Category: D – F

University professor, economist. Born– December 14, 1922, Luverne. Parents– Albert Donlin and Lila (Douglass) Fundaburk. Education– Alabama College, 1940-1942; University of Mexico, summer 1942; George Washington University, A.B., 1944; Northwestern University, M.A., 1946; Ohio State University, Ph.D., 1963. Held positions in government and industry; teacher, Huntingdon College, 1950; Ohio State University, 1958-1963; University of Hawaii;…

Attorney, judge. Born– April 13, 1929, Albertville. Parents– Joseph Herman and Nanna Rose (McMullan) Emmet. Married– Elizabeth Thigpen, October 22, 1955. Children– Five. Married– Amy Hinson. Education– University of Alabama, J.D., 1955; J.D., 1956. U.S. Army, Korean War. Admitted to the bar in 1955 and practiced law until 1959. Served as judge of the Family…

Artist; book designer. Born– January 8, 1925, Luverne. Married– Max M. Foreman, June 7, 1950. Children– Three. Education– Huntingdon College; Ohio State University, B.F.A., 1946. Also studied at Troy State Teachers College and Columbia University. Source: Alabama Public Library Service Files. Publication(s): Pocket Guide to the Location of Art in the United States. Luverne, Ala.;…

Novelist. Born– December 28, 1928, Troy. Parents– Jesse Hill and Lucille (Musgrove) Ford. Married– Sally Davis. Children–four.  Married Lillian Pellettieri Chandler. Education: Vanderbilt University, B.A., 1951; University of Florida, M.A., 1955; University of Oslo, 1961-1962. Reporter for the Nashville Tennessean while at Vanderbilt. Served as a naval officer during Korean War. Employed as news writer by the…

Biography: Newspaper correspondent; educator.  Born–February 27, 1889.  Mobile. Parents– Francis G. and M. E. (Henry) Ruffin. Education– St. Joseph’s College, Emmitsburg, Md., B.A. Married– Joseph F. Durham. Employed as teacher; public relations officer for Mobile Schools;  Mobile correspondent for the Birmingham News and Age Herald. Member and president of Alabama Writers Conclave; chairman of the…

Baptist minister, editor. Born– December 18, 1847, Tuscaloosa County. Parents– Arthur and Elizabeth Amelia Foster. Married– Fannie Merrick, May 22, 1870. Married– Kate (Gidden) Raines, 1880. Children–two.  Education– University of Alabama [withdrew 1864]; Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Greenville, South Carolina, 1868-1870 and 1873-1875. Ordained to the Baptist ministry in Starkville, MS, 1871. Served churches in…

Clergyman. Born– April 7, 1914, Goodwater. Parents– Robert N. and Margie Conaway Franklin. Married–Lottie Mae Pruet.  Children–one. Education– Birmingham Southern College, A.B.; Union Theological Seminary. Licensed to preach by the United Methodist Church, 1930. Served at various Methodist churches, including First Methodist, Gadsden, 1957-70; First Methodist, Birmingham, 1970-80; Canterbury Methodist, Birmingham, 1980-92.  Member of Rotary and…

Music teacher. Born– September 4, 1904, Selma. Parents– John David and Annie Lee (Burke) Livingston. Married– Edward P. Fendley, June 12, 1924. Children– Two. Education– Athens College, 1920-1922; Detroit Institute of Musical Arts, 1922-1924. Taught in the public schools of Live Oak and Leesburg, Fla.; Grove Hill and Demopolis, Ala. Member of the Alabama Music…

Music teacher. Born– August 14, 1895, LaFollette, Tenn. Parents– Cornelius and Callie (Turner) Gross. Married– Robert Hugh Ervin. Education– Tennessee College for Women, B.A., 1916; Chicago Musical College, Troy State University, M.S., 1958; attended George Peabody College. Taught at Tennessee College for Women; taught private music lessons in Troy, after 1941. Received the Phi Mu…

College instructor of English. Born– July 12, 1896, Brewton. Parents–David  and Martha F. Gillis.  Married– John Poston Figh. Children–one.  Education– Judson College, A.B., 1916; University of Alabama, M.A., 1917; Columbia University, M.A. Taught in Alabama high schools until 1924; Huntingdon College, 1924-1972; University of Alabama, Montgomery Center, 1937-1942. Member of the South Atlantic Modern Language…

