Ronald Rozelle is an American author, newspaper columnist, and educator who won the 2022 Summerlee Book Prize for Creative writing. Ronald Rozelle was raised in

Oakwood, Texas Oakwood is a town in Leon County, Texas, Leon and Freestone County, Texas, Freestone counties in the U.S. state of Texas. The population was 389 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It was founded in 1872 as a stop on the Internation ...

, where his father Lester was an educator and school superintendent. He graduated from Oakwood High School in 1970 and earned a Bachelor's of Arts from

Sam Houston State University Sam Houston State University (Sam Houston, SHSU or Sam) is a public research university in Huntsville, Texas, United States. Founded in 1879, it is the third-oldest public college or university in Texas. It is one of the first normal schools wes ...

. After teaching English for several years at Palestine High School in

Palestine, Texas Palestine ( ) is a city in and the County seat, seat of Anderson County, Texas, Anderson County in the U.S. state of Texas. It was named after Palestine, Illinois, by preacher Daniel Parker (Baptist), Daniel Parker, who had migrated from that ...

, Rozelle moved to

Lake Jackson, Texas Lake Jackson is a city in Brazoria County, Texas, United States, within the Greater Houston metropolitan area. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 28,177. In 1942 a portion of Lake Jackson was first developed as a company town f ...

to teach at

Brazoswood High School Brazoswood High School is a public high school located in Clute, Texas, United States. It educates grades nine through twelve and is part of the Brazosport Independent School District. Its attendance boundary includes: - Compare to town limi ...

. In 2017, Rozelle was named a Distinguished Educator of the Year by Sam Houston State University's College of Education. Rozelle's first book, a memoir called ''Into That Good Night'', contrasted his experience as a father with his experiences as a son. ''

Publishers Weekly ''Publishers Weekly'' (''PW'') is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers, and literary agents. Published continuously since 1872, it has carried the tagline, "The International News Magazine of ...

'' noted the book's "potentially tricky structure that ultimately yields a spare, beautifully written" tribute to his father. ''The Southwestern Historical Quarterly'' described his account of the 1937

New London School Explosion The New London School explosion occurred on March 18, 1937, when a natural gas leak caused an explosion and destroyed the London School in New London, Texas, United States. The disaster killed 295 students and teachers. , the event is the third- ...

, ''My Boys and Girls are in There'', as "a well-researched yet eminently readable narrative" that "portrays a very human story in a very human way". His weekly column for '' The Brazosport Facts'' has been compiled into a book, ''Sundays with Ron Rozelle''. His novel, ''Leaving the Country of Sin: A Novel'', was awarded the 2022 Sumerlee Book Prize for Creative writing from the

Lamar University Lamar University (Lamar or LU) is a public university in Beaumont, Texas, United States. Lamar has been a member of the Texas State University System since 1995. It was the flagship institution of the former Lamar University System. As of the ...

Center for History and Culture.

Bibliography

Fiction

*''A Place Apart: A Novel'' (2001), published by

Texas Review Press Texas Review Press is a university press affiliated with Sam Houston State University, located in Huntsville, Texas. The press, which was founded in 1979, publishes the ''Texas Review'' (a periodical specializing in poetry, fiction, and creative n ...

*''Touching Winter: A Novel in Four Parts'' (2005), published by Texas Review Press *''Leaving the Country of Sin: A Novel'' (2021), published by Texas Review Press *''The Windows of Heaven: A Novel of Galveston’s Great Storm of 1900'' (2022), published by Texas Review Press

Non-Fiction

*''Into That Good Night'' (1998), memoir, published by

Farrar, Straus and Giroux Farrar, Straus and Giroux (FSG) is an American book publishing company, founded in 1946 by Roger Williams Straus Jr. and John C. Farrar. FSG is known for publishing literary books, and its authors have won numerous awards, including Pulitzer P ...

*''Write Great Fiction: Description & Setting''(2005), published by

Writer's Digest ''Writer's Digest'' is an American magazine aimed at beginning and established writers. It contains interviews, market listings, calls for manuscripts, and how-to articles. History ''Writer's Digest'' was first published in December 1920 und ...

*''Warden: Texas Prison Life and Death from the Inside Out'' (2005), written with Jim Willett, published by

Blue Sky Press Scholastic Corporation is an American multinational publishing, education, and media company that publishes and distributes books, comics, and educational materials for schools, teachers, parents, children, and other educational institutions. P ...

*''Sundays with Ron Rozelle'' (2009), published by

TCU Press Texas Christian University Press (or TCU Press) is a university press that is part of Texas Christian University. Founded in 1947, the press releases works that focus on the history and culture of Texas and the broader Southwest. It is a member o ...

*''The Road to Enterprise: One Man’s Journey in the Land of Opportunity'' (2011), written with Arch Aplin Jr., published by

AuthorHouse AuthorHouse, formerly known as 1stBooks, is a self-publishing company based in the United States. AuthorHouse uses print-on-demand business model and technology. History Originally called 1stBooks, the company was founded in Bloomington, In ...

*''My Boys and Girls Are In There'' (2012), New London School explosion, published by

Texas A&M University Press Texas A&M University Press (also known informally as TAMU Press) is a scholarly publishing house associated with Texas A&M University. It was founded in 1974 and is located in College Station, Texas, in the United States. Overview The Texas A&M ...

*''Exiled: The Last Days of Sam Houston'' (2017), published by Texas A&M University Press

Sources

{{reflist American newspaper writers American educators Living people Year of birth missing (living people)