Hanson, Sharon Kinney 1942-

PERSONAL:

Born September 29, 1942, in East St. Louis, IL; daughter of Raymond T. (a plumber) and Violet Rae (a seamstress; later surname, Fulford) Kinney; married Richard Allen Hanson (a government administrator), July 23, 1983. Education: Southern Illinois University, B.A., 1967; Lincoln University, teaching certificate, 1974; University of Missouri, M.Ed., 1977. Politics: Independent. Religion: Unitarian-Universalist.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Columbia, MO.

CAREER:

Christian Board of Publications, St. Louis, MO, copy editor, 1967-69; University Graphics and Publications, Edwardsville, IL, writer, 1969-73; Linn Technical College, Linn, MO, instructor in English, 1973-79; Elegance, Lakeland, FL, editor, 1981; Missouri State Library, Jefferson City, director of Let's Talk project, 1984-86. Central Bancompay, editor and speechwriter, 1973-79; also worked as managing editor for Sheba Review Publishing and as instructor at Columbia College. Missouri State Historical Records Review Board, member, 1993-94; Missouri Center for the Book, member, 1993-96; Missouri Arts Council, member of literary advisory committee, 2001-02.

AWARDS, HONORS:

Missouri Writers Guild awards, best poem, 1988, for "Marianne Moore: History in a Modern Mode," best newspaper article, 1994, for "Leni Riefenstahl: A Memoir," and best book, 2005, for The Life of Helen Stephens: The Fulton Flash.

WRITINGS:

Art Museums and Galleries in Missouri, Sheba Review Publishing (Jefferson City, MO), 1983, new edition, 1994.

(Editor) Missouri Women Writers (anthology), Sheba Review Publishing (Jefferson City, MO), 1987.

(Editor) Tyrant's Tears (poetry), Sheba Review Publishing (Jefferson City, MO), 1990.

Katy Trail: Jefferson City to Boonville, photographs by Sally Winters, Sheba Review Publishing (Jefferson City, MO), 1992.

The Life of Helen Stephens: The Fulton Flash, Southern Illinois University Press (Carbondale, IL), 2004.

Contributor to reference books. Contributor of book reviews to magazines and newspapers.

SIDELIGHTS:

Sharon Kinney Hanson told CA: "Over ten years' time, I interviewed pioneer track-and-field athlete Helen Stephens and many who knew her or were basketball or bowling teammates of hers; lacking an agent, I sought a publisher for her biography. It was my goal to affirm Helen's historical place. After graduate school I traveled to Germany to interview cinematographer Leni Riefenstahl (Olympia, 1936). I'm inspired by creative, energetic people who strive to improve society all during their lifetimes. I write to learn."