Linguist; University professor. Born– June 23, 1933, Bellamy. Parents– Simon Errol and Lillian Foscue. Education– University of Alabama, B.A., 1955; M.A., 1959; University of Wisconsin, 1966. Taught at the University of Alabama, 1963-1993. Member of the Linguistics Society of America, Modern Language Association, and National Council of Teachers of English. Phi Beta Kappa.  Died June…

Biography: Historian; University professor. Born– Mobile. Parents– Bevil T. and Nona S. Amos. Married–Chris Doss. Education– Agnes Scott College, A.B., 1972; Emory University, M.A., 1975; Ph.D., 1976. Taught at Northern Michigan University, 1977-1978; University of Alabama in Birmingham, 1978-present. Contributed articles to many journals and anthologies. Member of the Organization of American Historians, Southern History…

Home economics teacher. Born– October 1, 1902, Birmingham. Parents– John Cortlan and Anne Lee (Bonholzer) Forney. Education– Florence Normal School, 1917-1921; Teachers College of Columbia University, George Peabody College; Iowa State College, B.S., 1928; M.S., 1930. Taught in Montgomery County schools, 1921-1927; itinerant teacher trainer and assistant supervisor of home economics education, Alabama College, 1928-1933;…

Biography: Episcopal priest. Born– August 21, 1893, Lauderdale County. Parents– James Josephus and Mary Sue (Brooks) Douglass. Education– Attended Florence State College, 1913; Columbia University, 1913-1915; University of the South, B.A., 1919; Keble College, Oxford University, B. Litt., 1921. Ordained a deacon in Episcopal Church, 1921; and a priest, 1923. Served as rector of churches…

Methodist clergyman. Born– September 6, 1902, Comanche County, Tex. Parents– Charles and Ola (Smith) Foote. Married– Lucy Lee Young, 1927. Children– One. Education– Southern Methodist University, B.D., M.A.; Iliff School of Theology, Th.D.  Admitted to the Northwest Texas Methodist Conference, 1924. Served churches in Amarillo, Pampas and Fort Worth, Tex.; Little Rock, Ark.; Montgomery (1941-1944),…

University professor, college president. Born– September 29, 1905, Birmingham. Parents– William Edwards and Adele Brooks Fort. Married–Helene Gores, 1932. Children–two. Married– Margarette Bullard, 1942. Married Anne H. Fort.  Education– Georgia Institute of Technology, B.S., 1930; Duke University, M.A., 1932; Ph.D. 1934. Taught economics and business administration at Mercer University, 1934-1938; taught business administration and psychology at Winthrop College, 1938-1942;…

Teacher, historian. Born– October 28, 1912, Troy. Parents– Matthew Dower and Sarah (Collier) Pace. Married– Curren A. Farmer, December 1, 1934. Children– Four. Education– Troy State College, B.S., 1932. Taught in the schools of Enterprise, Birmingham, and Brundidge.  Wrote a weekly historical column in the Troy Messenger.  Member of the Alabama and Southern Historical Associations and…

Writer; editor. Born– November 13, 1928, Tuscaloosa. Parents John J. and Gertrude McAlpine Fellows. Married– Gerald Strauss. Children– Two. Education– graduated from the University of Alabama, 1948 (student of Hudson Strode);  Columbia University, M.A. (history), 1951.  Worked as an editor for Simon and Schuster. Wrote several travel guides in the 1990’s. Awarded Eugene F. Saxon Fellowship…

Museum curator. Born– December 6, 1926, Magnolia. Parents– James Marvin and Alma (Shaddix) Anders. Married– Lawrence A. Edwards, June 28, 1952. Children– Two. Education– Jacksonville State University, A.B., 1947; University of Alabama, M.A., 1949; Louisiana State University. Worked for the University of Alabama, 1949-1952; University of North Carolina, 1952-1954; education curator at Magnolia Mound Plantation…

Attorney. Born– April 27, 1887, Auburn. Parents– Tucker Henderson and Annie D. (Holifield) Frazer. Married– Mary V. Danner, January 6, 1916. Children– Two. Education– Alabama Polytechnic Institute, B.S., 1906; M.S., 1907; University of Alabama, LL.D., 1913. Admitted to the Alabama Bar and practiced law in Mobile. Died November 9, 1956. Source: Owen’s The Story of…

