Alabama Authors

Category: All

  • BARKER, LARRY LEE, 1941-

    Biography: University professor of communications. Born– November 22, 1941, Wilmington, Ohio. Parents– Milford and Ruth Maxine Barker. Married– 1961. Children– Two. Education– University of Ohio, A.B., 1962, M.A., 1963, Ph.D., 1965. Taught at Southern Illinois University, 1965-1966; Purdue University, 1966-1969; Florida State University, 1969-1976; Auburn University, 1976-1995. President Spectra Inc., 1979-2000. Awarded emeritus status on…

  • BANKHEAD, TALLULAH BROCKMAN, 1903-1968

    Biography: Actress. Born– January 31, 1902, Huntsville. Parents– William Brockman and Adelaide Eugenia (Sledge) Bankhead. Married– John Emery, August 31, 1937, divorced June 13, 1941. Education– Convent of the Sacred Heart in Manhattanville, NY. Abandoned school to attempt an acting career. Had a few minor roles in New York, then was invited to appear on…

  • BANDY, WAY, 1941-1986

    Biography: Beauty consultant; makeup artist. Born– August 9, 1941, Birmingham (name at birth–Ronald Duane Wright).  Education– Birmingham-Southern; Tennessee Technological University; Christine Valmy Beauty School. Taught American and English Literature in the public schools of Tennessee and Maryland for four years in the early 60’s; in 1967, moved to New York and worked until 1971 as salon and…

  • BALL, TIMOTHY HORTON, 1826-1913

    Biography: Clergyman; historian; teacher.  Born– February 16, 1826, Agawam, Mass. Parents– Hervey and Jane Ayrault (Horton) Ball. Married– Martha Caroline Creighton, April 19, 1855. Children– Two. Education– Franklin College in Indiana, A.B., 1850, A.M., 1853. Taught at Franklin Springs, Ala. in 1851 and began preaching there a short time later. Most of his life was…

  • AYERS, JAMES W., 1928-

    Biography: Self-employed. Born– April 1, 1928, Etowah County. Parents– Jay W. and Thelma (Harbin) Ayers. Education– Etowah High School. Self-employed yard worker. Wrote letters, songs, short stories, and editorials published in periodicals, anthologies, and local newspapers. Lived in Attalla. Source: Files at Gadsden Public Library. Publication(s): Circles of Conquest. New York; Carleton Press, 1968. New Angels.…

  • YOUNGBLOOD, FRANCES E., 1890-1962

    Biography: Journalist. Born– May 1890 in Matthews, Ala. Parents– William and Fannie (Armstrong) Youngblood. Education– Howard College, B.A., 1934; University of Alabama. Editor, educational dept., Birmingham News. Member– Beta Phi Alpha, League of American Pen Women, Alabama Writer’s Conclave, Howard College Alumnae, Alabama Society of Washington, and Birmingham Writers. Died October 7, 1962. Source: American…

  • ELLIOTT, JAMES WALTER, 1927-1992

    Radio announcer and station executive; free-lance journalist. Born– August 12, 1927, Cordova. Parents– Green Smith and Jennie Dew (Pettus) Elliott. Married– Margaret Rose Knight, August 25, 1949. Education– Massey Business College in Birmingham; St. Bernard College in Cullman. Served at radio station WSGN in Birmingham; WKUL in Cullman; WJBB in Haleyville; WFMH in Cullman, WWWR…

  • COPELAND, CHARLES WESLEY, JR., 1932-2014

    Biography: Geologist. Born– October 1, 1932, Hueytown. Married– Doris, 1957. Children– Two. Education– Birmingham Southern College, B.S., 1954; University of North Carolina, M.S. Served in the U.S.Army in the Korean Conflict. Was Chief of the Geology Division, Geological Survey of Alabama after 1974; Assistant State Geologist at the time of his death. Helped compile the…

