Wyatt Rainey Blassingame

Wyatt Rainey Blassingame
Born	February 6, 1909 Demopolis, Alabama, U.S.
Died	January 9, 1985 (aged 75) Bradenton, Florida, U.S.
Other names	W.B. Rainey
Occupation	Writer
Spouse	Gertrude Olsen (m. 1936)
Children	2

Wyatt Rainey Blassingame (February 6, 1909 – January 9, 1985), also known as W. B. Rainey, was an American writer and the author of many short stories and articles for national magazines, four adult novels and dozens of juvenile nonfiction books.^[1]

Early years

Blassingame was born in Demopolis, Alabama, on February 6, 1909, to Wyatt Childs Blassingame and Maude (Lurton) Blassingame. He was educated at Howard College, now Samford University, in Birmingham, Alabama, the University of Alabama, and New York University, graduating in 1952.^[2] He served in the United States Navy during World War II and received a Bronze Star and a Presidential Unit Citation. After moving to Anna Maria, Florida, he taught at Manatee Junior College and Florida Southern College.^[3]

Career

In the 1930s, Blassingame wrote for the "Weird menace" horror pulps such as Terror Tales and Dime Mystery.^[4]

His short stories have recently been republished in three collections edited by John Pelan, published by Dancing Tuatara Press.^[5] Four of his juvenile nonfiction books were written for the Landmark book series: The French Foreign Legion, The U.S. Frogmen of World War II, Combat Nurses of World War II, and Medical Corps Heroes of World War II.^[6] He made every effort to make his books as accurate as possible, and disapproved of fictionalizing juvenile history merely for the benefit of drama. Many of his books were chosen as Junior Book-of-the-Month selections, Junior Literary Guild selections and other honors.^[7]

Death

Blassingame died in Bradenton, Florida in 1985, aged 75. His papers are housed at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg and the University of South Florida.^{[citation needed]}

Family

He married Gertrude Olsen in 1936; they had two daughters, Peggy and April.^{[citation needed]}

References

1. "Summary Bibliography: Wyatt Blassingame". www.isfdb.org. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
2. "Author Information | Alabama Literary Map". alabamaliterarymap.lib.ua.edu. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
3. "Wyatt Rainey Blassingame papers". digital.lib.usf.edu. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
4. Ashley, Mike. Who’s Who in Horror and Fantasy fiction. London : Elm Tree Books, 1977.(p. 37); ISBN 0241895286
5. "John Pelan's Dancing Tuatara Press". ramblehouse.com. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
6. "Landmark Books | Series | LibraryThing". librarything.com. Retrieved May 16, 2018.
7. Commire, Anne. Something About the Author, Volume 1. Gale Research 1971.

External links

• Wyatt Rainey Blassingame Papers at the University of South Florida