Emery, Tom 1971-

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EMERY, Tom 1971-

PERSONAL: Born July 27, 1971, in Urbana, IL; son of Janice Ann (Evans) Emery. Ethnicity: "Caucasian." Education: Blackburn College, B.A., 1993; Southern Illinois University—Edwardsville, M.B.A., 1995. Politics: Democrat. Religion: Presbyterian. Hobbies and other interests: Reading, travel, sports, the U.S. Civil War.

ADDRESSES: Home and office—337 East Second South St., Carlinville, IL 62626.

CAREER: Blackburn College, Carlinville, IL, sports information director, 1993-94, instructor in economics, 2000; Macoupin County Enquirer, Carlinville, IL, reporter, 1994-96; History in Print, Carlinville, IL, owner and general manager, 1997—. Monterey Coal Co., journalist, 1994-95. Melberger Award voting panel, member, 1996—; USA III football panel, member, 1997—.

MEMBER: Illinois State Historical Society, Macoupin County Genealogical Society, Macoupin County Civil War Round Table.

AWARDS, HONORS: Certificate of Excellence, Illinois State Historical Society, 1999.

WRITINGS:

Richard Rowett: Thoroughbreds, Beagles, and the Civil War, History in Print (Carlinville, IL), 1997.

The Other John Logan: Colonel John Logan and the 32nd Illinois, History in Print (Carlinville, IL), 1998.

Ninteenth-Century Echoes: The Carlinville City Cemetery, History in Print (Carlinville, IL), 2000.

The Beagle: Its Beginnings in America, History in Print (Carlinville, IL), 2001.

The Memorable Month: Minor-League Baseball in Staunton, Illinois, History in Print (Carlinville, IL), 2001.

Hold the Fort: The Battle of Allatoona Pass, History in Print (Carlinville, IL), 2001.

The Macoupin County Courthouse: Scandalous Symbol, History in Print (Carlinville, IL), 2002.

Eddie: Lincoln's Forgotten Son, History in Print (Carlinville, IL), 2002.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Major Civil War Battles of Missouri; research on Civil War history in the central Midwest.

SIDELIGHTS: Tom Emery once told CA: "When I write, I want to make a statement on subjects that have never been covered before. I like pioneering research and ideas that are brought to light for the first time or written in a way that has never been done before. Talking about new material in the best way possible is a key goal for my work.

"Like many others, I am influenced by the leaders in research who have come before me, but I draw my greatest influence from some of the historians and writers who are not mainstream. Many definitive works have been written on subjects that are not household words by authors who aren't commonplace, and I often look to them for inspiration. Likewise, the thought of doing something that's never been done is an inspiration in itself.

"I don't know that my writing process is different or unique from that of anyone else, but I pride myself on thought and planning. I spend a considerable amount of time just thinking about writing and how I'm going to do it. It helps me when I sit down to do it, because I have an established, yet flexible, plan that my writing follows. I also try to play on what I feel are my strengths, to compensate for the areas in which I am trying to improve.

"My first book is a biography of Richard Rowett, a Civil War hero and nationally recognized thoroughbred breeder who introduced the beagle hound to this country. Only a few paragraphs had ever been written about him, and he had fallen into obscurity. His was a fascinating story that deserved mention, and that was motivation enough for me."