Alabama Authors

Category: All

  • HOUGHTON, WILLIAM ROBERT, 1842-1906

    Biography: Attorney. Born– May 22, 1842, in Heard County, Ga. Parents– William Henry and Eliza Ann (Bennett) Houghton. Married– Anna M. Streety, December 21, 1875. Children– One. Education– From age fifteen, alternately taught school and attended an academy until 1860. Served in the Confederate Army, 1861-1865. Studied law, 1865-1866; admitted to the bar in Dale…

  • HORNADY, JOHN RANDOLPH, JR., 1872-1948

    Biography: Journalist. Born– May 15, 1872, in Ringgold, Ga. Parents– John Randolph and Janie Lawton (Mulkey) Hornady. Married– Maude Morella Simmons, November 28, 1896. Children– Three. Education– Educated by his mother until her death when he was ten years old. Worked for the Birmingham News, 1895-1921, as reporter, city editor, managing editor, and associate editor…

  • HOLLINGSWORTH, JAMES SELWYN, 1939-

    Biography: Sociologist; Professor. Born– December 20, 1939, Blooming Grove, Tex. Parents– Clyde and Alma Vera Clark Hollingsworth. Education– Texas A & M University, B.S., 1962; M.A., 1964; University of Florida, Ph.D., 1970. Served as visiting professor, University of Valle, Colombia, 1966-1968; research associate for Latin American studies, University of Florida., 1968-1969; University of Alabama, 1969-.…

  • HOBBS, SAMUEL FRANCIS, 1887-1952

    Biography: Attorney, judge, congressman. Born– October 5, 1887. Parents– Samuel Freeman and Frances (John) Hobbs. Married– Sarah Ellen Greene, January 8, 1913. Children– Three. Education– Marion Military Institute, A.A., 1905; student, Vanderbilt University, 1905-1906; University of Alabama, LL.B., 1908. Practicing attorney in Selma, 1908-1921; judge, 4th Judicial Circuit of Alabama, 1921-1926, afterward returning to practice…

  • HOFF, NELSON PRUYN, 1894-1966

    Biography: Businessman, publisher. Born– June 19, 1894, in Buffalo, N.Y. Parents– Francis Leslie and Katherine (Hoff) Hoff. Married–Mary Katherine White, August 12, 1921. Children–one. Education– Nicols Preparatory School, 1913. Served in U. S. Army, WWI.  Vice president and sales manager, National Lime Cement and Byproducts Corporation; president and general manager, Blue Book Publishing Company, Birmingham.…

  • LUSKIN, JOHN, 1908-1988

    Biography: Reporter, educator. Born– January 23, 1908, Valley Falls, N.Y. Parents– Michael H. and Mary (McMahon) Luskin. Married– Alice Rea, September 12, 1932. Children–one.  Education– A.B., Union College, Schenectady, N.Y., 1929; A.M., Harvard, 1932. Employed as a reporter and news editor for the New Haven Register, New Haven, Conn., 1933-1938; professor of journalism, University of Alabama,…

  • HILL, HOWARD, 1899-1975

    Biography: Champion archer. Born– November 13, 1899 , Wilsonville, Shelby County. Parents–  Married–Elizabeth Hodges.  Education–Auburn University. Worked for Hughes Tool in Miami and played semi-pro baseball. Set many records. Winner of 196 consecutive field archery tournaments, including seven national titles. Worked in the film industry as actor, producer, director and consultant. Stand-in bowman for Errol Flynn in several films…

  • HILL, HARLON, 1932-2013

    Biography: Professional football player. Born– May 4, 1932, Killen, Lauderdale Co. Parents–Frank Beatrice and Bessie Simpson Hill.  Married–Virginia Ann Sellers.  Children–five. Education– Florence State College, B.S. (1953), and M. A. (1969) Played football with Chicago Bears, 1954-1961; Pittsburgh Steelers and Detroit Lions, 1962. NFL Rookie of the Year, 1954; Jim Thorpe Trophy, 1955; Alabama Sports Hall of…

