Howard, Donald E. 1933-

PERSONAL:

Born August 22, 1933, in Lenoir County, NC; son of Bruce W. (a farmer) and Estelle T. (a homemaker) Howard; married; wife's name Regina H. (divorced January 15, 1989); children: Sharon, Donna, Laura. Ethnicity: "English/Irish." Education: Barton College, A.B.; North Carolina State University, M.S.; Duke University, Ed.D. Politics: Independent. Religion: Protestant. Hobbies and other interests: Reading, travel, dancing.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Radford, VA. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER:

High school counselor for public schools of Duplin County, NC, 1962-63; teacher and principal at public schools in Raleigh, NC, between 1963 and 1969; Radford University, Radford, VA, professor and administrator, 1969-96; retired, 1996. Military service: U.S. Air Force, 1953-57; became staff sergeant.

WRITINGS:

The Role of Reading in Nine Famous Lives, McFarland (Jefferson, NC), 2005.

Contributor to education journals and to the Internet magazine WorldandI.com.

SIDELIGHTS:

Donald E. Howard told CA: "Sometime during my late teens and early twenties I began to think that writing was something I would like to do. During my years in college and university training I wrote scores of papers and reports. Throughout my career as a professional educator, I published some articles in education periodicals. When I retired I decided I would devote my retirement years to reading and writing. I thoroughly enjoy the reading, research, and creative process that is a part of writing. That process helps me to seek new knowledge and refine what I learn into a cogent product for presentation.

"My interest is principally in education, history, and literature. I have been influenced by many of the major historical and literary writers—people like Leo Tolstoy, H.G. Wells, Douglas Southall Freeman, C.P. Snow, Boris Pasternak, Thomas Wolfe, Konstantin Paustovsky, and hundreds of others. I enjoy learning about people who have lived unusual lives, and through my reading and research I try to find common connections that produce outstanding personalities.

"When I want to write, I begin by reading widely on my subject and collecting notes in composition books. I then group my notes into common topics, arrange them in an orderly sequence, and being writing with an introduction to the written product I hope to produce. I try hard to get the introduction correct. If I succeed with that, the remainder of the product seems to follow much more easily. Reviewing and rewriting is very much a part of my writing process.

"My inspiration to write probably stems from my appreciation of books. The libraries of the world hold such a treasure trove of enriching material that I wanted to be a part of that heritage. I believe that reading widely is the single most important thing a person can do to prepare himself or herself for life. As a writer I want to contribute to that body of literature because I appreciate what reading has meant to my development and my life."