Beloved author Hemphill deserved coverage in death
Paul James Hemphill, Auburn class of 1959, former sports editor of the Plainsman, author of 15 books, including “The Nashville Sound” and “Lovesick Blues” (a biography of Hank Williams), plus hundreds of newspaper columns and magazine articles, died on July 11. On July 12, the New York Times ran a four-column story on his life and accomplishments. Articles have appeared in the Chicago Sun-times, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Atlanta Journal and Constitution.
We’re just disappointed and shocked that the Opelika-Auburn News has not been able to cover this story. He was such a proud son of Auburn, and even after he became ill, he was able to complete his last book, a work of love for him, “A Tiger Walk Through History: The Complete Story of Auburn Football from 1892 to the Tuberville Era.”
As he wrote in the introduction to the book, “… it’s anything but objective. Auburn to the core, I’ll leave the objectivity to the dispassionate observers. Objectivity is something to be desired once you determine to be a writer, and I’ve practiced it during most of my career as a journalist, but writing about Auburn football is another matter.
“Objectivity flies out the window once you see the Auburn marching band take the field and hear the fight song … or watch the dramatic flight of a golden eagle moments before the kickoff or cheer as the thundering herd of Auburn Tigers in their familiar orange and blue uniforms hits the field. Some things are sacrosanct.”
He continued to encourage young writers and gave of his time to the Auburn Magazine Advisory Board until his health wouldn’t allow for the travel to Auburn.
How thankful we are to have known him as an Auburn student, a gifted writer and count him as friend for all these years.
Ken and Joyce Ringer
Auburn
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