  • HERPORT, SUSAN HALL, 1946-2007

    Biography: Poet; writing instructor. Born– May 4, 1946, Pittsburgh, Pa. Parents– Fred R. and Helen (Frech) Hall. Married–Andrew Methvin.  Children–two. Education– St. Francis College (In.), B.A., 1968; University of Tennessee at Chattanooga; Warren Wilson College (N.C.), M.F.A., 1985. English professor, Jacksonville State College. Published poems in Sequoya Review, Poetry Miscellany, Tar River Poetry, and other journals…

  • HERBERT, HILARY ABNER, 1834-1919

    Biography: Lawyer, congressman, Secretary of the Navy. Born– March 12, 1834,  Laurensville, S.C. Parents– Thomas E. and Dorothy Teaugue (Young) Herbert. Moved to Alabama in 1846. Married–Ella B. Smith, April 23, 1867.  Children–three. Education– University of Alabama, 1853-1854; University of Virginia, 1854-1856. Admitted to the Alabama bar, 1857. Practiced law in Greenville (Ala.), 1857-1872; in…

  • HENSON, CURTIS TALMON, JR., 1931-

    Biography: Historian; university professor. Born– September 18, 1931, Bigbee. Parents–Curtis T. and Hester E. Thompson Henson.  Education– Auburn University, B.S., 1952, M.A., 1958; Tulane University, Ph.D., 1965. Taught at Grand Canyon College, 1962-1963; University of Houston, 1963-1966; Auburn University, 1966-1993. Member, Organization of American Historians, Naval History Foundation. Source: Directory of American Scholars, 1982. Publication(s):…

  • HENRY, WAIGHTS GIBBS, 1879-1960

    Biography: Methodist clergyman, professor. Born– January 13, 1879, at Palm in Pickens Co. Parents– Robert Fillmore and Rebecca Catherine (Morris) Henry. Married– Mary Elizabeth Davis, June 18, 1903. Children– Five. Education– Southern University, A.B., 1900; Vanderbilt University, B.D., 1902; University of Alabama, A.M., 1912; Boston University, Ph.D., 1915; further graduate work at University of Chicago,…

  • WHITE, DAVID HART, 1922-1977

    Historian; university professor; businessman.  Born–July 13, 1922, Birmingham.  Parents–James Herbert and Margaret Morgan White.  Married–Elizabeth O’Neal, August 12, 1949.  Children–four.  Vanderbilt University, B.A.; University of Alabama, Ph. D., 1973. WWII, served in US Navy.  Worked for fifteen years in the steel industry; taught history at UAB until his death. Published articles in professional historical journals. …

  • SUGG, REDDING STANCILL, JR. 1922-2007

    Biography: Educator, editor, writer. Born– June 15, 1922.  Parents– Redding S. and Katherine (Miller) Sugg. Married– Helen White, Aug. 23, 1965. Education– University of North Carolina, A.B.; University of Texas, M.A., 1943; Ph.D. 1952. Served in U.S. Army Air Force, WWII; awarded Bronze Star.  Fulbright fellowship to University of Paris, 1951-1952. Edited Fayette Northwest Alabamian,…

  • WHITT, LEOVIS COATS, 1917-1996

    Biography: Teacher; poet. Born– May 11, 1917, in Limestone County. Parents–John Thomas and Malah Bell Blair Coats.  Married– Carlton Dennis Whitt. Children– Five. Education– Athens College, A.B., 1940, M.A.T., 1971.; additional study at Florence State College, the University of Alabama, the University of Mississippi, and the University of London.  Taught in Limestone County and Athens City…

  • HEBSON, ANN HELLEBUSCH, 1925-1988

    Biography: Public relations specialist, radio and television writer and producer; novelist. Born– December 25, 1925, Montgomery. Parents– Charles Merle and Lucille (Atherton) Hellebusch. Married– William J. Hebson, June 8, 1947. Children– Three. Married–Robert S. Levy, July 31, 1976.  Education– University of Louisville, 1941-1943; Grinnell College, B.A., 1947. Social worker, Iowa State Department of Welfare, 1947-1948;…

