Category: D – F

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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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.

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…

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,…

4University professor of criminal justice.  Born– November 19, 1930, Dayton, Ohio.  Parents–Theodore and Mildred M. Felkenes. Married– Sandra Weeks Hartness, March 24, 1961. Education– University of Maryland, B.S., and J.D.; California State University at Long Beach, M.A., 1968; University of California at Berkeley, D.Crim., 1970. Served as an attorney and investigator for Federal Trade Commission,…

Biography; Literary scholar; university professor. Born– February 7, 1944, Indianapolis, Ind. Parents– Robert and Dorothy Felgar. Married– Cynthia Sass, May 13, 1965. Children– Two. Education– Occidental College, B.A., 1966; Duke University, M.A., 1968; Ph.D., 1970. Taught at Duke, 1969-1970; Virginia Wesleyan College, 1970-1971; Jacksonville State University, 1971-. Source: Robert Felgar, III. Jakcsonville State University website…

Attorney, judge, editor. Born– July 23, 1886, New York City. Parents– Max and Rachel (Haddas) Feidelson. Married– Adeline Brady Falk, November 15, 1916. Children– Three. Education– University of Georgia, A.B., 1906; LL.B., 1908. Admitted to the Georgia Bar, 1908. Practiced law in Savannah; judge of juvenile court, 1915-1919; editor of the Wilmington (N.C.) Star, 1919-1921;…

Historian; college professor, dean. Born– August 13, 1891, Anderson, Ind. Parents– Edgar William and Elizabeth Modlia Farmer. Education– Terre Haute Normal School (Indiana State University), B.S., 1917; University of Wisconsin, M.A., 1922; Ph.D., 1927;  Taught in public schools in Madison County, Muncie and Crawfordsville, Ind.; Ball Teachers College, 1917-1927; Alabama State College for Women, 1927-1956, serving…

Historian; researcher. Born– September 12, 1897, Montgomery. Parents– James Hunter and Sallie (Dickinson) Farrish. Education– Princeton University, B.S., 1922; Harvard University, M.A., 1926; Ph.D., 1936. Served as assistant principal Choudrant Agricultural School, 1923-1924; taught at Westminister College, 1926-1937; Director of the Department of Research and Records of Colonial Williamsburg, 1937-44. General editor, Williamsburg Historical Studies; Member…

Clergyman, editor; organization executive. Born– December 24, 1935, Birmingham. Parents– Findley Pratt and Frieda Mae (Traweek) Eversole. Married– Mary Ann Knox, June 8, 1958. Education– Birmingham Southern College, A.B., 1956; Vanderbilt University, B.D., 1958; Union Graduate School, Ph. D., 1976.   Methodist clergyman; literary editor, Motive Magazine, 1959-1961; editor of Interseminarian and Communique, director of the interseminary movement…

Rabbi, lawyer. Born– May 20, 1938, Pittsburgh, Pa. Parents– Meyer David and Lillian (Werner) Elovitz. Married– Helen Arna Altheim, October 13, 1963. Children– Three. Education– New York University, B.A., 1960; Ph.D., 1973; Jewish Theological Seminary of America, M.H.L., 1962; Cumberland School of Law, J.D., 1977. Became a rabbi in 1964. Served as a chaplain in…

Teacher, travel agent, Born– November 1, 1867, Newbern. Parents– Charner and Isabel (Vann) Wallis. Married– James Thomas Elliott, June 27, 1888. Children– Three. Education– Presbyterian College in Talladega; Normal College, Lebanon, Ohio. Taught in city schools of Talladega. Founded Elliott Tours, a successful travel agency. Founded the Elliott Museum, exhibiting items she had collected in…

Artist. Born– June 14, 1914, Clay County, Tenn. Parents– Champ Ferguson and Mary Ellen Donaldson Williams. Married– Thomas Edwards. Children– Two. Education– Tennessee Technical Institute. President of Athens P.T.A., 1950. Died May 21, 1977. Source: Jacket of The Lure and Lore of Limestone County; ancestry.com Publication(s): The Donaldsons of Middle Tennessee. Athens, Ala.; Edwards, 1972.…

Historian; University professor, college dean. Born– November 20, 1932, Louisville, Miss. Parents–James Tildon and Lillian Lee Haggard Eaves.  Married–Dorothy Ann Green, June 19, 1959. Children–one. Education– Mississippi State University, B.S., 1953; M.A.; Peabody College, M.A., 1957; University of Alabama, M.A.,  Ph,D., 1970. Taught at Dana Jr. High School in San Diego, 1956-1957; professor and Dean…