  • HUEY, THOMAS EDWARD, 1884-1958

    Biography: Civil engineer. Born– April 21, 1884, Birmingham. Parents– John Marvin and Alice Elizabeth (McWilliams) Huey. Married– Julia Lee Jones, June 20, 1906. Children– One. Education– Howard College, B.S., 1904. Employed as civil engineer for eight years; city engineer, East Lake, 1907-1908; assistant city engineer, Birmingham, 1909-1910; resident engineer, Seaboard Air Line Railroad, two years;…

  • FENOLLOSA, MARY McNEIL, 1865-1954

    Writer. Born– Wilcox County, March 8, 1865.  (Grew up in Mobile). Parents– William Stoddard and Laura (Sibley) McNeill.  Education: Irving Female Seminary, Mobile. Married– Ludolph Chester. Children– One. Married– Ledyard Scott. Children–one. Married– Ernest Fenollosa, December 28, 1895. Lived in Japan where her second husband, Ledyard Scott, held a consular post. Returned to U.S. and became secretary to Ernest…

  • McDONALD, THOMAS DENNIS, 1916-1999

    Biography: Attorney; judge. Born– May 18, 1916, Huntsville. Parents– James H. and Ola (Dennis) McDonald. Married– Ethel Cranley, November 27, 1943. Children– One. Education– B.S., George Peabody College, 1940; JD University of Alabama, 1948. Employed as teacher by Asheville, N.C. city schools, 1940-1941; U.S. Army, 1941-1945–discharged with rank of S/Sgt; reporter, Columbus Enquirer, 1945-1946; attorney in…

  • MAYER, ARTHUR LOEB, 1886-1981

    Biography: Film executive. Born– Demopolis, Ala., May 28, 1886. Parents– Simon and Rachel (Bernheim) Mayer. Married– Lillie Stein, May 16, 1916. Children– Three. Education– A.B., Harvard University, 1907. Moved to New York on his graduation and took a job as a salesman with Goldwyn Pictures; later employed as director of publicity, advertising and promotion, Paramount Pictures, 1930-1933;…

  • MAY, AGNES, 1903-1990

    Biography: Writer. Born– Marshall County,  October 17, 1903. Parents– Dr. Olin and Mary E. May. Early days lived in Marshall County; later family lived in Snyder and Lubbock, Texas. Education– Kidd-Key College and Conservatory, a Methodist women’s college in Sherman, Texas (closed 1935). Died June 15, 1990. Source: SCRIPSIT. Publication(s): Bloody Creek. New York; Pageant…

  • JONES, EZRA EARL, 1939-

    Biography: Clergyman. Born– December 30, 1939, Birmingham. Parents– Ezra Elith and Eunice (Minor) Jones. Married– Mary Elizabeth Slaughter, September 11, 1960. Children– Two. Education– Birmingham Southern College, B.A., 1960; Duke University, B.D., 1963; Drew University, Th.M., 1964, further study, 1966-1968; Northwestern University, Ph.D., 1971. Piano and choral instructor, 1956-1960; ordained, United Methodist Church, 1964; Methodist…

  • JONES, CLEON JOSEPH, 1942-

    Biography; Professional baseball player.  Born–Mobile, August 4, 1942. Education– Mobile County Training School; Alabama A & M University.  Played in the New York Mets organization, 1963-75.  Played for the Chicago White Sox, 1976.  Left fielder; considered one of the strongest arms in the National League.  A member of the “Miracle Mets” of 1969; Jones made…

  • SPAIN, RUFUS BUIN, 1923-

    Biography: Historian; professor of history. Born– Jan. 29, 1923 in Gordo, Ala. Parents– John Ellis and Nona (Cameron) Spain. Married– Elizabeth Finchon, Nov. 22, 1945. Children– Two. Married– Carol Hanna, Dec. 1958. Children– Two. Education– diploma from Clarke Memorial Junior College (Miss.); Mississippi College, B.A.; Vanderbilt University, M.A., Ph.D. Served with U.S. Army 1943-1945 and…