  • HEBERT, ROBERT FRANCIS, 1943-

    Biography: Economist; university professor. Born– April 2, 1943, in Donaldsonville, La. Parents–Robert Marie and Shirley Louise Harp Hebert.  Married–Diane Elizabeth DuPont, December 28, 1965. Education– Lousiana State University, B.S., 1965; M.S., 1966; Ph.D., 1970. Taught at Louisiana State University, 1968-1969; Clemson University, 1970-1974; Auburn University, 1970-2000; head of Department of Economics at Auburn, 1980-87 and…

  • HARZEM, PETER, 1930-2008

    Biography: Professor of psychology. Born– January 5, 1930, in Istanbul, Turkey. Parents– Sakru and Saime Hazem. Married–Annie Laaja Rausberg, September 24, 1970. Children–one. Education– University of London, B.S., 1963; University of North Wales, Ph.D., 1968.  Taught at the University of Wales, 1963-1977; visiting professor University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire, 1977-1978; Auburn University, 1978-. Published widely…

  • HARTLINE, DAVID L., 1946-

    Biography: Law enforcement officer; businessman, public speaker. Born– May 27, 1946, Cherokee Co. Parents– Robert Lee and Maude (Townsend) Hartline. Married– Patricia R. Hartline, October 4, 1970. Children– Two. Education– Graduate of Alabama Technical College, 1978; further study at Georgia State University. Served in the 1st Air Cavalry Division and 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam;…

  • RICHARDSON, WARFIELD CREATH,

  • HARRISON, BELLE RICHARDSON, 1856-1940

    Biography: Writer. Born– October 20, 1856, Camden. Parents– Warfield Creath and Catherine Cole (Jones) Richardson. Married– John Calhoun Harrison, July 12, 1881. Education– Stafford School, Tuscaloosa Female Academy. Lived in Tuscaloosa, where her husband owned a clothing store. Published poems, essays, and stories in national journals and magazines. Died December 4, 1940. Source: Marquis who’s…

  • HARPER, ROLAND McMILLAN, 1878-1966

    Biography: Botanist, Geographer. Born– August 11, 1878, in Farmington, Maine. Parents– William and Bertha (Tauber) Harper. Education– University of Georgia, B.E., 1897; Columbia University, Ph.D., 1905.  Married– Mary Susan Wigley on June 23, 1943. Served as Aide, National Herbarium, 1901-1902; forester, Geological Survey of Georgia, 1903-1904; geographer, Geological Survey of Alabama, 1905 until his death…

  • HANNON, JOHN, 1845-1921

    Biography: Methodist clergyman. Born– November 8, 1845, Montgomery. Parents–Elliott Cromwell and Mary Ann Stubbs Hannon.  Married– Lucy Willis Haile, 1893. Children–two.  Education– McNutt School, Montgomery; University of Alabama, 1862; Randolph Macon College, A.M. Served in Confederate Army, 1863-1865. Bookkeeper in a banking house for two years before joining Virginia Conference of Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Pastor…

  • GRAU, SHIRLEY ANN, 1929-

    Biography; Writer.  Born New Orleans, July 8, 1929 (spent most of her childhood in Montgomery).  Parents–Adolph Eugene and Katherine Onion Grau.  Married–James Kern Feibleman, August 4, 1955.  Children–five.  Education:  Tulane University, B. A., 1950.  Wrote novels, as well as stories, and articles published in journals and magazines.   Taught creative writing, University of New Orleans, 1966-67. …

  • HANLIN, KATHERINE HALE, 1907-1978

    Biography: Executive. Born– October 7, 1907, Birmingham. Parents– Evan Presley and Minnie (Cross) Hale. Married– William Arthur Hanlin, April 23, 1931. Children– One. Education– Study at Howard College. Worked as oral hygienist, dental assistant, and secretary. Worked for the Birmingham Gas Appliance Company as secretary, 1930-1948; vice president, 1948-1971; and member of board of directors.…

