Category: G – I

Biography: Literary scholar; university professor. Born– 1941, Demopolis. Parents– Walter B. and Mary (Combs) Hitchcock. Married–Mary Carol Canon, August 6, 1966.  Children–two.  Education– Auburn University, B.A., 1963; University of Oregon, M.A., 1966; Duke University, Ph.D. 1971.  Rotary Foundation fellow, University of Melbourne, Australia.  Assistant director of admissions, Auburn University, 1966-68. Taught English at Auburn, 1971-2008;…

Biography: Physician; Professor of medicine. Born– July 14, 1914, Marion. Parents– Warren Alton and Lula (Fretwell) Holley. Married– Martha Holcomb, 1946. Children– Five. Education– University of South Carolina, B.S., 1935; Medical College of South Carolina, M.D., 1941. Medical intern, U.S. Marine Hospital, Norfolk, Va., 1941-1942; with U.S. Public Health Service, 1942-1945; resident, University Hospital, Birmingham,…

Biography: Attorney; professor of law; Episcopal priest. Born– February 27, 1941, Freeport, Ill. Parents– Howard Vincent and Zillah Morgan Hoff. Married– Virginia Nevill.  Children– two. Education– Tulane University, A.B., 1963; J.D., 1966; Harvard University, LL.M.  Attorney in private practice, Sarasota, Florida, 1966-1969. Taught at University of Alabama Law School, 1970-2002.  Consultant, Alabama Law Institute. Member;…

Biography: Economist; university professor. Born– March 3, 1919, Chapel Hill, N.C. Parents– Archibald and Barbara Minna (Bynum) Henderson. Married–Anne Miller, August 24, 1946.  Children–four.  Education– University of North Carolina, A.B., 1929; M.A., 1943; Louisiana State University, Ph.D., 1945.  Taught at Carnegie Tech, University of Florida, University of Alabama (1957-64), and Georgia State University (1964-88). Member of the American Association…

Biography: Linguist; University professor. Born– June 15, 1904, Ozark. Parents– Henry Joseph and Martha Emma (Dean) Hayes. Married– Claudia Jordan, January 3, 1933. Children– One. Education– University of Alabama, B.S., 1928; New York University, A.M., 1931, Ph.D., 1938,; study at University of Heidelberg, 1938-1939. Taught at New York University, 1933-1936; University of Alabama, 1928-1936; 1936-1971.…

Biography: Evangelist; motivational speaker. Born– September 2, 1927, Sweetwater. Parents– Robert and Louise (Shoultz) Harrington. Married– Joyce Compton. Children– Two. Married–Zonnya. Married Rebecca Harris Birdwell, December 5, 1990. Education– Marion Military Institute; Auburn University; graduate of University of Alabama; study at New Orleans Baptist Seminary, 1961. Played football at both Auburn and Alabama. Served in U.S.…

Biography: Historian; university professor, administrator. Born– September 29, 1917, Birmingham. Parents– Clarence Johnson and Louise (Thornbury) Going. Married– Dora Alice Henley, August 21, 1954. Education– University of Alabama, A.B., 1938, M.A., 1940; University of North Carolina, Ph.D., 1947. Taught history and served as associate dean of men, University of Alabama, 1942-1957; professor of history, University of…

Biography: Educator; art dealer; consultant. Born– July 12, 1938, Birmingham. Parents– William Geda and Mary Anna (Martin) Hames. Education– Birmingham Southern College, B.A., 1958, M.A., 1971; Samford University, M.Ed. Taught in Birmingham public schools, 1958-1964; at Birmingham University School, 1964-75; assistant headmaster and chairman of the English department, Altamont School, 1975-1991; headmaster, 1991-2002. Director, Town…

Biography: University professor, administrator. Born– June 3, 1915, Birmingham. Parents– Clarence Johnson and Louise (Thornbury) Going. Married– Margaret Moorer. Education– University of Alabama, A.B. with honors, 1936; Duke University, M.A., 1938; University of Michigan, Ed.D., 1954. Taught English in Birmingham city schools; University of Alabama, 1939-1957;  professor of English, Dean of Instruction and Academic Affairs, Southern Illinois University…

