Southern-Spring 2015

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50 / ’southern
CLASSNOTES
Book Bin
A sampling of recently released titles from alumni
The Newspaper Boy:
Coming of Age in Birmingham
During the Civil Rights Era
Chervis Isom ’62
A Birmingham attorney, Isom
presented his new memoir at the
booksALIVE festival in Panama City,
Fla., in February. The book is a candid
account of a young man’s coming of
age during the Jim Crow era and his
emergence from that culture over a
period of time due to the intercession
of the Millers, his favorite customers
on his newspaper route. Read more about his new book
at .
Red Mountain:
Birmingham, Alabama, 1965
Charles Entrekin Jr. ’64
Entrekin’s newest novel, a love story
about his years at BSC during the civil
rights movement, is receiving excellent
reviews. His most recent book of
poems is Listening: New & Selected
Work, published in 2013. He lives in
Orinda, Calif., with his wife, poet Gail
Rudd Entrekin.
Save My Place
Olivia deBelle Byrd ’71
Byrd, an author known for her
humorous southern anecdotes,
is enjoying traveling the country
promoting her successful second
book. According to Byrd, who
resides in Panama City, Fla., the
book is an “old-fashioned love
story that took place during
my coming-of-age era; the
first part of the book is about
Birmingham-Southern.” It is
available in the BSC Bookstore.
Keep up with her work at
.
Eyes Over the Delta
Major Hank Collins ’86 MPPM
Collins, a former senior vice president of
SouthTrust Bank (now Regions Bank),
held his first book signing last fall at
Alabama Booksmith in Birmingham.
In his memoir, he recounts some of
his experiences as a fourth platoon
leader with the men of the 221st
Reconnaissance Airplane Company from
November 1965 to November 1966 in
Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. Collins was awarded the Distinguished
Flying Cross, Air Medal with V Devise and 12th Oak Leaf Cluster,
and a Bronze Star, as well as three Cross of Gallantry medals by the
Republic of South Vietnam. Retired from banking, he lives with
his wife, Irene, near Columbiana, Ala., where they enjoy spending
time with their five children and nine grandchildren.
Islam, Immigration, and
Identity
Dr. Todd Green ’94
Green, an assistant professor
of religion at Luther College
in Decorah, Ia., has edited a
book of academic essays with
contributions from Europe,
Canada, and the U.S.; it was
published in December.
Bourbon & Bacon
Morgan Murphy ’94
An author, food critic, and decorated naval
officer, Murphy released his second book
in September; it immediately became a
must-read for lovers of the two smoky
flavors in the title. He released his third
book in his bestselling “Off the Eaten
Path” series, On the Road Again, on QVC on
March 29. “America’s funniest food critic”
and former editor of The Hilltop News,
who resides in Birmingham, has appeared
regularly on Travel Channel, Fox & Friends, the Today Show, and
many others.