Category: D – F

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,…

Military Historian; professor of history.  Born– December 11, 1917, in Waterford, Miss. Parents– James Chester and Oliva Brooks Futrell.  Married– JoAnn MGowan. Education– University of Mississippi, B.A., 1938; M.A., 1939; Vanderbilt University, Ph.D., 1950. Taught at University of Mississippi, 1938; special consultant to U.S. War Department, 1946; historian for Army Air Force and U.S. Air…

Sports administrator; sportswriter.  Born– November 9, 1955, Gadsden. Education– University of Alabama, B.A., 1978. While a student, sports reporter and sports editor for the Crimson-White. Employed by a bank in Gadsden; worked as Director of Development for the Gadsden Metro Chamber of Commerce; Etowah Expansion Association for two years; field representative for the University of Alabama…

Biography: Moonshiner. Born– February 25, 1928, Brent. Parents– Harvey A. and Pearl M. Holley Elam. Married– Barbara Jean Horton. Children– One. Married– Beatrice. Married– Mary Elizabeth Wallace. Married– Cammie Kathleen Johnson. Attended Bibb County High School; earned GED diploma while in prison. Served in U.S. Army, 1946-1947; U.S.Air Force, 3 years. Manufactured illegal whiskey. Incarcerated for…

Biography: Teacher. Born– May 18, 1915, Cleburne County. Parents– George Henry and Naomi (Hicks) Thompson. Married– Thomas Earl DeLoach, June 25, 1938. Children– Three. Education– Attended Livingston State Teachers College, 1934-1936; Jacksonville State University; Alabama Polytechnic Institute, B.S., 1954; the University of Alabama in Birmingham, M.A., 1973. Served as secretary for national defense classes for…

Historian; University professor and administrator. Born– April 8, 1874, Brundidge. Parents– William Leroy and Mary Love (Edwood) Fleming. Married– Mary Wright Boyd, September 17, 1902. Children– Four. Education– Alabama Polytechnic Institute, B.S., 1896; M.A., 1897; Columbia University, A.M., 1901; Ph.D., 1904.  Instructor in history and English and assistant librarian at Auburn, 1896-1900.  Served as an officer…

Engineer, businessman, consultant. Born– August 31, 1882, Birmingham. Parents– Jacob and Fannie (Kahm) Fies. Married– Rose Mayer, January 1, 1907. Education– Columbia University, School of Mines, B.S., 1904. Worked for Republic Iron and Steel Company as resident engineer, superintendent of mines, general superintendent, 1904-1910; general superintendent of mines, Birmingham Coal and Iron Company, 1910-1912; vice president of…

Professor of business, executive, consultant. Born– October 6, 1939, Florence. Parents– Robert and Reba (Smith) Fulmer. Married– Arlene Hogan, March 12, 1960. Children– Two. Married– Patsy Cohen Wallace, July 9, 1977. Education– David Lipscomb College, B.A., 1961; University of Florida, M.B.A., 1962; University of California Los Angeles, Ph.D., 1965. Staff member, Proctor & Gamble, 1962-63; …

Editor, journalist, attorney. Born– December 17, 1913, Birmingham. Parents– Arthur Wright and Leila E. (Thompson) Fuller. Education– University of Alabama, A.B., 1933, M.A., 1934, law student, 1935. Special attorney for U.S. Justice Department, 1935-1939; assistant to the administrator, National Youth Administration, 1939-1941; worked for New Republic as assistant editor, 1944-1946; Washington editor, 1946-1948; political editor,…

Biography; Historian; college professor.  Education– University of Alabama, M.A., 2004; Ph. D., 2010.  Professor of history, University of Mobile. Awarded the 2015 James F. Sulzby Book Award for the outstanding book in Alabama history from the Alabama Historical Association. Publications; Transforming the South; Federal Development in the Tennessee Valley, 1915-1960.  Baton Rouge: LSU Press, 2014.

