Mardo Williams
Personal Information
Description
Award-winning author Mardo Williams (1905-2001) completed the first draft of One Last Dance at age 95. His daughters, honoring their father’s wishes, finished the book after his death. Mardo began his writing career in 1927 as the only reporter at the Kenton, Ohio daily, The News-Republican, eventually writing a daily business column with byline for the Columbus Dispatch. At age 89 he wrote a book about his mother, Maude (1883-1993): She Grew Up with the Country, an intimate look at the woman, the country, and the times. Two years later Maude was published and he toured with it. Maude, now in its third printing, reveals the spirit of a century and is a favorite with book discussion groups and college history classes. Mardo also penned an illustrated children’s picture book, Great-Grandpa Fussy and the Little Puckerdoodles, a collection of 21 stories (for ages 5 and up). In 2001, he became the first posthumous recipient of an OHIOANA AWARD for his body of work as author and journalist. In May 2006, he was inducted posthumously into the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame.
Books
One last dance
After a disastrous first meeting, Morgan, 89, and Dixie, 79, move in together–for economic reasons, they agree. But the relationship changes and strengthens as the couple unites to combat illness, scandal and a near-fatal accident. It’s also a tale about how insecurities, humiliations and fears, though long past, can haunt a person throughout his days. Dixie fears intimacy. Morgan has concealed important details about his divorce, his estranged children, and his lost Chicago banking job. When a grandson whom Morgan has never met, bent on vengeance for past wrongs, invades their lives, he becomes a catalyst, eventually bringing the couple the love and pride they’d lost decades before with the loss of their children. Written with great humor and a deep understanding of the challenges associated with aging in America, One Last Dance is an inspiration to all generations, reminding us to live every day and always be in search of new experiences, regardless of age. Ohioana Award Winner Best Regional Fiction, Indepedent Book Publishers
Great-Grandpa Fussy and the little Puckerdoodles
“Twenty-one brief and chuckle-filled stories are packed into this ‘family read-aloud book,’ written by a great-grandfather who has generations of experience in the parenting field. The tales tell of the impish Puckerdoodles: Teenie, Weenie, Waddles and baby Toodlebug. Kids will enjoy the antics and illustrations as Williams captures the magic of childhood wonder—learning to spit watermelon seeds, falling in love with a first puppy, selecting ice cream at the local parlor. The story of a crabby toddler who gets up on the wrong side of the bed is guaranteed to elicit big grins. An excellent pick for parents to read aloud, young readers ages 7 to 10 also will enjoy saying the very words in these stories—marshmallows, Britches the dog, kazoo, six-shooters, Ma and Pa Fuddyduddy and the children's silly names. Williams has a true talent for language, and the illustrations are colorful and cute without upstaging the stories.”—Today’s Librarian
Maude (1883-1993)
During her 110 lifetime, Maude went from a 400-lb. wood-burning stove to a microwave oven, from an outdoor privy to indoor plumbing. She got the vote in 1920 and voted in the next 18 Presidential elections. With poetry and human dramas (two murders and a suicide), written by a master journalist, the book shows the impact of the changing times on shy, unassuming Maude, her fun-loving husband Lee, and their four active children. They farmed 100-acres on the banks of Rush Creek in Logan County (Ohio). Maude puts a human face on history.