Biography: Political scientist; university professor. Born– December 20, 1917, in Memphis, Tenn. Parents– James Leonard and Mary (Baker) Highsaw. Married–Mary Church Wagner, March 3, 1943. Children–two. Education– Princeton University, A.B., 1939; Harvard University, A.M., 1942; Ph.D., 1945.   Taught at Vanderbilt University, 1942-1944; Louisiana State University, 1944-1945; associate professor and director of Bureau of Public Administration and…

Biography: Writer, teacher, librarian. Born– April 5, 1867. Tuscaloosa. Parents– Thomas Finley and Virginia (Owen) Greene. Education– Tuscaloosa Female College.  Local correspondent for the Philadelphia Times, 1883-86; Taught in Birmingham and Montgomery; principal of Capitol Hill School, Montgomery and of La Fayette Public School; in 1909, assistant to the library division of the Alabama State…

Biography: Economist; university professor. Born– November 17, 1909, in Houston, Tex. Parents– Willard Scott and Mae Elizabeth (Thacker) Hawley. Education– University of Alabama, B.S., 1932; University of North Carolina, M.S., 1933, Ph.D., 1946. Served in U.S. Navy, WWII. Married– Marion House Scholl on January 28, 1933. Taught at the University of Alabama, 1932-1936, 1938, and…

Biography: Corporate communications consultant; Public relations practitioner; journalist. Born–  April 3, 1932, Lanett. Parents–Emmett Bruce and Jenelle Williams Harrison.  Married Lucy White, 1954  (divorced 1971). Children–three. Married Patricia de Stacy Spain, August 23, 1973.  Education– University of Alabama, B.A. 1954;  postgraduate study, Catholic University. While at University of Alabama, editor of Crimson-White, 1953-1954. Reporter, Talladega…

Biography: Historian; teacher. Born– October 4, 1933, Birmingham. Parents– William Guy and Frances Elizabeth (Stuart) Harris. Married– Barbara King Cooper. Children– Four. Education– University of Alabama, B.S., 1957; M.A., 1966; Ed.  D., 1970.  Taught in Mountain Brook school system and Birmingham University School; chairman of History Department, Marion Military Institute; professor, Judson College. Storyteller and…

Biography: Linguist, poet, university professor. Born– August 24, 1955, Tuscaloosa. Parents– William Washington and Sarah Aduston (Meriwether) Humphries. Married– Ann Wahl Reiger, August 4, 1984. Married– Jeannie Smith, July 1, 1989. Education– Duke University, A.B., 1977, M.A., 1978; Yale University, M.Phil., 1980, Ph.D., 1981; received fellowship from Yale University, 1977-1981. Taught French at Yale, 1982,…

Biography: Soldier. Born– August 8, 1918, Bradleytown. Married– Acie Lee Duke. Children– Five. Resident of Cordova and Jasper before joining the U.S. Army just before World War II. Served in South Pacific during World War II; promoted to Captain, but apparently reverted to the enlisted ranks after the war; retired as 1st Sergeant in 1962.…

Biography: Writer. Born– March 23, 1943, in Washington, D.C.; grew up in Baldwin County.  Parents– Winston Francis and Ruth (Knudson) Groom. Married– Ruth Noble in 1969; divorced, 1974. Married– Anne Clinton, 1987.  Children– one. Education– University of Alabama, A.B., 1965. Served in U.S. Army, 1965-1967; attained rank of captain. Staff writer for Washington Star, 1967-1976, free-lance writer after…

Biography: Genealogist. Born– November 17, 1910, Pickens Co. Parents– James L. and Sarah Emma (Carson) Land. Married– Marcus C. Hitt, May 11, 1929. Children– One. Education– Liberty High School, Pickens Co. Died May 10, 2004. Source: Annie Land Hitt, Tuscaloosa, Ala. Publication(s): The Hitts of Sumter County. S.l.; The Publication(s) Table Letter Shop, 1966. Contributor:…

Biography: Teacher, linguist, Indian colonization agent. Born– January 14, 1837,  Yorkville, Pickens Co. Parents– Percival Pickens and Jane Owen Halbert. Education– Union University, Murfreesboro, Tenn., A.M., 1856. Participated with State Troops of Texas in campaigns against Kiowa and Comanche; served as a private in the 6th Texas Cavalry, Confederate States Army. Taught in various schools…

Biography: College teacher of writing; auctioneer. Born– January 14, 1936, Lanett. Parents– Edward David and Florence (Hunnicutt) Holladay. Married–Thomas E. Hicks, Sr., January 16, 1997. Education– Stetson University, 1954-1956; Auburn University, B.S., 1958, M.A., 1961; Carnegie Mellon University, Doctor of Arts in English; further graduate study at University of West Florida, University of South Florida, and…