Business writer; journalist.  Born– February 25, 1915, Birmingham. Parents– Sam Cross and Mabel Elon (Canterbury) Farrar. Married–Marigrace Salyer.  Children– three. Education– Attended Birmingham-Southern College, and Emory University; Millsaps College, A.B., 1940. Secretary for the Corinth, Miss. Chamber of Commerce, 1940-1941; Johnson City, Tennessee Chamber of Commerce, 1941-1942; editor of Nation’s Business, 1942-1943; assistant to the…

Professor of German.  Born–July 10, 1974, Rome, Georgia; moved to Tuscaloosa at an early age.  Parents–Robert H. and Nancy (Barker) Dupree.  Education– Swarthmore College, B.A., 1996; Columbia University, M.A., M.Phil., Ph.D., 2006.  Additional study at the University of Regensburg, the Free University of Berlin, and Humboldt University.  Post-doctoral fellow, Rice University, 2006-2008; professor of German, Georgetown…

Biography; Historian; university professor.  Born– May 30, 1962,Birmingham.  Parents– Brian and Julia Burgos Feldman. Married– Jeannie Reed.  Children–two.  Education–Birmingham-Southern, B.A. in political science and economics, 1983; Vanderbilt, M.A. in political science, 1986; Birmingham-Southern, B.S. in secondary education, 1989; Auburn, M.A.in history, 1992, Ph. D. in history, 1996.  Professor of history at UAB, 1996-2015; taught Economics and…

Biography: Accountant. Born– March 14, 1906, Winston County. Parents– Jim E. and Laura Gertrude (Buchanan) Dunn. Married– Chlora Curtis, June 8, 1936. Children– Two. Education– Pan American College, 1928; University of Alabama, 1933-1935; studied at La Salle Extension University, 1940-1944 Certified public accountant; worked for various gas companies in North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, and…

Publishing executive; horticulturist, editor, writer. Born– February 21, 1948, Selma. Parents– Alex and Louise (Johnson) Floyd. Married– Pamela Lorene Billups.  Children–two. Education– Auburn University, B.S., 1970; M.S., 1972; Clemson University, Ph.D., 1975. Served as an agricultural science assistant at Clemson, 1973-1975; headed agricultural technical program at Jefferson State Junior College, 1975-1977; senior horticulturist for “Southern…

Biography: University professor of philosophy. Born– January 5, 1939, Frankewing, Tenn. Parents– George B. and Lois Sawyers Davis. Married–Jill Hunt. Children–four. Education– Abilene Christian College, B.A., 1960; M.A., 1961; Rice University, Ph.D., 1965. Taught at the University of Houston, 1964-1966; Auburn University, 1966-2013. Member of the American, Southwestern, and Alabama Philosophical Associations, the C.S. Peirce Society,…

Biography: Engineer, businessman. Born– January 22, 1916, Defiance, Ohio. Parents– Blaine and Grace (Burkett) Dickman. Married– Nell Chester, December 24, 1941. Children– One. Education–graduated from high school in Bay Minette;  Alabama Polytechnic Institute, B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, 1943. Worked for York Corporation, in York, Pennsylvania, 1943-1945; for Nolin Manufacturing Corporation, 1948-1970. Founded Summit Equipment Corporation in 1972 and sold it…

Writer; teacher of writing. Born– January 11, 1924, Bristol, R.I. Parents– Herbert E. and Evelyn E. (Verity) Francis. Children– One adopted son. Education– University of Wisconsin, B.A.; Brown University, M.A. U.S. Army Air Force, 1942-45. Awarded Fulbright Fellowship to study at Pembroke College, Oxford University, 1953-1954; University of Cuyo, Argentina, 1964. Taught at Pennsylvania State University, 1950-1952; University…

Commercial artist, illustrator. Born– January 31, 1914, Birmingham. Parents– William Tilman and Dorothea (Orr) Warren. Married– Charles Fox, February 15, 1940. Children– Four. Education, Birmingham-Southern College, 1932-1934. Worked as a commercial artist and illustrator of books and journal articles; participated in Connecticut Artist-in-the-Classroom program, 1969-73.   Died July 22, 1999. Source: Contemporary Authors online; obituary at findagrave.com Publications;…

