999

    Biography: Self-employed. Born– January 7, 1927, Pigeon Creek, Winston County, Ala. Parents– Burton and Etha Bishop Fincher. Married– Doil E. Lowry, December 1946. Children– four. Education– Greenville High School; Troy State Teachers College. Lived in Andalusia. Died November 9, 1999. Source: Files at Alabama Public Library Service. Publication(s): We Will Rise Again. New York; Vantage,…

  • LOVEMAN, LOUIS VANDIVER

    See Loveman, Robert, Jr.

  • LOVVORN, ALICE REBECCA, 1921-2002

    Biography: Nurse. Born– December 21, 1921, Newell, Randolph County, Ala. Parents– Iverson and Dessie Madonna (Traylor) Lovvorn. Education– Handley High School, Roanoke; School of Nursing, Piedmont Hospital, Atlanta, Ga. Joined the U.S. Army, 1944; served in a military hospital on Saipan. Attained the rank of 1st Lieutenant. After the war worked as a civil service nurse, McDill…

  • LOVEMAN, ROBERT, 1864-1923

    Biography: Writer. Born– April 11, 1864, Cleveland, Ohio. Parents– David R. and Esther Schwartz Loveman. Education– Dalton Academy, Ga. Attended the University of Alabama. Lived in the Battle-Friedman House with the Friedman family while attending UA. Lived in Dalton most of his life. Very popular as a  poet during his lifetime but little-known today. Honors– University of Alabama,…

  • LOVEMAN, ROBERT, JR., 1944-2003

    Biography: Historian. Born– September 1, 1944, Corrs, Pickens County. Parents– Robert and Christina (White) Loveman. Education– Gadsden Adult High School, 1966. Employed by Coosa Nursery and Garden Shop, 1970-1973; Morrison’s Cafeteria, 1974-1975; Mountain Top Club, 1975-1979; Gadsden Public Library, after 1982. Used pen name Louis Vandiver Loveman. Died August 3, 2003. Source: Louis V. Loveman, Gadsden,…

  • LOUIS, JOE (JOSEPH LOUIS BARROW), 1914-1981

    Biography: Boxer; heavyweight champion. Born– May 13, 1914, Lexington, Chambers County. Parents– Munrow and Lilly (Reese) Barrow. Married– Marva Trotter, September 24, 1935. Children–two. Married–Rose Morgan, 1955. Married– Martha Jefferson, May 11, 1951. Children– four. Competed 1934-1951. Honors– Won the light heavyweight championship of the National Amateur Athletic Union, 1934; world professional heavyweight champ, 1937-1949; retired…

  • LONG, MELVIN DURWARD, 1930-2008

    Biography: Educator, adminstrator. Born– Houston County, November 12, 1930. Parents– Melvin Durward and Ramona Bernice (Robinson) Long. Married– Estrella Nina Celorio, February 11, 1953. Children– Three. Education– Troy State University, B.S., 1953; Auburn University, M.A., 1956; University of Florida, Ph.D., 1959. Employed as history professor and assistant to the dean of the graduate school, 1965-1967; assistant…

  • LOLLAR, COLEMAN AUBREY, JR., 1946-1993

    Biography: Writer, photojournalist. Born– February 27, 1946, Birmingham. Parents– Coleman Aubrey and Vera (Wingard) Lollar. Education– University of Alabama, B.S., 1968. Worked for the U.S. Peace Corps, Sierra Leone, 1970; communications writer with Metropolitan Life Corporation, New York, 1970-1972; press secretary to Senator John Sparkman, 1967, 1972; associate editor of Travel News, 1972-75, editor, 1975-1980. …

  • ELLIS, NORMAN RICHARD, 1924-2018

    Biography; Psychologist; university professor. Born September 14, 1924, St. Clair County.  Parents–Olin Ott and Willie Brock Ellis. Married–Mattie Katherine (Kay) Martin. Children–five. Education; Howard College, B.A., 1951; University of Alabama, M.A., 1953; Louisiana State University, Ph. D., 1957.  Taught at Peabody College of Education and Human Development; and at the University of Alabama, 1964-1991. Founded…

  • LOGUE, JOHN DANNELLY, SR., 1933-

    Biography: Reporter, editor. Born– July 7, 1933, Bay Minette, Ala. Parents– Hanchey and Pauline (McLeod) Logue. Married–Helen Roberts. Children– Three. Education– Auburn University, B.A. Worked as police reporter, sports writer, Montgomery Advertiser; U.S. Air Force, 1955-1957; Information Officer, Randolph Air Force Base, 1957; United Press wire editor and a sportswriter for the Atlanta Journal, 1957-1967;…