Biography: Attorney, judge. Born– August 23, 1904, Birmingham. Parents– George Henley and Jessie Odom Hill. Married– Rachael Fitzgerald. Children– Two. Married –Elizabeth Craig, 1974. Education– University of Alabama School of Law, 1929. Practicing attorney, 1929-1935; with the Allied Military Government of Occupied Territories in Italy, 1943-1945; judge of the Court of the Eleventh Alabama Judicial…

Biography: University professor of English. Born– December 6, 1915, Selma. Parents–Benjamin Hogan and Emma Vaughan Craig. Married– Ronald Chalmers Hood, 1940; married– Robert M. Hill, 1974. Education– Graduate of Florence State Teachers College, 1938; graduate work in English literature, University of California at Berkeley; Teachers College, Columbia University, M.A., 1964. Participant, Breadloaf Writers Conference, 1946;…

Biography: Teacher, librarian; genealogist. Born– March 9, 1920, Bessemer. Parents– Arthur Richmond and Mildred Celeste (Bradley) Pearson. Married– Raymond Earl Higdon, June 13, 1948. Married–James Farrar Burns, November 20, 1988. Education– Alabama College (Montevallo), B.A., 1941, M.A., 1960; postgraduate work at Auburn University and University of Alabama. Teacher in Cullman County, 1941-1974, except for four…

Biography: Teacher. Born– September 12, 1926, Gadsden. Parents– John Moses and Ethel (Gilchrist) Simmons. Married– Max James Howard, March 19, 1948. Children– One. Education– University of Alabama, A.B., 1948. Employed by the Research Dept. at the University of Alabama, 1948-1950; assisted Dr. James B. Sellers in writing the History of the University of Alabama.  Teacher, Fort…

Biography: Businessman. Born– September 14, 1844, Heard County, Ga. Parents– William Henry and Eliza Ann (Bennett) Houghton. Education– Dover Academy, Columbus, Ga. Served as private, Glenville Guards of Barbour County, which became Company H, Fifteenth Alabama Regiment of the Confederate State Army; fought in the battles of Second Manassas, Gettysburg, Chickamauga, Shenandoah Valley, Port Republic,…

Biography: Lawyer, teacher. Born–November 2, 1902.  Education– high school in Buchanan, Ga.; Southern Shorthand and Business University, 1924; Emory University, LL.B., 1926. Married– Frances Virginia Berrier, 1923. Children– Two. Served as legal apprentice, Buchanan, 1917-1925; member Georgia Bar, 1926-1966; instructor of law, Treasury Law Enforcement Officer Training School, 1930-1965. Honored with Treasury Special Service Award, 1959;…

Biography: Economist; university professor. Born– June 4, 1950, in Bridgeport, Conn. Parents– L. M. and R. E. (Ledbetter) Holcombe.  Married–Lora Hunt Pritchett, June 18, 1983. Education– University of Florida, B.S., 1972; Virginia Polytechnic Institute, M.A., 1974; Ph.D., 1976. Employed by Center for Naval Analysis, 1973-1975; taught at Texas A & M University, 1975-1977; Auburn University,…

Biography: Librarian, Baptist clergyman, writer. Born– May 13, 1917,  Fowlersville, Pa. Parents– Andrew K. and Emma L. (Heldebrand) Helmbold.  Married– Neola E. Wood, June 10, 1942. Children– Four. Education–Samford University, A.B., 1919; Duke University, M.A., 1954. Newspaper reporter for Wilkes-Barre Record (Pa.), 1934-1936; printer for Dallas Post (Pa.);  and owned a printing business, 1936-1942. Served…

Biography: Accountant; bridge master. Born– February 12, 1912, Louisville. Parents– Alto and Sarah Augusta (Helms) Horn. Married– Irene Myrtle Toergerson, July 16, 1949. Children– One. Education– Berry College, 1934-1935; University of Alabama, B.S., 1939. Farm worker, 1939-1940; employee of Alabama State Employment Service, 1940; accountant for army post exchanges in Alexandria, La., 1941-1942; Army Air…