Teacher, university instructor. Born– Guntersville, February 28, 1925. Parents– Dennis and Annie Mae (Stewart) Floyd. Education– A.M.E. Church School and Lakeview School in Guntersville; Central State College in Ohio, B.A.; Michigan State University, M.A. Served as a teacher with the Peace Corps in Liberia; taught at the Universities of Michigan and Maryland. Died January 17,…

Journalist; public information director. Born– January 9, 1908, Montgomery.  Parents– William F. Frye, Sr., and Hattie Belle Booth Frye. Married– Ida Mary Atkinson. Children–three. Education– Harvard University, 1940. Reporter in Gadsden, Birmingham, and Nashville, Tenn.; joined staff of Associated Press, covering the War Department in Washington during World War II; part time staff of Stars…

Housewife; author. Born– August 17, 1852, Cahaba, Dallas County. Parents– Rees Darrington and Mary Louisa (Gill) Gayle. Married– Dr. Joseph Talbot Fry, April 9, 1890. Education– Tutored at home.  Lived in Galveston, Texas, and then in Selma with her husband.  Died January 26, 1930. Source: Owen’s The Story of Alabama, Vol. III,  findagrave.com Publication(s): Memories…

Presbyterian minister, college president. Born– September 16, 1873, LaFayette. Parents– John Alexander and Nancy Emiline (Abernathy) Frazer. Married– Sarah Winnie Jones, October 25, 1899. Children– Three. Education– Southwestern Presbyterian University, A.B., 1897; Union Theological Seminary, B.D., 1899.  Ordained a Presbyterian minister, 1899. Served churches in Atlanta and Macon, Ga.; Anderson, S.C. Headmaster of Frazer Fitting…

Dentist, professor of dentistry.  Born– February 2, 1908, Freedom, Pa. Parents– Abel and Rebecca (Gordon) Finn. Married– Irma Harriett Rubens, May 7, 1938. Children– Two. Education– Ohio State University, B.A., 1930; Harvard University, D.M.D., 1934; University of Rochester, M.S., 1940. Practiced dentistry in Rochester, N.Y., 1935-1938; associate research dentist, New York Department of Health, 1944-1950; chairman of…

Biography: Historian; University professor. Born– December 8, 1912, Tuscaloosa. Parents– James Jarvis and Mabel (Cowart) Doster. Married– Nina Hall, December 22, 1936. Children– Two. Education– University of Alabama, A.B., 1932; University of Chicago, M.A., 1936; Ph.D., 1948. Taught history at the University of Alabama, 1936-1983. Howard College, 1944-1945; worked for Danforth Foundation Association, 1950-1953; Consultant…

Attorney. Born– March 18, 1920, Jones County, Miss. Married– Ramon L. Farnell, 1950. Children–three.  Education– Jones County Junior College; University of Alabama, 1942; Jackson Law School. Licensed to practice law in Mississippi, 1948. Worked in her husband’s law practice until 1952. Later worked for a law firm in Montgomery.  Member of the Alabama State Poetry Society;…

Historian; University professor. Born– December 10, 1920, Auburn. Parents– Edward and Mary Rebecca (Hopkins) Everett. Married– Mary Lou Malancon, September 4, 1949, Children– Two. Education– University of Florida, B.A., 1941; Tulane University, M.A., 1950; Ph.D., 1952. Served in U.S. Army Air Force, 1942-1945. Taught at Tulane University, 1952-1953; editorial assistant Mississippi Valley Historical Review; faculty…

Biography; Writer; journalist; businessman.  Born December 17, 1943, Coffeeville.  Education: Georgia State University.  Served in the U.S.Army, Vietnam.  Worked in sales and marketing for Chanel, Inc., for 26 years; retired 2003.  Full-time writer after 2003.  Writes features and a column for the Monticello (Georgia) News.  Selected the Georgia Author of the Year in Young Adult…

Biography: Geologist. Born– January 24, 1922, Wetumpka. Parents– T.W. and Anne M. (Thomas) Daniel. Married– Madge Downing Cyr, June 15, 1948. Children– Three. Education– attended Port Arthur College, Tex., 1946-1947; University of Florida, B.S., 1952.  Served in U.S. Army Air Corps, WWII. Worked for Century Geophysics Corporation in Tulsa, 1952-1954.; radioactivity logging operator for Welex…