Businessman, university professor, consultant. Born– May 8, 1911, South Bend, Ind. Parents– Robert Warren and Lura (Keller) French. Married– Dorothy Louise Smith, July 8, 1934 (died June 1990); married Nadene Shaner, January 2, 1993. Children– Two. Education– University of Michigan, A.B., 1932; M.A., 1933; Ph.D., 1937. Served as Brookings Institute fellow, 1934-1935; teaching fellow, 1935-1937.…

Biography: Historian; university professor and administrator.  Born– June 24, 1902, New Albany, Miss. Parents– Walker Wadell and Clementine (Snipes) Dyer. Married– Frances Thaxton, 1925. Education– B.A., 1925; Peabody College, B.S., 1926; M.A., 1930; Vanderbilt University, Ph.D., 1932. Taught at Florence State College, 1926-1932; University of Georgia in Atlanta, 1934-1936; Armstrong State College, 1936-1939; account executive…

Biography; Writer.  Born in Dickinson, Alabama, July 7, 1963.  Married Beth Ann Fennelly; children–two.  Education; University of South Alabama, B.A.; University of Arkansas, M.F.A., 1997.  Taught at University of South Alabama, Bucknell University, Knox College, Galesburg, IL;  Sewanee University, University of Mississippi. Writer-in-Residence, Sewanee University, 2002-03; John and Renee Grisham Writer-in-Residence, University of Mississippi, 2001-02. Published short…

Biography; Writer. Education–University of South Alabama, M.A., 1996.  Publishes articles and stories in journals and anthologies.  Winner of the 1993 Hackney Award for Short Fiction.  Pushcart Prize nominee. Source; Author profiles in Climbing Mt. Cheaha. Publications; A Condition of Freedom.  River’s Edge, 2015. Here’s to You, Jackie Robinson; The Legend of the Prichard Mohawks. MacAdam/Cage, 2004. Murder…

Biography; Woodworker; author.  Born; Mobile, 1952.  Married–deLancey. Children–two. Education; graduated from the University of South Alabama.  Has written articles published in journals, reviews, and anthologies, many on woodworking and restoration of old houses. Sources; Author information in Climbing Mt. Cheaha. Publications; Mobile’s Legal Legacy; Three Hundred Years of Law in the Port City.  Birmingham; Association…

Presbyterian clergyman. Born– November 23, 1878, York, Sumter County, Al. Parents– William and Alice Frances (Morris) Edmonds. Married– Mary Armstrong Fleming, April 30, 1907. Children– Five. Education– Marengo Military Institute, Demopolis;  University of Tennessee, A.B., 1899; Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky., B.D., 1907. Ordained to the Presbyterian ministry, 1907. Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Montgomery,…

Biography: Biologist, University professor, editor, museum curator. Born– April 2, 1921, Cullman. Parents–Herndon and Ada Camp Dowling. Married Margaret Purcell, 1943 (divorced, 1962); children–four.  Married Madlyn O’Neill, 1968 (died 2000); married Janann Jenner, 2001. Education– University of Alabama, B.S., 1942; University of Florida, M.S., 1948; University of Michigan, Ph.D., 1951. Taught at the University of…

Biography: Archaeologist, museum curator, university professor of anthropology. Born–June 2, 1907, Bessemer. Parents– James Terry and Daisy Marbut DeJarnette.  Married Elizabeth Lavonda Jennings, 1935.  Children– One. Education– University of Alabama, B.S. in electrical engineering, 1929; University of Illinois Field School in archaeology, 1931; University of Alabama, M.A., 1959. Served in the Coast Artillery in World War…

Biography: Librarian; editor. Born– July 8, 1888, Jackson, Miss. Parents– Thomas Marshall and Anna Letitia Dabney Miller. Married– J. Peran Danton. Education– Newcomb College, B.A., 1907; additional study at Columbia University. Certified as a librarian in New York in 1911.  Branch assistant for the Minneapolis Public Library, 1911-1914; reference librarian in Birmingham Public Library, 1914-1920;  hospital…

Biography: Novelist. Born– October 12, 1922, Pontotoc, Mississippi. Parents– Borden Lee and Jimmie Anne (Smith) Deal. Married–(1) Lillian Slobtotsky, 1950. One child. (2) Babs Hodges, 1952. Children-three. (3) Patricia Deal.  Education–attended business school in Jackson, Mississippi;  University of Alabama, B.A., 1949; graduate study at Mexico City College 1950. Military service U. S. Navy 1942-45. Published his first short…

