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Ben A. Green
Benjamin Arthur Green was
born September 5, 1902 to Duff Green and Rowena Louise Saucier Green in
Lonoke, Arkansas. The family moved to Birmingham, Alabama,
where Ben grew up. He graduated
from the University of Alabama in 1925 with an AB degree. During college
he wrote news for The Birmingham News and edited The Crimson and White.
He was a member of the Jasons and the ODK - an honorary
fraternity for campus leadership, and wrote sports for The Birmingham
News.
Following graduation Ben worked for The Tampa Sun, Tampa, Florida, for a
few years before returning to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and working for The
Tuscaloosa News.
While in Florida he also worked on a newspaper in St. Petersburg.
Ben Green was made telegraph editor of The Tuscaloosa News in 1928 and
worked for that paper for 25 years in every capacity in the editorial
department including managing editor.
Ben married Alice Bates Williams of Shelbyville, Tennessee, and they had
three sons: Benjamin Arthur, Jr., and twins Duff and Bruce.
In the late 1930's Ben, the Rev. Ted Evans, Rector of Christ Church
(Episcopal), and City Police Chief Billingsley stood down a lynch mob
trying to hang a black male held in the county jail.
During World War II (1943) the family moved to Tallassee, Alabama, where
Ben published The Tallassee Tribune, a weekly newspaper that added a
monthly edition to persons serving in the armed services.
When the war
ended, Ben returned to The Tuscaloosa News (1945) as editor. During this
period Ben wrote his first book, A History of Tuscaloosa, Alabama
1816-1949. He served as a writer for the Associated Press, as president
of the Alabama Press Association, and managing editor of the News.
He took
great interest in softball in Tuscaloosa, officiating and guiding the
local league. He was nominated to the Softball Hall of Fame in 1995.
Ben served as Secretary-Manager of the Tuscaloosa Chamber of Commerce,
Vice-president of the Junior Chamber, Director of the Tuscaloosa Charity
Fund and as a member of the advisory committee for the Black Warrior
Council of Boy Scouts. He was also a member of the Kiwanis Club.
In 1951 the family moved to Tennessee where Ben worked as a copy editor
for The Nashville Banner. During this time he became interested in
preserving and promoting the Grand Ole Opry, including a short-lived
effort at publishing a country music magazine.
In 1959 Ben discovered he had cancer of the colon and underwent
successful surgery. Alice, his wife, was a Registered Nurse and nursed
him back to health. They then moved to Shelbyville, Tennessee, where Ben
worked for The Shelbyville Gazette and became interested in the National
Tennessee Walking Horse Celebration. He began work on the Biography of
the Tennessee Walking Horse using his reporting skills and great
enthusiasm. He was committed to publication when Alice died in August of
1960. The first sales of the book were pre-publication sales at the
Celebration in 1960.
In August 1961 Ben married Mary Francis Patton of Knoxville, Alabama. He
also wrote a third book, The Legacy of Jack Daniels, giving the
background to the distillery of that name in Lynchburg, Tennessee.
Soon thereafter (1962) he began work on The VOICE of the Tennessee
Walking Horse magazine. He sold the VOICE
to Bruce Spencer about 1965. This is the same VOICE magazine that is now the
official breed journal published by the Tennessee Walking Horse
Breeders' and Exhibitors' Association.
Ben's involvement in the Episcopal Church was strong throughout his
life. He was actively involved
in the beginning of St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church while in
Nashville, Tennessee. In Shelbyville, he was the greeter of any and all persons. He
served as a lay reader when the Church of the Redeemer was without a
priest. The twin sons, Duff and Bruce, now serve as priests in the
Episcopal church. Ben, Jr. became a nuclear physicist.
Ben Green died December 4, 1972.
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