  • HANDY, WILLIAM CHRISTOPHER, 1873-1958

    Biography: Jazz musician, composer. Born– November 16, 1873, Florence. Parents– Charles Bernard and Elizabeth (Brewer) Handy. Married– Elizabeth Virginia Price, 1898. Children–six.  Married (2) Irma Louise Logan, 1953. Teacher in Birmingham for two years; laborer in Bessemer iron works, itinerant bricklayer and music teacher. Organizer and leader of a band which he took to the Chicago…

  • HAMMOND, GUYTON BOWERS, 1930-2016

    Biography:  Scholar of philosophy and religion; university professor. Born– November 30, 1930, Birmingham. Parents– Joseph Langhorne and Fanny (Bowers) Hammond. Married– Alice Jean Love, June 27, 1959. Children– Two. Education– Washington and Lee University, B.A., 1951; Yale University, B.D., 1955; Vanderbilt University, Ph.D., 1962; additional graduate courses at University of Utrecht and Southern Baptist Theological…

  • HAMILL, HOWARD MELANCTHON, 1849-1915

    Biography: Methodist clergyman, educator. Born– August 10, 1849, Lowndesboro. Parents– Edward Joseph and Anne Jane Hamill. Married– Ada L. Tuman, July 7, 1885. Children– Three. Education– East Alabama Male College at Auburn, A.B., 1868; Illinois College, A.M. 1900.   Served in Civil War, 1864-1865. Held positions as city school superintendent in Illinois and Missouri; president of…

  • HALL, GROVER CLEVELAND, JR., 1915-1971

    Biography: Newspaper editor. Born– February 10, 1915, Montgomery. Parents– Grover Cleveland and Claudia (English) Hall. Education– Montgomery public schools. After leaving school, worked as shoe salesman and held other casual employment. From 1935 until 1942, successively police reporter, political writer, and capital reporter for Montgomery Advertiser. State correspondent for Time magazine, 1939.Served in U.S. Air Force,…

  • HALL, GROVER CLEVELAND, 1884-1941

    Biography: Newspaper editor. Born– January 11, 1888, Haleburg. Parents– William Rabun and Parmelia Ann (Davis) Hall. Married– Claudia McCurdy English, May 14, 1912. Children– One. Education– Alabama country schools. Printer’s devil in Dothan, 1905; editor, Enterprise Ledger, 1907; Dothan Daily Siftings, 1908; managing editor, Selma Times, 1909; editorial writer, Pensacola Journal, 1910; associate editor and…

  • HALE, PHILIP THOMAS, 1857-1926

    Biography: Clergyman, educator. Born– August 18, 1857, New Market, Madison Co. Parents– Philip Perry and Caroline Susan (Gulledge) Hale. Married– Lena Lyle Bolinger, December 8, 1885. Children– Seven. Education– Howard College, A.B., 1879; graduate of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1883; post-graduate work at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Ordained a Baptist minister; pastor in Danville,…

  • HAAGEN, VICTOR B., 1928-2001

    Biography: Photojournalist. Born–December 30, 1928,  Jersey City, New Jersey. Parents–Thor Bernard and Della Benton Haagen.  Served in Signal Corps, U.S. Army. Cameraman in post-war Germany; worked and trained in New York City; later in South Florida and the Bahamas; photographic staff, NATO, 1955; Marshall Space Flight Center, Photographic Division (7 years); free-lance photojournalist after 1967. Died December…

  • HAIGLER, EDWARD DAVID, JR., 1940-

    Biography: Physician. Born– July 7, 1940, Birmingham. Education– Medical College of Alabama, M.D., 1965; internship at Carraway Methodist Medical Center; residency at Mayo Clinic, 1966-1967. Served in the U.S. Air Force, 1967-1969.  Practiced medicine in Birmingham. Attending physician and director of Medical Education at Carraway Methodist Hospital. Taught medicine at the University of Alabama in Birmingham,…

