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 (born December 23, 1916 – died December 9, 1997) was an American historian and professor. He taught at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana. He is best known for his book, The Civil War in Louisiana. This important book was first published in 1963. It was the first and only book to cover the entire Civil War in Louisiana from 1861 to 1865.
Contents
Early Life and Education
John David Winters was born on December 23, 1916. His family lived in a rural area called McCool, in Attala County, Mississippi. Later, his family moved to Lake Providence, Louisiana, where he grew up. His parents, John David Winters, Sr., and Estrella Fancher Winters, are buried there.
Winters studied at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. He earned three degrees from this university: a Bachelor of Arts, a Master of Arts, and a Doctor of Philosophy.
During World War II, Winters served in the Pacific Theatre. This means he was part of the war efforts in the Pacific Ocean region.
Marriage and Family Life
On January 26, 1952, John Winters married Frances Locke. They met at Louisiana Tech University. Frances worked there as a librarian, helping to get new books for the library from 1948 to 1984. They did not have any children.
Teaching Career
John Winters became a history professor at Louisiana Tech University in 1948. He taught there for many years until he retired in 1984.
From 1977 until his retirement, Winters held a special position. He was the first person to be given the Garnie W. McGinty Chair of History. This special teaching role was named after a former head of the history department at Louisiana Tech. In 1991, after he retired, Louisiana Tech named him a professor emeritus. This title is given to retired professors who have done excellent work.
His Famous Book: The Civil War in Louisiana
John Winters wrote his most famous book, The Civil War in Louisiana, to mark the 100th anniversary of the American Civil War. The state of Louisiana helped support this project. His book was the first and only one to cover the entire war in Louisiana, from 1861 to 1865.
Winters and other historians believed that the Civil War events in the western parts of the country were often overlooked. His book helped to fix this. He organized the history by year, showing how the war progressed across Louisiana. He included many details about battles, small fights, and even actions by guerrilla groups. He also explained how these events affected the overall American Civil War and the people living in Louisiana. For example, the loss of New Orleans to Union forces in 1862 was a very important event. Winters also wrote about the politics, economy, and social issues of the time.
In his book, Winters thanked his wife, Frances. She helped him with many years of research, looking through old records. She also helped him write the book. He also thanked two other historians: F. Jay Taylor, who was the president of Louisiana Tech, and T. Harry Williams from LSU.
Later Years and Activities
After retiring, John Winters continued to be involved in history. In 1994, he was interviewed for the Centennial Oral History Collection at Louisiana Tech. During this interview, he talked about his experiences at the university. He also discussed how desegregation affected the campus in the 1960s. He shared his thoughts on the Korean War and the Vietnam War, and his involvement in a study program in Rome.
Winters was also active in many groups. In 1968, he became the president of the Louisiana Historical Association. This group is now based in Lafayette. In 1993, they named him a "fellow," which is a special honor. He was also part of other historical societies.
Outside of history, Winters served on the board of directors for the Ruston Community Theatre. He was also on the board for the Louisiana Tech Concert Association. He even served as president of the Ruston Civic Symphony.
Awards and Recognition
John Winters received several awards for his work:
- In 1963, he won the Louisiana Literary Award from the Louisiana Library Association for his Civil War history book.
- In 1964, he received a "Special Merit Book Award" from the Greater Louisiana Tech Foundation for the same book.
- In 1975, he received an award from the Daughters of the American Revolution.
- In 1980, he received an award from Amoco Oil Company for his excellent teaching of college students.
- Louisiana Tech University also created an "Endowed Professorship in History" named after him. This is a special teaching position that honors his contributions.
Death
John Winters passed away on December 9, 1997, at the age of 80. He died at Lincoln General Hospital in Ruston, Louisiana. He was survived by his wife, Frances, and two sisters-in-law. His memorial service was held on December 11, 1997, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Ruston. His wife, Frances, passed away about eight years after him. Both John and Frances Winters were cremated.