  • ECHOLS, JENNIFER, 1966-

    Biography; Novelist.  Born– September 15, 1966, Atlanta.  Married; children–one.  Education:  Auburn University.  Worked as a college teacher, newspaper editor, and copy editor before becoming a freelance author of novels for young people.  Received the National Readers Choice Award for Major Crush; the Aspen Gold Award for Major Crush; the Aspen Gold Award, the Booksellers’ Best…

  • BRAY, LIBBA, 1964-

    Biography; Novelist.  Born March 11, 1964, Montgomery. Married Barry Goldblatt.  Children–one.  Education– University of Texas at Austin, B.A. in Theatre, 1988.  Worked for Penguin Putnam and Spier in New York for several years.  Awarded the Michael Printz Prize for literary excellence in young people’s literature; finalist for L.A. Times Book Prize. Sources; Contemporary Authors online;…

  • BRADFORD, QUEBE MERRITT

    Biography; Educator; writer.  Married–Eric Bradford.  Children–one.  Education– Alabama State University, B.A.; Grand Canyon University, Master’s degree in curriculum and instruction; Auburn University, Ph.D. in education.  High school English teacher, Montgomery, Alabama; Student Achievement Coordinator for English/Language Arts, Montgomery Public schools.  Founded Power Hour Reading Challenge, a program to encourage families and groups to read and…

  • LATHAM, IRENE, 1971-

    Biography; Poet; writer of children’s books.  Born–1971, Covington, Ga.  Moved to Birmingham in 1984.  Married; children–three.  Education– University of Alabama at Birmingham, University of Alabama.  Contributes to poetry journals and anthologies; poetry editor for the Birmingham Arts Journal. Member of Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators; Alabama Writers Forum; Big Table Poets. Named Alabama Poet…

  • KITTINGER, JO SUSENBACH, 1955-

    Biography; Writer of children’s books; journalist; potter; craftsperson.  Born– October 8, 1955, Miami, Florida.  Parents– Donald and Vivian Susenbach.  Married– Richard Joel Kittinger, December 28, 1974.  Children–three.  Education– University of Montevallo, B.F.A., 1977.  Co-owner of a fine crafts gallery in Alabaster, AL, 1977-78; freelance crafts designer, 1978-91; freelance author of children’s books after 1991.  Wrote…

  • JOHNSON, ANGELA, 1961-

    Biography; Writer.  Born–June 18, 1961, Tuskegee.  Parents– Arthur and Truzetta Johnson.  Education–Kent State.  Child development worker, VISTA,  Ravenna, Ohio; freelance writer of children’s books, after 1989.  Member Authors Guild, Authors League of America. Winner of many awards including the Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award, 1991; Coretta Scott King Honor Book designation, 1991,1998; Coretta Scott…

  • HOLLIS, DANIEL WEBSTER, III, 1942-

    Biography: Historian; university professor. Born– November 2, 1942, Talladega. Parents– Daniel W. and Eleanor Keith (Parker) Hollis. Married– Lynda Akin, September 4, 1966. Children– Two. Education– University of Georgia, B.A., 1964; Auburn University, M.A., 1968; Vanderbilt University, Ph.D., 1972. Taught at Auburn University, 1965-1966; W.L. Yancey State Junior College, 1966-1967; Vanderbilt University, 1968-1970; worked for…

  • ZIOLKOWSKI, THEODORE, 1932-

    Biography; Linguist; university professor of German; academic administrator.  Born– September 20, 1932,  Birmingham.  Parents– Miecislaw and Cecilia (Jankocuski) Ziolkowski. Married– Yetta Goldstein, March 26, 1951. Children– Three. Education– Duke University, A.B., 1951; A.M., 1952; University of Innsbruck, 1952-1953; Yale, Ph.D. 1957. Taught German at Yale, 1956-1962; Columbia, 1962-1964; Princeton, 1964-2001; Class of 1900 Professor of…