Postal clerk, nurse. Born– April 6, 1920, Brookwood. Parents– Luther Latham and Amie Estelle (Collins) Hayes. Married– Dewey Willard Early, March 29, 1938. Children– Two. Education– dental hygenist program of the University of Alabama in Birmingham, 1932; certification for the Chicago School of Nursing, 1953. Employed as a clerk for U.S. Selective Service, 1940-1943; clerk…

Biography: High school teacher, agriculture extension service official, college president. Born– October 14, 1875, Russellville. Parents– Thomas Fulford and Margaret S. (Hargett) Duncan. Married– Annie Elizabeth Smith, February 26, 1902. Children– Three. Education– Alabama Polytechnic Institute, B.S., 1900; M.S., 1907; graduate study at the University of Tennessee and the University of Illinois.  Taught agriculture in…

Biography: Businessman, theatrical director, editor; writer. Born– November 8, 1927, Birmingham. Education– University of New Mexico, B.A.; Christ Church College of Oxford University, M.A. Served in the U.S. Army, 1946; director of Collett, Dickenson, Pearce and Partners (advertising firm) in London, -1967; director of Cambridge (England) Theatre Company; publications editor for the National Theatre, London. Awarded…

Biography: Agricultural scientist; professor of agriculture; administrator and editor. Born– August 24, 1868, Faunsdale. Parents– Reuben Henry and Margaret Louisa (Minge) Duggar. Married– Frances Ambrose Camp, June 17, 1891. Children– Six. Education– Southern University at Greensboro, B.S., 1887; Mississippi A & M College, M.S., 1888; additional study at Columbian University (now George Washington University), Cornell, and…

Biography: Botanist, university professor. Born– September 1, 1872, Gallion. Parents– Reuben Henry and Margaret Louisa (Minge) Duggar. Married– Marie L. Robertson, October 16, 1901. Children– Five. Married– Elsie Rest, June 6, 1927. Children– One. Education– University of Alabama, 1887-89; Mississippi Agricultural and Mechanical College, B.S. (First Honors), 1891; Alabama Polytechnic Institute, M.S., 1892; Harvard University,…

Biography: Writer. Born– 1844, Tuscaloosa. Parents– Matthew and Martha (Gillespie) Duffee. Education– Attended Tuscaloosa Female Seminary and private schools in New York City. Travelled frequently between Tuscaloosa, where her father was proprietor of the Washington House Tavern, and Blount Springs in Blount County, where he owned the Duffee House, a resort hotel. Acted as hostess at the Duffee…

Biography: College instructor, artist, editor, publisher. Born– March 17, 1946, Chicago. Parents– Russell Thomas and Olga (Kochink) Holt. Education– University of Illinois at Chicago Circle, B.A., 1967; University of Iowa, M.F.A., 1970; Columbia Pacific University, Ph.D., 1980. Taught at Morningside College, 1970-1973; Rust College, 1973-1974; Mississippi Industrial College, 1974-1975; Daniel Payne College, 1975. Co-owner and…

Biography: Cotton planter, historian, newspaper journalist, editor. Born– March 5, 1836, Society Hill, Darlington County, S.C.; moved to Marengo County with his family in 1850.  Parents– Kimbrough Cassels and Elizabeth Boykin (Witherspoon) DuBose. Never married. Education– Dayton Classical Academy; one term at South Carolina College, 1854; studied at home with private tutors. Successful cotton planter in…

Biography: Methodist clergyman; bishop. Born– November 7, 1858, Choctaw County. Parents– Hezekiah and Amanda (Hawkins) Du Bose. Married– Rosa Chaney, December 6, 1882. Married– Gertrude Vaughn Amis, 1899. Children– Six. Education– Attended Waynesboro Academy in Mississippi; also taught by languages and classics tutors. Licensed to preach in the Methodist Episcopal Church, 1876; ordained, 1879. Served as…

Biography: Physican, inventor; poet. Born– August 18, 1848, Glenalter, Ga. Parents– Thomas Henry and Martha Stearns (Davie) Dozier. Married– Elizabeth Powers, April 30, 1874. Children– Five. Education–Eufaula Male Academy;  Atlanta Medical College, M.D., 1874; further study in the medical department of Illinois University. Member Company A., 2nd Regiment, Georgia Volunteers, CSA.  Began the practice of medicine…

Biography: Football coach. Born– September 4, 1932, Mobile. Parents– William Vincent and Nellie Agnes (Stauter) Dooley, Married– Barbara Anne Meshad, 1960. Children– Three. Education– Alabama Polytechnic Institute, B.A., 1954; M.A., 1963. Served as assistant football coach, Auburn, 1956-1963; head coach at the University of Georgia, 1963. Member and president of the Georgia Historical Society. Trustee…