Literary scholar, theologian,  university professor. Born– July 3, 1921, Birmingham. Parents– John H. and Helen (Mushat) Frye. Married– Jean Elbert Steiner, January 11, 1947. Children– One. Education– Princeton University, A.B., 1943, M.A., 1950, Ph.D., 1952; additional study, Princeton Theological Seminary, 1950-1951. U.S. Army Field Artillery, 1943-1946; reached rank of major and was awarded the Bronze…

Physicist, university professor. Born– September 17, 1915, New York City. Parents–Philip and Rose Coyle Fitzpatrick. Education– University of Oklahoma, B.S., 1950; M.S., 1951; Ph.D., 1955. Served in U.S. Army Air Corps, WWII. Employed as assistant physicist at the University of Oklahoma, 1953-1955; physicist for the U.S. Navy Mine Defense in Florida, 1955-1959; U.S. Navy Proving…

Coach, college president. Born– January 15, 1914. Parents– David Henry and Blanche (Planck) Edington. Married– Marguerite Hass, 1940. Children– Two. Education– Southwestern College at Memphis, A.B., 1934; University of Alabama, M.A., 1938. Coached at University Military School in Mobile, 1934-1936; Spring Hill College, 1936-1938; assistant to the president of Southwestern College (now Rhodes), 1938-1940; president…

Biography: Foreign service officer; professor of political science. Born– October 17, 1923, New York, N.Y. Parents–Thomas I Dickson Sr. and Isabel Anna Keo Dickson. Married–Mona Faye Carroll, September 28,  1948. Children–two. Education– University of Texas, B.A., 1943; M.A., 1948; Ph.D., 1951. Worked as research associate in tax administration for the Texas Legislative Council, 1951-1952; as a…

Biography: Historian of Alabama; School principal; state legislator. Born– December 17, 1855, Gaston, Sumter County. Parents– Benjamin Eusebius and Sarah Elizabeth (Horn) DuBose. Married– Alice Vivian Horn, August 8, 1883. Education– Graduated from Professor S.S.Mellon’s Mt. Sterling Academy; University of Alabama, B.A., 1872; M.A., 1878. Served as principal of Pushmataha High School, 1878-1883; Snow Hill Academy,…

United Methodist Clergyman; denominational leader. Born– February 11, 1885, Evergreen. Parents– John Stanley and Mary Ella (Chapman) Frazer. Married– Sarah Knickerbocker, June 14, 1911. (died 1915)–one child. Married– Lucy Bomar, 1922–Two children.  Education– Southern University, Greensboro, A.B., 1905; Vanderbilt University, B. D., 1909; post-graduate study at the University of Chicago. Ordained to the ministry in…

Biography: Historian; college professor; museum curator. Born– February 6, 1940, Manchester. Parents– Ben G. and Alta (Weaver) Dodd. Married– Sandra Whitten, June 18, 1961. Children– Two. Married–Amy Bartlett, 1985. Children–one.  Education– University of North Alabama, B.S., 1961; Auburn University, M. A., 1966; University of Georgia, Ph.D., 1969. Taught at Troy State University, 1968-1969; Auburn University…

Socialite; writer, artist. Born– July 24, 1900, Montgomery. Parents– Anthony and Minnie (Machen) Sayre. Married– F. Scott Fitzgerald, April 3, 1920. Children– One. Studied ballet and wrote poems and stories.  During the 1020’s lived  a glamorous, extravagant lifestyle in New York City and Paris, as part of an international society of artists, writers, celebrities, and people…

Biography: School psychologist; advertising executive, writer. Born September 13, 1916, Alexander City.  Parents– Lemuel Belah Coley and Julia Smartt Coley.  Married– Thomas Edward Duncan. Children– Two. Education– Agnes Scott College; University of Minnesota, M.A., and Ed.S.; Coursework at University of Oklahoma and Central Oklahoma State University. Worked as a school psychologist for several years.  President…