  • JORDAN, WEYMOUTH TYREE, 1912-1968

    Biography: Historian, agriculturalist, teacher. Born– Oct. 31, 1912, Hamlet, N.C. Parents– William Daniel and Etta Mary (Utley) Jordan. Married– Louise Elizabeth Riggan, Aug. 11, 1935. Children– Three. Education– North Carolina State College, B.S., 1933; Vanderbilt University, M.A., 1934, Ph.D., 1937; postdoctoral study, Graduate School, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, 1947, and Iowa State College, 1948. Taught…

  • JOHNSTON, HEWITT, 1874-1967

    Biography: Physician. Born– January 16, 1874, Oakman, Ala. Parents– Allen H. and Mariah Louisa (Thompson) Johnston. Education– Florence Normal College, graduated, 1900; Nashville Medical College, M.D., 1906; University of Louisville Medical School; post-graduate work in New York City, at University of Pennsylvania Medical School, and at the University of Vienna. Worked as a teacher in local…

  • BENTON, JEFFREY C.

    Biography; Air Force officer; historian.  Married–Karen; children–two.  Education; B.A., The Citadel; M.A. English, UNC; M.A. political science, Auburn University at Montgomery; M.A. history, Auburn University. Served as an Air Force Officer for 28 years; retired as colonel.  Author of many newspaper articles on Montgomery history;  editor of local history books for NewSouth publishers.  Taught history…

  • BADHAM, JOHN, 1939-

    Biography; Film director; producer; author; university professor.  Born–August 25,1939, Lupton, England (moved to Birmingham with his family at the age of two).  Parents– Henry Lee Badham and Mary Hewitt.  Married– Jan Speck.Education– Indian Springs School; Yale University; Yale School of Drama, M.A.  Began work at Universal Studios and worked his way  up in films and…

  • ANDREWS, ANDY, 1959-

    Biography; Author; motivational speaker.  Born May 22, 1959, Birmingham; grew up in Dothan. Parents–Larry and Joyce Andrews.  Married– Polly Andrews.  Children–two.  Education–Auburn University.  Author of inspirational books; public speaker.  Appears frequently on television. Publications; The Boy Who Changed the World.  Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2014. The Butterfly Effect. Thomas Nelson, 2010. The Final Summit. Thomas Nelson,…

  • FRITH, GREG H., 1949-

    Educator. Born– February 15, 1949, Selma. Parents– George and June Jackson. Education– Huntingdon College, B.S., 1970; University of Alabama, M.S., 1971; Ed.S., 1972; Ph,D., 1973. Employed by the Alabama State Department of Education, 1972-1973. Taught special education at Jacksonville State University, after 1973.. Received the Alpha Brown Award from the Alabama Council for Exceptional Children,…

  • CORNELIUS, MARY CHILTON CHASE, 1879-1952

    Biography: Writer. Born 1879– North Carolina. Parents– George Franklin and Emma (Pearson) Chase. Married– Jesse Nelson Cornelius, June 5, 1900. Education– Private schools. Member of the American Literary Association and the Verse Writers Guild of America. Contributed poems and essays to magazines and newspapers. Between 1912 and 1926, she won fourteen literary prizes and, between…

  • BENFORD, GREGORY ALBERT, 1941-

    Biography: Physicist; science fiction writer.  Born– January 30, 1941, Mobile. Parents– James Alton and Mary Eloise (Nelson) Benford. Married– Joan Abbe, August 26, 1967. Children– Two. Married Elisabeth Malartre Brown, 2005. Education– University of Oklahoma, B.S., 1963; University of California in San Diego, M.S., 1965, Ph.D., 1967. Worked as a research assistant, University of California…

  • SMITH, SEBIE BIGGS, 1908-2002

    Biography; Military officer; aviator; newspaper executive.  Born–Hinds, Mississippi, November 2, 1908.  Parents– Elbert P. and Mattie Smith.  Married–Lucy Amelia Hudson, 1938.  Children–five. 1940-42, worked for Emery-Riddle School of Aviation, Miami; 1942-46, active duty with U.S.Army Air Corps (later U.S.Air Force); 1945-65, U.S.Air Force Reserve, retired 1965 with rank of colonel.  Worked as a newspaper executive…

