patful

Writing has been part of my life since I was a kid. Most of it was non-fiction but now I am giving a try at writing short stories and, soon I hope, some children's literature. Humor, football, people who can teach me things, and bookstores are among my favorite things. Writing for HubPages has given me new energy for attacking writing projects I had only talked about.

Born, raised and schooled in St. Petersburg, FL, through graduation from junior college. Edited high school and jr. college newspapers. Worked in news bureau at Rollins College (Winter Park, FL). Earned a B.A. in English there. Did correspondent work for Orlando Sentinel.

Worked on M.A. in English at Auburn University, where I acquired an addiction to football (first college teams; later moved on to NFL). Did correspondent work for the Montgomery, (AL) Advertiser.

Did PhD work at Texas Christian in Fort Worth. Married and moved to the Panama Canal Zone where I had three daughters and lived for 11 years. Was president of the Pacific Civic Council (like a city council but no legislative power) and helped deliver testimony on the new Canal treaty to the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Following divorce, moved with daughters back to St. Pete. Edited various business newspapers and magazines. Edited for the Tampa Tribune. Was a radio talk host for 6 years.

Finished PhD work at Auburn and wrote a dissertation on Argentine author/poet/critic Jorge Luis Borges.

Created a grassroots group for re-energizing a dead downtown commercial area in St. Petersburg. Ran for public office three times (once for mayor and twice for City Council). Taught college English for several years.

Moved to Miami (a whole other planet) in 2001, finding that the years in Panama were excellent prep for the experience. Technical writing, college teaching, and finally--working on a book about the Canal Zone in the "last days" before passage of the new treaty. Active in an outreach-oriented church that meets in a theatre and focuses on serving the community.