Biography: Agricultural Extension Service official; college administrator; radio pioneer.  Born– August 15, 1890, Athens. Parents– Richard Scoggins and Elizabeth (Barker) Davis. Married– Mildred Kilburn, June 19, 1918. Education– Attended Potter College, Bowling Green, Ky.; Alabama Polytechnic Institute, B.S., 1916; graduate study at API. Employed by Agricultural Extension Service to work with 4-H Clubs, beginning in…

Biography: Teacher;  writer.  Born– October 22, 1896,  Guntersville. Parents–James K. and Mary Ann Copeland Morrow.  Married–Hugh McCrory,  Tennessee legislator, January 2, 1921 (died 1935); married George Harding (died 1958); married Clyde J. Davis. Education:  graduated from Chilton County High School, 1915; studied at Howard College and Peabody Insitute, Nashville.  Worked as a  schoolteacher in Birmingham;…

Biography: Writer; editor, socialite. Born– April 12, 1844 in White Plains, Benton County (became Calhoun County, 1858).  Parents– John and Marian Lucinda (Crutchfield) Moore. Married– Thomas Edward Davis, October 20, 1874.  Educated at home by her mother and intermittently at local schools in Alabama and Texas, where her family moved in 1855. Continued her education…

Biography: Attorney; State government official;  college president. Born– November 23, 1882, Marengo County. Parents:  Thomas Wyley and Mary Kate Goodwin Davis. Married– Lena Vail, December 15, 1917.  Children– Three. Education– South Alabama Baptist Institute at Thomasville, A.B., 1899; University of Alabama, Bachelor of Laws, 1903. Military service:  U. S. Army Infantry, WWI, 1918-1919; retired at…

Biography: University professor, writer, activist. Born– January 26, 1944, Birmingham. Parents– B. Frank and Sally E. Davis. Education– attended the Sorbonne, 1963-64; Brandeis University, B.A., 1965; graduate study, University of Frankfurt, 1965-1967; University of California at San Diego, M.A., 1968; additional study, 1968-1969. Ph. D. Humboldt University.   Taught philosophy at U.C.L.A., 1969-1970; University of…

Biography: Professor of history, college president. Born– August 13, 1910, Mobile. Parents– Matthew and Ruth (Shepard) Davis. Married– Mary Greenfield Merritt, June 6, 1936.  Children–three. Education– Auburn Polytechnic Institute, B.S., 1931; M.S., 1932; Duke University, Ph.D., 1938. U.S. Army Air Force, 1942-45. Assistant professor of history, Auburn, 1937-1942; Florida State University, 1947-1959; professor of history…

Biography: Businessman (banking, insurance, real estate). Born– September 16, 1864, Philadelphia, Pa. Parents– Joseph and Mary (Lasserre) Dangaix. Education:  Institute d’Etudes francaises de Touraine, Tours, France; Sorbonne, Paris.   General agent, Southern States Agricultural Insurance Co. Organized and served as first president of the Birmingham Savings Bank, which later merged into the First National Bank of Birmingham. Retired from…

Professor of English. Born March 1, 1921, Ripley, Tenn. Parents: O.B. and Lola (Bibb) Emerson. Education– Lambuth College, B.A., 1943; Vanderbilt University, M.A., 1946; Ph.D., 1962. Taught English at Webb School, Bell Buckle, Tenn., 1944-45; Taught at the University of Alabama, 1946-1986.  A member of the Modern Language Association, American Dialect Society, National Council of Teachers…

Civil engineer, probate judge, Director of the Alabama State Highway Department. Born– October 24, 1866, Tuscaloosa. Parents– Adoniram Judson and Narcissa (Durrett) Finnell. Married– Margaret Hagler, October 21, 1890. Children– Eight. Education–Tuscaloosa Military Academy;  University of Alabama, B.C.E., 1887. Employed as an axeman by the Kansas City Railroad, 1887; rose to chief engineer for Mobile and Ohio  Railroad; opened…