Biography: Editor of denominational materials; broker of church bonds. Born– April 6, 1907, Albertville.  Parents– Charles L. and Della Jane Hubbard Hearn.  Married– Florence Conner, September 1, 1933.  Children–six.  Education– Howard College, A.B., 1926; Vanderbilt Law School, LL.B., 1932 (passed the Tennessee Bar but never practiced law); M.A.in English, 1933.  Editorial staff, Baptist School Board, 1930-1966; vice…

Biography: Advertising and sales executive; management consultant . Born– September 23, 1898, Sumterville. Parents– LeRoy and Elizabeth Cunningham (Burwell) Holt. Married– Sarah Ames Oliver, February 4, 1928. Children– Two. Education– Colorado College, A.B., 1920. Worked in advertising, 1920; associated with Famous Features Syndicate, New York, 1921; advertising and sales manager, Wofford Oil Company, 1921-1927; director, Alabama…

Biography: Teacher; college professor.  Born– May 24, 1929, Decatur. Parents– Thomas Kirkland and Alline (Poteet) Harrison. Education– Florence State University, A.B., 1950; George Peabody College, M.A., 1955, Ed.S., 1958. Taught Spanish, Latin, and English at Cullman High School, 1950-1951; Decatur High School, 1951-1960; University of Alabama in Huntsville 1961-81. Member, Modern Language Association, National Council of…

Biography: Professor, college administrator.  Born– December 1, 1898, in Savannah, Ga. Parents– David Cook and Ella (Roberts) Parkhurst. Married–Ignacio L. Guzman, June 25, 1940. Education– Howard University, A.B., 1919; Columbia University, M.A., 1924; University of Chicago, 1935-1936; American University, 1955-1957.  Taught in public schools, Greensboro, N.C.; Dillard University and New Orleans College, 1922-1923; Alabama State Teachers…

Biography: Real estate executive; writer, editor, public official. Born– February 1, 1916, Big Wills Valley, Valley Head. Parents– William Bleve and Alice Corina Jane (Holleman) Hammond. Married– Myra Leak, June 20, 1954. Children– Two. Education–Berea College;  University of Alabama, A.B., 1945; additional study at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, and Oxford University.  Served in…

Biography: Educator. Born– July 25, 1861, Auburn. Parents– Isaac and Harriet Elizabeth (Holt) Hill. Married– Laura Jones, June 18, 1890. Children–3. Education– Emory College, A.B., 1880, A.M., 1883. Teacher, Whitesville, Ga., 1881-1883; Easonville, Ala., 1883-1885, 1887-1891; Male and Female Academy, Sparta, Ga., 1885-1887; Springville, Ala., 1891-1893; Spring Lake College, 1893-1896. Superintendent of city schools, Gadsden,…

Biography: Genealogist. Born– February 4, 1920, Marengo Co. Parents– Ferm Wood and Sadie Alston (Spurlin) Ham. Married– Samuel Godfrey, October 15, 1941. Children– Three. Education– Study at Judson College, 1938; New College, University of Alabama. Qualified instructor in genealogy. After 1969, treasurer and office manager, Eufaula Pulpwood Co. Editor of the publication, Historic Eufaula. Member,…

Biography: College professor. Born– September 29, 1899, Montgomery. Parents–John Floyd and Julia Elmetta Gay. Married–Lena Clair Butler.  Children–four. Education– University of Alabama, B.S., 1921, LL.B., 1923, M.A., 1928. Instructor in English, University of Florida, 1927-1930; head, English department, Georgia State College for Men, 1930-1933; literary research and writing, 1933-1935, 1945-1961; head, English department, Bob Jones…

Biography: Writer, journalist, teacher of writing. Born– April 9, 1923, Birmingham. Parents– Oscar and Jeanne (Holoman) Garrard. Married– Faber S. Ebersole, October 1, 1957. Education– Study at Stetson University, 1940-1942; Lindsey Hopkins Hotel School, 1959; divorced 1960. Writer, commentator, and director for newspapers and radio stations in Florida; various positions with Better Homes and Gardens…

Biography: Music teacher. Born– September 25, 1875, Mobile, Ala. Parents– Alphonse and Sarah (Gaillard) Hurtel. Education– Barton Academy High School; Faelton School of Music, Boston. Taught piano in Mobile. Member of the Alabama Historical Association. Died January 20, 1965. Source: Grove’s Library of Alabama Lives; ancestry.com Publication(s): The River Plantation of Thomas and Marianne Gaillard,…