  • LOGUE, CALVIN McLEOD, 1935-

    Biography: College professor. Born– July 14, 1935, Bay Minette. Education– Auburn University, B.A., 1960; Florida State University, M.S., 1961; Louisiana State University, Ph.D., 1967. Served in U.S. Marine Corps, 1956-58. Employed by Birmingham Southern College, 1961-1964; Louisiana State University, 1964-1966; University of Arkansas, 1966-1967; University of Georgia, 1967-2000.  Josiah Meigs Professor of Communications Studies. Member Speech…

  • LODING, HENRY PEDER, 1869-1942

    Biography: Florist. Born– Denmark, 1869. Children– Three. Employed as banana plantation manager, United Fruit Company, Nicaragua; florist, Mobile. Awards; Honorary Doctor of Science degree, University of Alabama, 1932. Died February 26, 1942. Source: Catalogue of the Beetles of Alabama. Publication(s): Catalogue of the Beetles of Alabama. University, Ala.; Alabama Geological Survey, 1945. The More Common…

  • LLOYD, STEWART JOSEPH, 1881-1959

                                                                                                                                        Biography: Chemical engineer; professor; academic administrator. Born– September 12, 1881, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Parents– Joseph and Sage (Peregrine) Lloyd. Married– Edith Marian Dawson, December 26, 1911. Children– Three. Education– University of Toronto, B.A., 1904; McGill University, M.Sc., 1906; University of Chicago, Ph.D., 1910. Employed by the University of Alabama, 1909-1952; professor of chemistry and…

  • LLOYD, ANNIE CREIGHT

    Biography: Writer. Born– Abbeville, S.C. Parents–James A. and Eliza Creight. Married– William E. Lloyd, 1866. Education– Aberdeen, Miss. Resided in Mobile, 1859-1869. Honors– Mobile Sunday Times, for the best romance. Source: Biographical Directory of Southern Authors; Living Female Writers of the South. Publication(s): Garnet, or, Through the Shadows into Light. S.l.; s.n., s.d. Hagar, or,…

  • LITTRELL, ANITA IRWIN, 1912-1981

    Biography: Writer. Born– Hoopeston, Ill.  Married– William Clyde Littrell, April 25, 1931. Children– One. Education–enrolled in writing courses, University of Washington Extension Service. Lived in Tennessee and Alabama, then moved to Richland, Wash. Died November 27, 1981. Source: Library Journal, June 1, 1952; files at Alabama Public Library Service and at Alabama Department of Archives…

  • LITTLETON, JESSE TALBOT, 1856-1929

    Biography: Educator. Born– October 27, 1856, in Portsmouth, Va. Parents– Oscar and Martha Elizabeth (Bernard) Littleton. Married– Lulie Rosser, December 26, 1882. Children– Eight. Education– Randolph-Macon College, A.M., 1880; attended Sauveur Colleges des Langues, Amherst, Mass., 1881-1882. Employed at Kanawa Military Academy, 1880-1881; Wesleyan Female College, Murfreesboro, NC, 1881-83; Wofford College, 1883-86; Belle Haven Academy,…

  • LITTLE, ROBERT IRVING, 1881-1967

    Biography: Professor of languages. Born August 20, 1881, Tuscaloosa. Parents– John and Amanda M. (Harris) Little. Education– University of Alabama, B.A., 1901; Harvard University, M.A., 1912; studied at Gottingen University and at the Sorbonne; Harvard University, Ph.D., 1918. Employed at Tuscaloosa High School, University of North Carolina, Harvard University, and University of Alabama where he…

  • LITTLE, JOHN BUCKNER, 1861-1918

    Biography: Teacher and academic administrator; editor.  Born–October 10, 1861, Ridgeville, Ala. Parents– John G. and Sophronia E. (Howell) Little. Married– Lula Duncan, 1890. Children– Five. Education– University of Alabama, A.B., 1883, A.M., 1886. Assistant professor of chemistry, University of Alabama, 1883-1887; Editor, Tuscaloosa Times, 1886; True Democrat, 1888, and State Review, 1895-96;  president of the South…

  • LITTLE, GEORGE, 1838-1924

    Biography: Geologist. Born– February 11, 1838, Tuscaloosa. Parents– John and Barbara (Kerr) Little. Married– Caroline Patillo Doak, May 13, 1869. Education– University of Alabama, A.B., 1855, A.M., 1856; University of Gottingen, Ph.D., 1859. Employed by Oakland College, Mississippi, 1860-1861; Served in the Confederate Army as private, captain, lieutenant colonel, 1861-1865. Professor of geology,University of Mississippi,…