  • FLAGG, FANNIE, 1941-

    Biography; Actor, writer, producer.  Born Patricia Neal- September 21, 1941, Birmingham.  Parents– William H. and Marion Leona Neal. Education: University of Alabama, Pittsburgh Playhouse, Town and Gown Theatre.  Took the name Fannie Flagg to avoid confusion with the actress Patricia Neal. Appeared onstage and in various Television series and movies as a comedienne; toured with…

  • NEAL, PATRICIA

    See FLAGG, FANNIE

  • JONES, RODNEY, 1950-

    Biography; Poet; university professor of English.  Born– February 11, 1950, Falkville, Alabama. Parents– E. Lavon and Wilda Owen Jones.  Married– Virginia Kremza, 1972 (divorced 1979); married Gloria Nixon de Zepeda, 1981.  Children– two.  Education: University of Alabama,B.A., 1971; University of North Carolina–Greensboro, M. F. A., 1973.  Writer-in-residence, Virginia Intermont College, 1978-84; professor of English, Southern…

  • CERTAIN, GENI,

    Biography; Journalist; editor.  Editor of the Anniston Star, 1993-2006; editor-in-chief of the Talladega Daily Home beginning in 2010. Publications; Professor-Politician:  The Biography of Alabama Congressman Glen Browder.  NewSouth Books, 2013.

  • CHAMBERS, JOSEPH VERNON, 1893-1981

    Biography: Businessman; Probate judge. Born March 14, 1893. Parents– Joseph Sanders Chambers. Lived in Chambers and Lee Counties. Married– Attie Belle Bonner, December 18, 1912. Children– Two. Married– Mabel Crum Dillard, October 25, 1964. Education– Attended Massey Business College in Columbus, Ga.; studied law by correspondence from La Salle Correspondence School in Chicago. Worked in…

  • CHAMBERS, JEFFERSON AVERY, 1886-1959

    Biography; Farmer and businessman.  Born April 8, 1886, Chambers County.  Parents–James Benjamin and Cora Tatum Chambers.  Married–Ethel Bennett.  Education–graduated from Bryson Academy.  Property owner and well known local citizen. Died December 12, 1959. Source:  Miss Mattie Lou Cato, Lafayette Pilot Public Library, Lafayette. Joint_Publications; A Survey of the Older Church Cemeteries in Chambers County, Alabama, Made…

  • CHAMBERS, NELLA JEAN, 1913-1959

    Biography: Mill worker; avocational historian. Born April 16, 1913, Chambers County.  Parents– Jefferson A. and Ethel Bennett Chambers.  Education–graduated from Fairfax High School.  Worked for West Point Pepperell Manufacturing Company.  Member Chattahoochee Valley Historical Society. Died December 12, 1959. Source; Miss Mattie Lou Cato, Lafayette Pilot Public Library, Lafayette; findagrave website Publications; A Survey of…

  • HARRIS, GARRARD, 1876-1927

    Biography: Lawyer, editor. Born– May 14, 1876, in Columbus, Ga. Parents– James Walton and Gertrude Garrard Harris. Married– Mary Lou Sykes, November 14, 1906. Education– University of Georgia, North Georgia Agricultural College; Millsaps College, LL.B., 1902. Practiced law in Jackson, Miss., 1903-1911; special agent, U.S. Department of Commerce to Latin America, 1914-1917; specialist and editor, Federal…

  • HARDING, WILLIAM PROCTOR GOULD, 1864-1930

    Biography: Banker. Born– May 5, 1864, in Boligee, Greene Co. Parents– Horace and Eliza Proctor (Gould) Harding. Married– Amanda Moore, October 22, 1895. Children– Two. Education– University of Alabama, A.B., 1880, A.M., 1881. Clerk and bookkeeper, J.H. Fitts & Co. Bank in Tuscaloosa; bookkeeper and cashier, Berney National Bank, Birmingham; vice president, later president, First…

  • HELMS, RANDEL, 1942-

    Biography: Poet; literary scholar; university professor. Born– November 6, 1942, Montgomery. Grew up in California. Parents– Loyce Virgil and Vernell Mann Helms. Married– Penelope Palmer, August 1, 1964.  Married–Susan McCraw. Children– One. Education– University of California in Riverside, B.A., 1964; University of Washington, Ph.D., 1968. Taught English at the University of California in Los Angeles, 1968-1977 and Arizona…

  • JOHNSON, WINTHROP E.

