Michael L. Collins - A Texan’s Story: The Autobiography of Walter Prescott Webb

Acknowledgments

Anyone who is a writer by trade should never assume that the task of an editor just comes naturally. The late Professor Ben H. Procter first taught me that, and I am forever indebted to him for the rigorous training I received in his graduate seminars at Texas Christian University. I can never forget his admonition that editing a manuscript can be like pulling teeth. I also recall the value of the late Professor Donald Worcesters advice: Every writer needs a good editor. I remember him offering both encouragement and caution: But not every good writer is a skilled editor.

I am likewise most grateful to my longtime colleague at Midwestern State University, Professor Kenneth E. Hendrickson Jr., who repeatedly encouraged me to follow the trail of Professor Walter Prescott Webb, and to Dr. Patrick Cox, former associate director of the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas, who first introduced me to Professor Webbs collection of papers.

To the professional staff of the Dolph Briscoe Center in Austin, I owe a substantial debt of gratitude. Margaret Schlankey, head of reference services, was gracious in offering her advice regarding the Webb collection. Library assistant Kathryn Kenefick was kind enough to take a special interest in this project and even helped me locate and select several photographs for the book. From there, Aryn Glazier, photography services coordinator, demonstrated patience in walking me through the process of ordering and gaining permission to publish the images. The same should be said for the various members of the dedicated staff of the Texas State Library and Archives, who assisted and guided me in my search for photographs of Dr. Webb.

To J. Kent Calder, acquisitions editor of the University of Oklahoma Press, I am most sincerely grateful. From the beginning, no one expressed greater enthusiasm for bringing to life Walter Prescott Webbs own story. Kents encouragement, and that of University of Oklahoma Press director Byron Price, were critical in sparking my own determination to undertake the project. A special word of thanks also for Carol Zuber-Mallison of Fort Worth, who found time in her busy schedule to produce a map of Stephens County, Texasand for agreeing to do so on such short noticeand for Kerin Tate of Kansas City, Missouri, an exceptionally gifted editor who assisted me in preparing the final copy for publication.

Without the abiding patience and loving support of my wife, Carol, I might never have taken on the task of editing Webbs memoir, and without her able assistance and helpful suggestions, I surely would not have completed it in a matter of a few months.