Betty Lou Shipley (July 11, 1931 – March 14, 1998) was an American poet who served as the twelfth poet laureate of the state of Oklahoma.[1][2] Shipley's term as laureate was cut short by her death.[3] Along with authoring three books of poetry, Shipley was the poetry editor for Byline Magazine[4] and operator of Full Count Press and, later, Broncho Press.[4][1]
Betty Lou Shipley | |
|---|---|
| Born | Betty Lou Forsythe [1] July 11, 1931[2] Edmond, Oklahoma[2] |
| Died | March 14, 1998 (aged 66) [2] |
| Occupation | Poet laureate of Oklahoma |
| Alma mater | University of Central Oklahoma[2] |
Early life
editBetty Lou Shipley (née Forsythe) was born in Edmond, Oklahoma on July 11, 1931. She lived in Enid, Oklahoma and Duncan, Oklahoma as a child.[1] She graduated from Duncan High School in 1949[4] and went on to earn a degree in secondary education and a master's in creative studies from the University of Central Oklahoma.[1]
Awards
editHer book Someone Say Amen was awarded the 1998 Oklahoma Book Award.[2]
Works
edit- Called Up Yonder: Poems from the Bible Belt (Cardinal, 1980)
- Somebody Say Amen (By-Line, 1997)
- Meltdown: Poems from the Core (Full Count, 1980)
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Holliday, Shawn (2015). The Oklahoma Poets Laureate : a Sourcebook, History, and Anthology. Holliday, Shawn, 1969-, Barnes, Jim, 1933-, Brown, Nathan L. (Nathan Lee), 1965-, Davis, Delbert, 1883-1965., Fry, Maggie Culver, 1900-1998., Hamilton, Carol. (First ed.). Norman, Oklahoma: Mongrel Empire Press. p. 190. ISBN 9780990320432. OCLC 905700998.
- ^ a b c d e f "Praising the career of Oklahoma Poet Laureate Betty Lou Shipley; expressing condolences upon her death" (PDF). Senate Concurrent Resolution 69. State of Oklahoma: 2nd Session of the 46th Legislature. 1998. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
- ^ "Oklahoma's Poet Laureates and their Terms". The Oklahoman. 7 November 2004.
- ^ a b c "Poet ready for any occasion". Sapulpa Daily Herald. 22 May 1997. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
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