  • GWALTNEY, LESLIE LEE, 1876-1955

    Biography: Baptist minister. Born– March 5, 1876, in Elberon, Va. Parents– John Avington Merritt and Sarah Rebecca (Deering) Gwaltney. Married–Richie Thornton Peters, September 23, 1902.  Children–five. Education– University of Richmond, 1899-1904; Union Theological Seminary, 1904-1905; Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Th.M.; Potomac University, STD, 1908. Ordained in 1902.  Served churches in Prattville, Greenville, and Florence; editor,…

  • GRIESSMAN, BENJAMIN EUGENE, 1934-

    Biography: Sociologist; university professor; motivational speaker. Born– August 12, 1934, Spartanburg, S.C. Parents–Benjamin F. and Irene Hill Griessman. Children–three. Education– Tennessee Temple College, B.P., 1956; Baylor University, M.A., 1958; New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, M.Div., 1962; Louisiana State University, Ph.D., 1966. Taught at North Carolina State University, 1966-1970; director of NC State Center for Occupational…

  • GLYNN, ROBERT L., 1913-1983

    Biography: Administrator. Born– April 19, 1913, Birmingham. Parents– Arthur and Fannie Bell (Banks) Glynn. Married– Ila Newell, April 18, 1941. Education– Graduate of Alabama State University, 1938. After 1952, employee of Tuscaloosa Housing Authority, serving as assistant executive director, 1969-1982. After 1976, vice-chairman of Board of Trustees of Alabama State University. Active in Hunter’s Chapel…

  • GLENN, MOSES L., 1927-1983

    Biography: Educator; athletic official. Born–June 22, 1928,  Midway, Bullock County. Parents–Washington L. Glenn and Carrie Penick Glenn. Grandson of former slaves. Education– Valedictorian of high school class; Alabama State University, B.S., M.A. Taught high school mathematics in Montgomery public schools; after ten years teaching, served as educational specialist with Extension Course Institute, Air University, Gunter…

  • WILLIAMS, JOHN M.

    Biography: College professor.  Born–Auburn.  Education–Auburn.  Ran a printing business in Auburn.  Taught at LaGrange College for twenty-six years. Publications; Village People: Sketches of Auburn.  Solomon and George Publishers, 2016.

  • GLAZNER, JOHN FRANK, 1884-1960

    Biography: Chemist, educator. Born–March 30, 1884, Collinsville. Parents–Joseph Virgil and Mary Lucinda Morgan Glazner. Married– Kathleen Sharp, September 2, 1919 (died 1920). Children– One. Married– Ester Mead Coupland, August 19, 1926. Children–one. Education– University of Alabama, B.S., 1919, M.S.; Peabody College, Ph.D. Chemist in Birmingham; principal of Dadeville High School; professor of science and geography at…

  • PATERSON, JUDITH HILLMAN, 1936-

    Writer; professor of journalism and creative writing.  Born–September 28, 1936, Montgomery.  Parents–Julius Porter and Emily (Hillman) Paterson. Married– Charles William Jones.  Children–two.  Education:  Hollins College, Roanoke, Va., 1958; Auburn University, M.A., 1972; Ph. D., 1975. Taught at Auburn University at Montgomery, 1972-1981; at the School of Journalism at the University of Maryland, College Park, 1984-2005;…

  • FRANKLIN, HAROLD LEROY, 1934-

    Author; artist; filmmaker; art director. Born– March 14, 1934, Mobile. Parents– Harold and Julia (Nicholson) Franklin. Married–Frances Sanders, August 24, 1996. Children–one. Education– Philadelphia College of Art; graduated 1958.. Served in U.S. Army, 1958-1960. Art director for the city of  Philadelphia, 1961-97; film producer, EKO Productions; freelance artist and art agent. Awarded Special Jury Prize,…

  • FOSTER, AGNESS GREENE, 1863-1933

    Writer; editor. Born– December 6, 1863, Athens, Al. Parents: John and Mary (Stuart) Greene. Married– William Clarence Foster, August 31, 1886. Education– Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland; Mademoiselle Piquot’s Finishing School, Blois, France; College of Oratory in Chicago. Served as literary editor of  Northwestern Magazine, for which she also wrote articles. Pioneer in writing messages in greeting…

