As the downsizing of my book collection continues, I'm even letting go of volumes that have Alabama connections. Can you believe it? This post is about such a book and its author.
The book collects the musings that John Emmett "Boozer" Pitts wrote during three hospital stays, primarily at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., from 1958 until 1963. You can read the details below. Pitts was born in Russell County on November 25, 1893 and died on February 10, 1971. He is buried in Auburn Memorial Park Cemetery along with his wife Martha, who died in 1952, and their two sons.
Pitts attended Auburn before World War I and played football as a lineman for two years. He was the center on the 1913 undefeated team that went 8-0 under legendary coach Mike Donahue. Pitts himself coached football there during the 1923 and 1924 seasons, as well as the final seven games in 1927. His record was 7-11-6. Pitts served as an assistant coach in the 1919-1922 seasons and 1925-1927. He also taught mathematics at the university from 1930 until 1940. He served in the U.S. Army in World War II, and retired at the rank of colonel.
Both sons also entered the military. John, Jr. [1924-1977] went to West Point, served in Korea and Vietnam and by the time he retired in 1976 had risen to the rank of brigadier general. You can read more about his life and career here and here. Younger son William [1932-1964] was a captain in the Air Force when he died in an F-101 crash in Oregon.
The forward below by Mabel Yerby Lawson gives more details about Pitts' life. The nickname is mentioned, but not really explained.
Take a book off the shelf, and you never know where you'll end up....
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