A.C. Greene
| A. C. Greene Jr. | |
|---|---|
| Born | Alvin Carl Greene Jr. November 4, 1923 Abilene, Taylor County Texas, USA |
| Died | April 5, 2002 (aged 78) Salado, Bell County, Texas |
| Occupation | Texas historian, author |
| Alma mater |
Abilene Christian College University of Texas at Austin |
A. C. Greene (né Alvin Carl Greene Jr.; 4 Nov 1923 – 5 April 2002) was an American writer – important in Texas literary matters as a memoirist, fiction writer, historian, poet, and influential book critic in Dallas. As a newspaper journalist, he had been a book critic and editor of the Editorial Page for the Dallas Times Herald when JFK was assassinated, which galvanized his role at the paper to help untangle and lift a demoralized city in search of its soul. Leaving full-time journalism in 1968, Greene went on to become a prolific author of books, notably on Texas lore and history. His notoriety led to stints in radio and TV as talk-show host. By the 1980s, his commentaries were being published by major media across the country. He had become a sought-after source for Texas history, anecdotes, cultural perspective, facts, humor, books, and politics. When the 1984 Republican National Convention was held in Dallas, Greene granted sixty-three interviews about Texas topics to major media journalists. Greene's 1990 book, Taking Heart – which examines the experiences of the first patient in a new heart transplant center (himself) – made the New York Times Editors Choice list.
In 1948, Greene began working as a cub reporter for the Abilene Reporter-News and wrote book reviews and articles for the entertainment section. From 1952 to 1957, Greene owned and operated the Abilene Book Store, located at 365 Cypress Street, across the street from the Paramount Theater – its slogan: "The Book Center of West Texas." In 1957, he began teaching journalism at Hardin-Simmons University.
Greene, in his teens, was known as "A. C." So, in 1953, he legally changed his name from Alvin Carl to A. C. and dropped the Jr.
In 1960, Greene became a book editor for the Dallas Times Herald; and in 1963, the Times Herald promoted him as Editor of the Editorial Page, a role he performed until 1965. Of the Kennedy assassination, Greene wrote:
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