Scholar and advocate of Persian and other Middle Eastern cultures and languages; Linguist; University professor. Born– January 10, 1920, Birmingham. Parents– Nels and Lillie (Hagman) Frye. Married– Barbara York, May 29, 1948. Children– Three. Married–Eden Naby.  Children–two.  Education– University of Illinois, A.B., 1939; Harvard University, M.A., 1940; Ph.D., 1946; post-doctoral study at the University of London,…

Attorney; elected official; judge. Born– May 9, 1863, Tuscaloosa County. Parents– Joshua Hill and Frances (Bacon) Foster. Married– Jennie Hester, July 24, 1895.  Children–four.  Education– University of Alabama, B.A., 1882; LL.B., 1884. Admitted to the Alabama Bar, 1884. Taught school in Gadsden, 1882-1883; practiced law in Tuscaloosa, 1884-86; Elected County Solicitor, 1886-1890, 1901-03; mayor of Tuscaloosa,…

Jesuit priest; sociologist; college professor. Born– November 6, 1912, New Orleans. Parents– Albert S. and Gertrude Emily (Mavor) Foley. Education– St. Louis University, A.B., 1935; M.A., 1936; M.A., 1948; University of North Carolina, Ph.D., 1950; post doctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan, 1952-1953. Entered the Jesuit Order (Society of Jesus) in 1929; ordained 1942.…

Biography: Journalist; teacher. Born– October 23, 1904, Vaiden, Miss. Parents– Thomas Alston and Mattie (Wright) McKinstry. Married– Jess A. Duncan, March 11, 1925. Children– one. Education– Jacksonville State University;  University of Alabama.  Taught school in Marshall County, 1921-1925; worked for the Advertiser-Gleam  as columnist and  social editor, 1945-1963; after postgraduate study at the University of Alabama,…

Attorney. Born– August 23, 1888, Uniontown. Parents– Carl and Sarah (Bernheim) Ernst, Married– (1)Susan Leerburger, 1912 (died 1922); (2) Margaret Samuels, March 1, 1923. Children– Three. Education– Williams College, B.A., 1909; New York Law School, J.D., 1912. Served as treasurer for shirt manufacturer in Brooklyn, 1911-1912; bookkeeper and salesman, 1911-1915, admitted to New York Bar,…

University professor; folk musician; literary and linguistic scholar. Born– January 1, 1939, Chattanooga. Parents– James Will and Miriam (Crick) Foster. Married– Anne Brandon. Children– Two. Education– University of Chattanooga, B.S., 1951; East Tennessee State University, M.A., 1962; University of Alabama, Ph,D., 1968. Served in U.S. Army, 1961. Taught at the University of North Alabama, 1968-2007;…

Engineer. Born– March 14, 1932, in Bell Buckle, Tenn. Parents– Virnie Lee and Mattie (Dilbridge) Fults.  Married– Anne Simmons, August 26, 1961. Children– Two. Education–  Middle Tennessee State College, B.S., 1958.  Employed as farmer, grocery clerk;  high school teacher in Manchester and Tullahoma, Tenn; engineering aide, 1957-1961; planning analyst, 1961-1962; Tennessee Highway Dept.; engineer, Hayes…

Teacher, writer; lecturer. Born– Talladega, September 7, 1884.  Parents– William and Leila (Hood) McKenzie. Married– Alfred Smith Frasier, October 21, 1908. Education– Talladega High School, 1901; Judson College, 1903; School of Journalism, Columbia University, 1914. Taught in public schools in Talladega and Greenville and in Albertville Agricultural College. Appointed assistant lady principal of Judson College, 1908,…

Biography: Psychiatrist; professor of medicine.  Born– March 22, 1930, Mobile. Parents– William Zachary and Elberta (Gulledge) Fann. Married– Virginia Lee James, May 31, 1958. Children– Three. Education– Alabama Polytechnic Institute (Auburn), B.S., 1955; Medical College of Alabama, M.D., 1959. Served as chief resident in psychiatry, Medical College of Alabama, 1964-1965; assistant professor at Vanderbilt University…