Biography: Teacher, clergyman. Born– September 22, 1855,  Hall’s Ferry, Tenn. Parents– Sylvester Young and Alazannah (Blair) Hall. Education– Hiwassee College, 1869-1872; Loudon High School, 1872-1876; Cumberland Presbyterian University, A.B., 1878. Married– Emma Celicia Gardner on July 23, 1882, at Montevallo. Children– Three. Taught school in Shelby, St. Clair, Dallas, and Jefferson Counties (Ala.). Served as…

Biography: University professor; collector; philanthropist. Born– February 2, 1934, Union Springs. Parents– Wade and Sarah (Waters) Hall. Education– Troy State College, B.S., 1953; University of Alabama, M.A. 1957; University of Illinois, Ph.D., 1961. Served in U.S. Army, 1954-1956. High school English teacher, Opp, Al., 1953-54; taught at University of Illinois, 1957-1961; University of Florida, 1961-1962;…

Biography: Physician. Born September 24, 1902 — Albertville. Parents–Dr. William Presley Hall and Mildred Ann Young Hall (brother of Ivo Hall Sparkman, wife of Senator John Sparkman).  Married–Mildred Guay, June 30, 1940.  Children–two.  Education– University of Alabama, B.S., 1922; University of Pennsylvania, M.Sc.; Tulane University, M.D.; further study at Harvard, Columbia, and Mayo Clinic. Served in U.S.…

Biography: Historian, university professor of history. Born– October 5, 1918, Winfield. Parents– James A. and Rachel (Smith) Hubbard. Married– Ruth Ann Perry, August 31, 1947. Education– Vanderbilt University, B.A., 1948, Ph.D., 1955; Peabody College, M.A., 1949. Served in the U.S. Army, 1941-1946, captured on Bataan by the Japanese and was a prisoner of war for…

Biography: Methodist clergyman, educator. Born– August 15, 1910. Parents–William E. and Alice Guthrie. Married– Annie D. Davenport. Children– Two. Education– Study at Birmingham Southern College, Emory University, Harvard University. Military service, WWII. Methodist minister in Guntersville; professor, Florence State University; vice president, Athens College. Died May 11, 1995. Source: SCRIPSIT Joint_Publications: Thirty Days of Christian…

Biography: Reporter, editor, administrator. Born– September 8, 1899, in Gibson, N.C. Parents– William Ziba and Florence Gibson. Married– Virginia Elizabeth Smith, 1940. Education– University of North Carolina, B.A., 1919; Columbia University, B. Litt., 1921; Certificate of Presence, University of Paris, 1928. Worked as editorial writer, reporter, and editor for various publications in U.S. and Berlin,…

Biography: Homemaker; political wife. Born– December 6, 1904, Eufaula. Parents– William Love and Henrietta (Copeland) McCormick. Married– Joseph Lister Hill, February 20, 1928 (seved in U.S. Congress, 1923-1969). Children– Two. Education– St. Mary’s Episcopal School for Girls, Raleigh, N.C., 1922-1923. Member of the board, Women’s Medical College of Philadelphia; member, DAR, Alabama Historical Association; chair,…

Biography: Historian; professor of  history. Born– October 25, 1905, in Bessville, Mo. Parents– Lawrence Clinton and Caroline (Mabuce) Griffith. Education– Belhaven College, A.B., 1929; Tulane University, M.A., 1942; Brown University, Ph.D., 1957. Taught high school in Mississippi; head, History Department, East Mississippi Junior College, Scooba; taught history at the University of Montevallo, 1946-1973; headed Social…

Biography: Civic leader. Born March 7, 1876. Parents– Chambers and Maria Melton (Jordan) McAdory. Married– Eugene LeRoy Huey, October 10, 1899. Children–one. Active in civic activities:  First woman member, Bessemer Board of Education; member, Bessemer Carnegies Library Board; member, Domestic Relations Board of Jefferson County.  Active in fundraising for Liberty Loans and other war work, World War…

Biography: Baptist clergyman; denominational leader. Born– October 24, 1907, Coosa Co. Parents– Elbert Oscar and Octavia (Whatley) Hobbs. Married– Frances Jackson. Children– One. Education– Howard College, B.A., 1932; Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, M.Th., 1935, Ph.D., 1938. Ordained a Baptist minister, Birmingham, 1929. Pastor of churches in Birmingham, Montgomery, and Mobile, Ala., and in Alexandria, La.,…