  • FOSHEE, JOHN HUGH, 1931-2003

    Electrical draftsman, designer; photographer. Born– November 19, 1931, Birmingham. Parents– John H. and Grace (Thomson) Foshee. Married– Reba, June 15, 1956. Married– Marta, July 8, 1967. Children– One. Education– attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Employed as an electrical draftsman and designer; retired 1985. Taught classes in canoeing at UAB. Published many articles in outdoor, trade, and…

  • FOLKERTS, GEORGE WILLIAM, 1938-2007

    Zoologist; University professor. Born– November 26, 1938, Beardstown, Ill. Parents– George C. and Mathilda (Schuette) Folkerts. Married– Denise Millare, June 12, 1965. Children– Three. Education– Southern Illinois University, B.A., 1961; M.A., 1963; Auburn, Ph.D., 1968. Taught at Clemson University, 1968-1969; Auburn University, 1969-2007. Served as a consultant to several environmental organizations. Member of the Society…

  • FLYNT, JAMES WAYNE, 1940-

    Historian; University professor. Born– October 4, 1940, Pontotoc, Mississippi. Grew up in Anniston. Parents–James H. and Mae Moore Flynt. Married– Dorothy Ann Smith, August 20, 1961. Children– Two. Education– Howard College, A.B., 1961; Florida State University, M.S., 1962; Ph.D., 1965. Taught at Samford University, 1965-1977; head of History Department, Auburn University, 1977-2005. Member of the Southern Historical…

  • FITZGERALD, ARTHUR ERNEST, 1926-

    Industrial engineer; costs expert; whistleblower. Born–July 31, 1926, Birmingham. Parents–Arthur A. and Grace Adelle Fitzgerald. Married– Children– Three. Education– University of Alabama, B.S. (industrial engineering), 1951. Served in the U.S.Navy, WWII. Worked in private business, 1951-65. Employed by the Pentagon as Deputy for Management Systems, 1965-1969; fired in 1969 for revealing to a Senate Committee a…

  • FIDLER, WILLIAM PERRY, 1906-

    Literary scholar; university professor, administrator, consultant. Born– July 29, 1906, Birmingham. Parents– Ora William and Blanche (Perry) Fidler. Married– Alice Adeline Gardiner, January 29, 1929. Children– One. Education– University of Alabama, A.B., 1928; Harvard University, M.A., 1930; University of Chicago, Ph.D., 1947.  Served in the US Navy, WWII. Taught English at the University of Alabama,…

  • FIES, ROSE MAYER, 1881-1971

    Biography; Born– August 1, 1881, Meadville, Miss. Parents– Henry Clay and Bertha (Deutsch) Mayer. Married– Milton Henry Fies, January 1, 1907. Died March 14, 1971. Source: Owen’s The Story of Alabama, Vol. 5. Publication(s): Sipsey Portraits and Other Poems. Birmingham, Ala.; Fies, 1943.

  • FIELDS, JULIA, 1938-

    Poet; teacher.  Born– January 18, 1938, Bessemer. Parents–Pete and Carrie Fields. Education– Knoxville College, B.S., 1961; Bread Loaf School of English, M.A., 1972; University of Edinburgh. Taught at Westfield High School in Birmingham;  poet-in-residence at numerous colleges and universities. Founder of the Learning School of the American Language, 1919.  Published work in many anthologies and periodicals.  Awarded a…

  • FERRELL, CHILES CLIFTON, 1865-1915

    University professor, writer; business executive. Born– August 20, 1865, Greenville, S.C. Parents– James Overton and Elizabeth Ann (Austin) Ferrell. Married– Tennessee “Tenney” Marr Taliaferro, August 16, 1899. Children–two. Education– Vanderbilt University, A.B., 1885; M.A., 1886; University of Leipzig, Ph.D., 1892; further study at the University of Paris and the University of Berlin. Instructor of Greek,…