Biography: Presbyterian clergyman; denominational leader. Born– May 17, 1861, Columbus, Missouri. Parents– Benjamin Franklin and Margaret Ruth (Morrow) Dobbins. Married– Mary Triplette Buckland, 1889. Children– Two. Education– Westminster  College (Missouri); McCormick Theological Seminary, B. D., 1889. Ordained a Presbyterian minister in 1889. Organizing pastor of Immanuel Church in Chicago, 1886-1890; financial secretary of Westminister College, 1890-91;…

Biography: Naval officer, U.S. Senator. Born– July 15, 1924, Mobile. Parents– Jeremiah Andrew and Irene (Steele) Denton. Married– Kathryn Jane Maury, June 6, 1946. Children– Seven. Education– Attended Spring Hill College, 1942-1943; U.S. Naval Academy, B.S., 1946; George Washington University, M.A., 1964.  Entered the U.S. Navy in 1946, serving aboard the USS Valley Forge until…

Biography: Historian; university professor. Born– August 28, 1910, Birmingham. Parents– William Columbus and Maude (Gray) Davis. Married–(1) Mildred Dorman, July 24, 1948 (died 1986); married (2) Dorothy Ann Fleetwood, 1987.  Education– University of Alabama, A.B., 1931; M.A., 1932; Harvard, M.A., 1943; Ph.D. 1948. Held several staff positions at the U.S.Senate, 1933-46; taught Latin American Studies…

Biography: Historian. Born-May 30, 1913, West Point, Ga. Parents Robert C. and Annie D. Davidson. Military service, U.S.Army, World War II.  Worked for West Point Pepperell for forty seven years; after retirement worked as a title and historical researcher in a legal office. Charter member of the Chattahoochee Valley Historical Society; later vice president and…

 Biography: Community and civic leader. Born June 1, 1876, Jacksonville. Parents General John H. and Septima Sexta Middleton (Rutledge) Forney, Married–  Clarence William Daugette,  December 22, 1897.  Children–five. Education– Graduate of Jacksonville State Normal School, 1893; attended Cooper Union School and National Academy of Design in New York. “First lady” of Jacksonville State, during her…

Biography: Editor, writer. Born– May 21, 1839, Columbia, S.C. Parents– Mardici Heninrich and Rebecca (Lopez y Nunez) De Leon, Education– Attended Rugby Academy and Georgetown College, Washington, D.C. Employed as a clerk for the Topographical Engineering Bureau, 1858-1861; served in the Confederate Army, 1861-1865; edited Cosmopolite Magazine, 1865-1866; wrote for various New York newspapers and magazines,…

Biography: Writer. Born– October 2, 1927, Birmingham. Parents– James Toliver and Lucile (Thiemonge) Dawkins. Education– University of Alabama B.A., 1950;  Stanford University, M.A. 1953. English instructor,  Stephens College, 1953-1958; writer-in-residence at Stephens College, 1961-1962, 1973-1976. Distinguished Visiting professor, University of Hawaii, 1991; visiting professor, Georgia College, Milledgeville, 1996-97.  Contributed to the Paris Review, Sewanee Review, McCalls,…

Biography: Novelist. Born– June 23, 1929, Scottsboro. Parents– Hilburn Tyson and Evelyn (Coffey) Hodges. Married– Borden Deal, 1952 (divorced 1975).  Children– Three. Education– University of Alabama, B.A., 1952. Employed by Jackson County School System, 1950; typist for U.S. Army, Washington, D.C., Birmingham Brass Company, 1951-1952. Began writing fiction in 1956; published her first short story in…

Art curator, university professor, editor. Born– October 7, 1908, Philadelphia. Parents– Walter Jackson and Corinne (Keen) Freeman. Married– Barbara Ames Burditt, 1937.  Children– Three. Education– Yale University, A.B., 1932; Harvard University, M.A., 1934. Employed by the Nelson Gallery of Art, Kansas City, Mo., 1934-1936; Fogg Museum of Art, Cambridge, Mass., 1936-1938; Cincinnati Art Museum, 1938-1941;…

Biography: Linguist; University professor. Born– November 17, 1932, York, Pa. Parents–Joseph and Nevada Diehl DiOrio. Education– Bucknell University, B.A., 1954; Middlebury College, M.A., 1960; University of North Carolina, Ph.D., 1971. Taught at Neshaminy, Pa., High School, 1954-1958; La Chatelaine, St. Blaise, Switzerland, 1956-1957; the  American School of Paris, 1957-1962;  American School of Munich, 1962-1965; University…