After serving from 1943 to 1947 and seeing action in France, Sams returned to Emory to continue his medical studies. He received his M.D. in 1949. Both Sams and his wife, Helen, practiced medicine in Fayette County until they retired in 2006. Sams was affectionately known by his family and a few close friends as "Sambo". Sams had four children—Ferrol Aubrey Sams III, James (Jim) Sams, Ellen Sams Nichol and Fletcher Sams. Ferrol III and Jim are both medical doctors and practice in Fayette County. Ellen is a hospital administrator where her brothers practice, and Fletcher is a Fayette County judge.
While at Mercer, Sams was initiated into Kappa Alpha Order by the Kappa Chapter. In 2001, he became the nineteenth recipient of Kappa Alpha Order's highest honor, the Distinguished Achievement Award.[2]
Literary careeredit
Sams wrote eight books, including a trilogy of works featuring Porter Osborne Jr., a character who appears to be largely based on Sams himself. Sams's writing drew heavily on Southern storytelling tradition. Run with the Horsemen was Sams' first book, published in 1982 when he was 60. In 1991, Sams was awarded the Townsend Prize for Fiction for his publication of When All the World Was Young.
Sams's works of fiction developed from the act of writing his own memoirs of growing up in rural Fayette County for his posterity. His works are generally set during the Depression and feature several eccentric characters.
Sams has been the subject of several community reading programs: Run with the Horsemen was chosen as the 2006 Atlanta Reads selection, and Down Town was selected for the 2007 Gwinnett Reads by the Gwinnett County Public Library.
Mercer University Press awards the Ferrol Sams Award for Fiction annually. It is "given to the best manuscript that speaks to the human condition in a Southern context. This category includes both novels and short stories."[3] In addition, the Jennifer Sams Endowed Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in memory of his granddaughter. [4]
ferrol, sams, ferrol, aubrey, sams, september, 1922, january, 2013, american, physician, novelist, bornferrol, aubrey, sams, 1922, september, 1922fayette, county, georgia, diedjanuary, 2013, 2013, aged, fayetteville, georgia, occupationphysician, novelistnatio. Ferrol Aubrey Sams Jr September 26 1922 January 29 2013 was an American physician and novelist Ferrol SamsBornFerrol Aubrey Sams Jr 1922 09 26 September 26 1922Fayette County Georgia U S DiedJanuary 29 2013 2013 01 29 aged 90 Fayetteville Georgia U S OccupationPhysician novelistNationalityAmericanAlma materMercer UniversityEmory University School of Medicine MD SpouseHelen Fletcher m 1948 wbr Children4ParentsFerrol Aubrey Sams Sr Mildred Matthews Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Literary career 3 Death 4 Bibliography 5 References 6 External linksEarly life and education editSams was born to Mildred Matthews and Ferrol Aubrey Sams Sr in Fayette County Georgia United States 1 The younger Sams lived in a house built by his great grandfather On July 18 1948 he married Helen Fletcher who was also a physician Sams medical career started at Mercer University in Macon Georgia from which he graduated in 1942 He then attended Emory University School of Medicine for a semester and then joined the United States Army Medical Corps After serving from 1943 to 1947 and seeing action in France Sams returned to Emory to continue his medical studies He received his M D in 1949 Both Sams and his wife Helen practiced medicine in Fayette County until they retired in 2006 Sams was affectionately known by his family and a few close friends as Sambo Sams had four children Ferrol Aubrey Sams III James Jim Sams Ellen Sams Nichol and Fletcher Sams Ferrol III and Jim are both medical doctors and practice in Fayette County Ellen is a hospital administrator where her brothers practice and Fletcher is a Fayette County judge While at Mercer Sams was initiated into Kappa Alpha Order by the Kappa Chapter In 2001 he became the nineteenth recipient of Kappa Alpha Order s highest honor the Distinguished Achievement Award 2 Literary career editSams wrote eight books including a trilogy of works featuring Porter Osborne Jr a character who appears to be largely based on Sams himself Sams s writing drew heavily on Southern storytelling tradition Run with the Horsemen was Sams first book published in 1982 when he was 60 In 1991 Sams was awarded the Townsend Prize for Fiction for his publication of When All the World Was Young Sams s works of fiction developed from the act of writing his own memoirs of growing up in rural Fayette County for his posterity His works are generally set during the Depression and feature several eccentric characters Sams has been the subject of several community reading programs Run with the Horsemen was chosen as the 2006 Atlanta Reads selection and Down Town was selected for the 2007 Gwinnett Reads by the Gwinnett County Public Library Mercer University Press awards the Ferrol Sams Award for Fiction annually It is given to the best manuscript that speaks to the human condition in a Southern context This category includes both novels and short stories 3 In addition the Jennifer Sams Endowed Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in memory of his granddaughter 4 Death editSams died January 29 2013 at his home in Fayetteville Georgia at age 90 5 Bibliography editRun with the Horsemen 1982 The Whisper of the River 1985 The Passing Perspectives of Rural America 1988 with illustrations by Jim Harrison The Widow s Mite 1989 Christmas Gift 1989 6 When All the World Was Young 1992 Epiphany 1995 The Passing Stories 2001 Down Town 2007 7 References edit Yardley William February 1 2013 Ferrol Sams Doctor Turned Novelist Dies at 90 The New York Times The Varlet 2012 List of Ferrol Sams Award for Fiction winners Ferrol Sams made mark as physician bestselling author Mercer Legends Yardley William 2 February 2013 Ferrol Sams Doctor Turned Novelist Dies at 90 New York Times Retrieved 6 February 2013 Christmas Gift Down TownExternal links editFerrol Sams Bio Video and Links Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ferrol Sams amp oldid 1204046228, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