    Biography; Attorney.  Member of Alabama State Bar.  Served in Air Force JAG Corps. Deputy campaign manager in Perry Hooper Sr.’s race for chief justice, 1994.  Currently works for the Administrative Office of Courts for the State of Alabama. Source: Book jacket, Courting Votes in Alabama. Publications; Courting Votes in Alabama.  Lafayette, LA: Prescott Press, 1999.

  • MEADOWS, THOMAS BURTON, 1882-

    Biography: University professor. Born– Bowdon, Ga., February 19, 1882. Parents– James Henry and Anna Lee (Thurman) Meadows. Married– Eunice McDonnald.  Children–three. Education– Hanceville, Ala. High School; Alabama Polytechnic Institute; B.S., University of Alabama, 1911; M.S., Peabody, 1912; M.A., Cornell, 1916; Ph.D., Columbia, 1923; Ed.D., New York University, 1932; University of California, Indiana University. Employed as…

  • GORMAN, ETHEL MILLER, 1911-2002

    Biography: Health services administrator. Born– October 10, 1911, Birmingham. Parents– Beauregard and Ethel Therese (Jungill) Miller. Married– Thomas C. Gorman, April 11, 1939. Children– Two. Education– Study at Howard College, 1928-1929; Rollins College, A.B., 1932; graduate work at Washington University, 1937; Tulane University, 1959. Health services administrator in Birmingham; director of Birmingham Mental Health Association. …

  • GOODWIN, STEPHEN, 1943-

    Biography: Writer; professor of English. Born– October 20, 1943, in Pennsylvania; spent his childhood in Alabama. Parents– Claudius Lee and Jeanette Lucy Goodwin. Married–Lucia Stanton, June 16, 1964.  Children–one.  Education– Harvard University, B.A., 1965; University of Virginia, M.A., 1969.  US Army, 1966-68. Instructor at Washington and Lee University, 1969-73; assistant professor, Bryn Mawr College, 1973-78;…

  • GOODRUM, JOHN C., 1918-2004

    Biography: Engineer. Born– March 10, 1918, in Vicksburg, Ms. Parents– John C. and Josephine (Beaufort) Goodrum. Married– Sarah Grace Bratton, May 22, 1948.  Children–two. Education– Mississippi State University, B.S., 1939; State University of Iowa, M.S., 1941. Employed as an engineer, Canal Zone, 1940-1941; Vicksburg, 1946-1958; director, IE division of Army Ballistic Missile Agency at Redstone Arsenal,…

  • GILMORE, J. HERBERT, JR., 1925-1995

    Biography: Clergyman. Born– January 7, 1925, Rutledge, Tenn. Parents– Herbert and Mabel (Doyal) Gilmore. Education– Carson-Newman College, B.A., 1945; George Peabody College, M.A., 1949; Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, B.D., 1950; Th.M., 1951; Th.D., 1959; Yale University. Married– Joyce Marie Wade, June 17, 1946. Children– Four. Served as pastor in Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Alabama, Washington, D.C.; …

  • GILMORE, EDDY LANIER KING, 1907-1967

    Biography: Journalist. Born– May 28, 1907, Selma. Parents– Eddy Lanier and Evelyn (King) Gilmore. Married– Tamara Chernashova, July 13, 1943. Children– Three. Education– Studied at Washington and Lee University, 1925-1926; graduate of Carnegie Institute of Technology, 1928. News reporter for Atlanta Journal, 1929-1932; Washington Daily News, 1932-1935; Associated Press, 1935-67. Worked for Associated Press in…