July
1, 2009
Ralph Hammond of Arab has some incredible stories to tell, and
now students at Snead State Community College will have the
opportunity to share in Mr. Hammond’s experience.
The Snead State alumnus donates 16 copies each of his original
works Vincent Van Gogh: A Narrative Journey and Personal
Encounters, the book of prosaic poetry he published in 2002
about meeting such notable figures as William Faulkner, Carl
Sandburg, Gertrude Stein, T.S. Eliot, William Spratling, Pablo
Picasso, and Ernest Hemingway.
Mr. Hammond, a former mayor of Arab, served as poet laureate of
the state of Alabama from 1991-1995. He has many books to his
credit, and during his lifetime, compiled a priceless collection
of poetry, which he donated to the Arab Public Library. The
Valley Head native attended Berea College in Kentucky before
graduating from the University of Alabama. He graduated from
Snead in 1940 and was the recipient of the Snead Alumnus of the
Year Award in 1997.
As a war correspondent during World War II, Mr. Hammond got
access to some of the famous people he wrote about in his book,
Personal Encounters. Hammond has 26 books, mostly of poetry,
plus eight shorter "chap" books to his credit. Besides a
prolific writer, over the years he has dabbled in oil painting,
his prime subject the Grand Tetons of Wyoming.
Mr. Hammond has long been inspired and impressed with the life
of works of Vincent Van Gogh. A self-professed expert, Mr.
Hammond said he spent much of his life learning about Van Gogh,
and one of his books of poems celebrates the genius of the
painter.
Snead State will use Mr. Hammond’s donation in an art history
class that meets at the Arab Instructional Site.
“We are honored to receive Mr. Hammond’s creations. He is an
incredible person and certainly a very distinguished alumnus of
the College,” said Snead State President Dr. Robert Exley.
