Encyclopedia Dubuque
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GIFFORD, Thomas: Difference between revisions
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Gifford sold textbooks for Houghton Mifflin Publishing Company before becoming editor-in-chief of the ''Twin Citian'' magazine. (7) He was the director of public relations for the Tyrone Guthrie Theater and by the 1970s served as an editor and syndicated columnist for the ''Sun'' newspaper. His first book '''Benchwarmer Bob''', a biography of Minnesota Vikings defensive end Bob Lurtsema, was published in 1974 while he was also working on '''The Wind Chill Factor.''' (8) | Gifford sold textbooks for Houghton Mifflin Publishing Company before becoming editor-in-chief of the ''Twin Citian'' magazine. (7) He was the director of public relations for the Tyrone Guthrie Theater and by the 1970s served as an editor and syndicated columnist for the ''Sun'' newspaper. His first book '''Benchwarmer Bob''', a biography of Minnesota Vikings defensive end Bob Lurtsema, was published in 1974 while he was also working on '''The Wind Chill Factor.''' (8) | ||
Gifford returned to Dubuque in 1996 and became involved in local politics and civic activities. His weekly column in the ''Telegraph Herald'' entitled "Jazzbo of Old Dubuque" dealt with every subject from baseball to small-town America. (9) He taught a 1940s film noir class at [[LORAS COLLEGE]], wrote a history of the [[DUBUQUE PACKING COMPANY]], and began a biography of [[LICCIARDI, | Gifford returned to Dubuque in 1996 and became involved in local politics and civic activities. His weekly column in the ''Telegraph Herald'' entitled "Jazzbo of Old Dubuque" dealt with every subject from baseball to small-town America. (9) He taught a 1940s film noir class at [[LORAS COLLEGE]], wrote a history of the [[DUBUQUE PACKING COMPANY]], and began a biography of [[LICCIARDI, Francesco|Francesco LICCIARDI]]. Upon his death, eighteen boxes of his papers including handwritten manuscripts were donated to Loras College. (10) | ||
As Thomas Gifford | As Thomas Gifford | ||
Latest revision as of 02:29, 28 August 2019
GIFFORD, Thomas. (Dubuque, IA, May 16, 1937--Dubuque, IA, Oct. 31, 2000) Gifford's first published novel, The Wind Chill Factor (1975) received the Putnam Award, given in recognition of an outstanding manuscript by an author not previously published by Putnam. The novel reached The New York Times, best-seller list. (1) His novel The Glendower Legacy was the basis of the 1981 film "Dirty Tricks." (2) Other popular books by Gifford included the Edgar-nominated The Cavanaugh Quest, and The Man from Lisbon. (3) Gifford also wrote under the pen names Dana Clarins and Thomas Maxwell. (4)
Gifford attended LINCOLN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, IRVING ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, and WASHINGTON JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL. In his junior year at DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, received a scholarship to the Minneapolis Journalism Clinic. Among other school activities, he was the editor-in-chief of "The News," his high school bi-weekly publication. (5) A graduate of DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL, Gifford attended Harvard University with a journalism award made by the TELEGRAPH HERALD and an English scholarship he received to the university. He graduated in 1959 and then lived and worked in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, and New York City for forty years before returning to Dubuque. (6)
Gifford sold textbooks for Houghton Mifflin Publishing Company before becoming editor-in-chief of the Twin Citian magazine. (7) He was the director of public relations for the Tyrone Guthrie Theater and by the 1970s served as an editor and syndicated columnist for the Sun newspaper. His first book Benchwarmer Bob, a biography of Minnesota Vikings defensive end Bob Lurtsema, was published in 1974 while he was also working on The Wind Chill Factor. (8)
Gifford returned to Dubuque in 1996 and became involved in local politics and civic activities. His weekly column in the Telegraph Herald entitled "Jazzbo of Old Dubuque" dealt with every subject from baseball to small-town America. (9) He taught a 1940s film noir class at LORAS COLLEGE, wrote a history of the DUBUQUE PACKING COMPANY, and began a biography of Francesco LICCIARDI. Upon his death, eighteen boxes of his papers including handwritten manuscripts were donated to Loras College. (10)
As Thomas Gifford
1975 – The Wind Chill Factor
1976 – The Cavanaugh Quest (nominated for the Edgar Award 1977)
1977 – The Man from Lisbon
1978 – The Glendower Legacy
1979 – Hollywood Gothic
1990 – The Assassini
1993 – Praetorian
1994 – The First Sacrifice
1996 – Saint's Rest
As Thomas Maxwell
1986 – Kiss Me Once
1987 – The Saberdene Variations
1988 – Kiss Me Twice
1990 – The Suspense Is Killing Me
As Dana Clarins
1984 – Woman in the Window
1985 – Guilty Parties
1986 – The Woman Who Knew Too Much
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Source:
1. Kluseman, Katie. "Thomas Gifford," from the book They Came From Dubuque by John Tigges, Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 1983, p. 110
2. Gloss, Megan. "A Colorful Character of Many Words, Opinions," Telegraph Herald, November 10, 2008, p. 25
3. Thomas Gifford. Mysterious Press. Online: http://mysteriouspress.com/authors/thomas-gifford/default.asp
4. Thomas Gifford. goodreads. http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/37001.Thomas_Gifford
5. Kluseman
6. Cooper, Brian and John Kruse, "Thomas Gofford," The Arts in the Tri-States, Telegraph Herald, May 23, 2019, p. 20
7. Her, Lucy Y. "Thomas Gifford, 62, Fiction Writer" (obituary), Star Tribune, Nov. 1, 2000, Online: http://www.startribune.com/obituaries/11598941.html
8. "Thomas Gifford." Amazon.com. Online: http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Gifford/e/B000APCXC8
9. Her, Lucy Y.
10. Cooper and Kruse