John D. Winters facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John D. Winters
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| Born |
John David Winters
December 23, 1916 McCool, Mississippi, U.S.
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| Died | December 9, 1997 (aged 80) Ruston, Louisiana, U.S.
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| Alma mater | Louisiana State University |
| Occupation | Historian Professor at Louisiana Tech University, |
| Years active | 1948-1984 |
| Spouse(s) | Frances Locke Winters (married 1952-his death) |
| Children | No children |
| Parent(s) | John D. Winters, Sr. Estrella Fancher Winters |
John David Winters (December 23, 1916 – December 9, 1997) was an American historian at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana. He is known for his monograph The Civil War in Louisiana, which was published in 1963, released in paperback in 1991, and is still in print. When published, it was the first and only single volume history covering events in Louisiana from 1861-1865.
Contents
Background
Winters was born to John David Winters, Sr. (1891–1944), and the former Estrella Fancher (1890–1958) in rural McCool in Attala County in central Mississippi. His family moved and he was reared in Lake Providence, the seat of East Carroll Parish in northeastern Louisiana. His parents are interred at Lake Providence Cemetery.
He earned the Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. During World War II, Winters served in the Pacific Theatre, but his obituary does not list the branch of service.
Marriage and family
On January 26, 1952, Winters wed Frances Locke (1921–2006) in her native Ashdown in Little River County in southwestern Arkansas. They had met at Louisiana Tech, where she served as acquisitions librarian from 1948-1984. They had no children.
Academic career
Winters, who did not use the designation "Jr.," was professor of history at Louisiana Tech from 1948 until his retirement in 1984.
The Civil War in Louisiana
Sponsored by a state commission as part of observance of the centennial of the American Civil War, Winters produced the first history and only single volume about the war in Louisiana, from 1861-1865. He was among historians who believed that the war in the west had been overlooked. Winters organized his history by year, covering the progress of the war in actions across the state. He provided extensive details about a range of battles and skirmishes, and guerrilla actions, as well as assessing the influence of these engagements on the overall American Civil War and the people in Louisiana. The loss of control of New Orleans in 1862 to Union forces was particularly significant. He also explored politics, economics, and social issues.
In his preface to the book, Winters acknowledged the role of his wife, who served as the Louisiana Tech acquisitions librarian from 1948-1984. She helped conduct the years of extensive research in various historical records and helped write this book. In his preface to the book, Winters acknowledges his wife's assistance and also the contributions of two historians who guided him in the process, former Louisiana Tech president F. Jay Taylor, who read the manuscript, and the LSU historian T. Harry Williams, who wrote the foreword.
Academic career
From 1977 until his retirement in 1984, Winters was the first recipient and holder of the Garnie W. McGinty Chair of History, named for the former Louisiana Tech history department chairman. In 1991, Winters was named Louisiana Tech professor emeritus.
Post-retirement
In 1994, Winters participated in an interview for the Centennial Oral History Collection at Louisiana Tech. In this hour-long conversation, he discusses varied experiences on the campus, the effects of desegregation in the 1960s, the influence of the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and his participation in the Louisiana Tech-Rome studies program.
Professional and civic activities
In 1968, Winters was elected president of the Louisiana Historical Association, now based in Lafayette. He was named a fellow by the association in 1993. He was also active in other historical societies.
Winters served on the board of directors for the Ruston Community Theatre and the Louisiana Tech Concert Association. He was a past president of the Ruston Civic Symphony.
Honors
- 1963 Louisiana Literary Award presented by the Louisiana Library Association, for his history of the Civil War in Louisiana
- 1964 "Special Merit Book Award" from the Greater Louisiana Tech Foundation, for the same history
- 1975 - award from the Daughters of the American Revolution
- 1980 - award from Amoco Oil Company, for excellence in undergraduate education.
- Louisiana Tech named an "Endowed Professorship in History" after Winters.
Death
Winters died at Lincoln General Hospital in Ruston, Louisiana at the age of eighty. He was survived by his wife Frances and two sisters-in-law, Doris M. Winters (1917–2004) of Lake Providence and Elizabeth Winters of Garland, Texas. He was predeceased by two brothers, Henry F. Winters (1915-1987), who was married to Doris; and John. Winters's memorial service was held on December 11, 1997, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Ruston. His widow Frances died about eight years after he did. The two were each cremated.