Biography: Historical researcher. Born– May 5, 1922.  Atlanta, Ga. Married– Lee P. Dodd, November 23, 1939. Children– Two. Living in Montgomery, 1959. Civilian employee at Maxwell Air Force Base.  Died February 18, 1994. Source: The Birmingham News, October 21, 1979; ancestry.com Joint_Publication(s): The Civil War in Winston County, Alabama, “The Free State.”  Adapted from Annals…

Biography: Attorney; 40th governor of Alabama. Born– July 25, 1892, Oakland, Calif. Parents– Frank and Launa (Murry) Dixon. Married– Juliet Jolly Perry, November 3, 1920. Children– Two. Education– Phillips Exeter Academy; Columbia University; University of Virginia, LL.B.  Admitted to the bar and joined the Frank S. White Law Firm  in Birmingham, 1917; managed White’s campaign for the U.…

Biography: Congregational clergyman. Born– December 21, 1857, West Springfield, Mass. Parents– Henry Kirke White and Angeline (Dunham) Dickinson. Married– Mary Lord Thorn, January 20, 1886. Children– Two. Education– Amherst College, B.A., 1881; Yale Divinity School, B.D., 1884; graduate work at Yale, 1884-1889; an honorary D.D., 1903. Organized a Congregational ministry in 1885 and served as…

Biography: Librarian. Born– December 5, 1925. Montgomery. Parents– Arthur Taylor and Ruby Marie (Brown) Dickinson. Married– Marjorie Faye Sutton, June 14, 1954. Children– Two. Education– Huntingdon College, B.A., 1953; University of Chicago, M.A., 1957. Worked as clerk for the Midwest Inter-Library Center in Chicago, 1953-1954; Mansfield, Ohio Public Library, 1954-1977, serving as a reference librarian,…

Biography: Historian; University professor. Born– May 10, 1936, New York, N.Y. Parents– Nicholas and Delores (Ricaurte) Delpar. Education– Rutgers University, B.A., 1957; New York University, M.A., 1961; Columbia University, Ph.D., 1967. Taught at Indiana State University, 1967-1969; Florida State University’s Canal Zone Branch, 1969-1973; visiting professor at Ohio Wesleyan University, 1973-1974; University of Alabama, 1974-2006. …

Biography: Writer, editor. Born– January 14, 1951, Fort Meade, Md. Parents– Douglas Morgan and Evelyn (Mueller) Dederer. Married– Melissa. Children– Two. Education– University of South Florida, B.A., 1980; M.A., 1982; University of Alabama, Ph.D., 1988.  Served in the U.S.Army, 1974-77. Visiting scholar at Brown University. Employed by PanAmerican Airways, Aerospace Division, British West Indies, 1968-1969;…

Biography: Music teacher; composer. Born– June 14, 1938, Coleman, Texas. Parents– Elmer Joe and Edna Erle (McCorkle) Blair. Married– Frank Deaver, August 22, 1957. Children– Two. Education– Sam Houston State University, B.S., 1959; M.A., 1960; University of Alabama, Ed.S., 1974; additional graduate study at the Universities of Oklahoma and Oregon. Taught voice and piano privately…

Attorney, professor of law; law school dean. Born– July 15, 1863, Adrian, Mich. Parents– Thomas and Catherine (Chase) Farrah. Married– Eva A, Wilson, August 28, 1888. Children– One. Education– University of Michigan, LL.B., 1896; Cornell College, A.M., 1906. Served as superintendent of schools in Michigamme, Mich., 1889-1894; admitted to Michigan Bar in 1896 and practiced…

Teacher; school administrator. Born– September 12, 1869, Snow Hill. Parents– Jackson and Martha Carmichael Edwards. Originally named Ulysses Grant Edwards; grandfather changed name to William James. Married–Susan Verdelle Johnson, May 17, 1900. Children–six. Education– Tuskegee Institute. Organized and operated Snow Hill Normal and Industrial Institute, in Wilcox County, which lasted from 1893-1972 and at one…

Biography: Educator, administrator, college president. Born– September 1, 1899, Hartford. Parents– John William and Vashti (Roney) Draughon. Married– Caroline Marshall, June 9, 1931. Children– Two. Education– Alabama Polytechnic Institute, B.S., 1921; M.S., 1929; studied at the University of Chicago, summers of 1923 and 1939. High school teacher in Choctaw County, 1922-1923; school principal in Sumter County, 1925-1927;…

Biography; Writer; professional poker player. Born– Tuscaloosa.  Married–Lex Harris.   Education–University of Colorado, B.A.; New York University, M.A., 1997. Lives in New York.  Nominated for the Los Angeles Times Best Book and the Southern Critics Circle Best Book of the Year, both for Eating the Cheshire Cat. Professional poker player on the national tournament circuit. Sources; Contemporary…

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…

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…

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…