Steele, Michael R(hoads) 1945-

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STEELE, Michael R(hoads) 1945-

PERSONAL: Born June 8, 1945, in Norfolk, VA; son of Harry Eugene, Jr. (in the U.S. Navy), and Dorothy (a hotel convention manager; maiden name, Rhoads) Steele; married Harumi Tomioka (a banker), June 22, 1968 (marriage ended); married Gerianne Gayle (an artist and writer), May 30, 1986; children: (first marriage) Matthew Kiichi; Sean, Jared Long, Erica Long. Ethnicity: "Irish, Spanish, German." Education: University of Notre Dame, B.A., 1967; Michigan State University, M.A., 1971, Ph.D., 1975. Politics: "Liberal/radical/independent." Hobbies and other interests: Handball, golf, reading, physical fitness.

ADDRESSES: Office—Department of English, Pacific University, 2043 College Way, Forest Grove, OR 97116.

CAREER: Goodwill Industries, Norfolk, VA, assistant to executive director, 1969-70; Lansing Community College, Lansing, MI, instructor in English, 1970-75; Pacific University, Forest Grove, OR, assistant professor, 1975-80, associate professor of English, beginning 1980, currently Distinguished Professor. Forest Grove School Board, chair, 1999-2001, 2003-05; member of board of directors of Oregon Holocaust Resource Center, 1993-96, Peace Village, and Forest Grove Library Foundation, 2001-05. National Collegiate Handball commissioner, 1986-89, 2002-05.

MEMBER: Modern Language Association of America, USHMM.

AWARDS, HONORS: Trombley Award, Pacific University, 2003.

WRITINGS:

Knute Rockne: A Bio-bibliography, Greenwood Press (Westport, CT), 1983.

The Fighting Irish Football Encyclopedia, Leisure Press (Champaign, IL), 1984, 3rd edition, Sports Publishing (Champaign, IL), 2000.

Christianity, Tragedy, and Holocaust Literature, Greenwood Press (Westport, CT), 1995.

Knute Rockne: A Pictorial History, Sports Publishing (Champaign, IL), 1998.

Christianity, the Other, and the Holocaust,, Greenwood Press (Westport, CT), 2003.

Contributor to books, including Dan Devine, Simply Devine: Memoirs of a Hall of Fame Coach, Sports Publishing (Champaign, IL), 1999; and John K. Roth, Remembering for the Future, Plagrave, 2001. Contributor to journals, including Victorian Poetry, Journal of American Culture, Old Northwest, Mr. Cogito, and Gypsy Scholar.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Holocaust, culture studies, peace studies.

SIDELIGHTS: Michael R. Steele once told CA: "The most important motivation in my life as it relates to my writing came from my parents and my teachers. My parents, both victims of the Depression, provided a suitably bookish atmosphere for their two boys. Then my teachers noted my interest in writing. I can remember a small printing press my parents gave me in 1954. I took it to school and scandalized folks with my exuberance. My sixth-grade teacher encouraged me in all my craziness. She recognized a talented, but confused, child and provided love and support.

"The trauma of the teenage years passed rebelliously. Then I almost flunked out of Notre Dame. Two teachers in particular became my models of excellence in life, teaching, and writing. Richard Sullivan of Notre Dame was a fine craftsman, a loving man, warm, wise, and sympathetic. Russel Nye of Michigan State was a sheer genius—a marvelous teacher and an indefatigable writer."

Steele later added: "For me, writing is a necessity of life. I am seldom if ever not writing.

"The chief influences in my literary life have been Albert Camus, Elie Wiesel, Harry James Cargas, Thomas Hardy, Shelley, William Blake, Shakespeare, Ibsen, George Eliot, Kafka, Stuart Hall, Foucault, and Lawrence Langer.

"Most of my writing entails a massive amount of background research, then a slow process of finding the best ordering principle. I find it crucial to attend to the 'feeling connections' often buried deep within the developing book. Without that, the writing proceeds only at a surface level.

"All writing is creative in the sense that the writer must overcome inherent problems in the project, find appropriate responses to those, and always attend to the demands of precise language. I find artificial, academic distinctions between 'creative' writing and other writing to be fatuous and nonproductive. The basic problems in writing are virtually the same from one form or kind to another."

"My advice to writers is simple and terrifying," Steele once commented: "WRITE. Don't talk about it. Do it. Of course, one must agonize about writing and life, but don't let this keep you from writing. Then, write about things that matter to you. Do not destroy yourself in the maw of the demands of the marketplace. Good writing will breed interest in your writing. Richard Sullivan would add that it is important to try to have a 'surprise' on each page. Don't make this too obvious. Be a reasonable perfectionist. Do not fear to try new approaches to communication. Do not fear word processing.

"Finally, I cannot emphasize the crucial importance of living for someone who appreciates the life of a writer. The profession can be a lonely one. In my experience, it is absolutely necessary to bleed on the paper, and then experience healing through the love of the one the writer lives for. Life is tough enough; a writing life needs all the more support."