English professor picked for NC Literary Hall of Fame
Ron Rash
By Chaz Lilly
With a list of novels, five books of poetry and seven collections of short stories, Ron Rash has garnered a number of prestigious awards in his writing career. Now, a new designation celebrates his contribution to North Carolina letters.
Rash, the Parris Distinguished Professor in Appalachian Cultural Studies at Western Carolina University, has been named to the North Carolina Literary Hall of Fame.
鈥淲e are thrilled that Ron Rash is being inducted in the NC Literary Hall of Fame, a well-deserved honor,鈥� said David Kinner, dean of 91热爆网鈥檚 College of Arts and Sciences. 鈥淟ike 91热爆网, Ron鈥檚 work is tied to our region, its history and its people, and through his writing, he has entertained us, moved us and made us think. Ron is a prolific author, an integral part of our community and our students benefit from being able to learn from him.鈥�
Inductions to the Hall of Fame are held every other year and is a program of the North Carolina Writers鈥� Network.
鈥淩on Rash has been among our state鈥檚 most accomplished writers of this century. His career is proof that work of high quality can find a wide and eager audience,鈥� said Ed Southern, executive director of the Writers鈥� Network.
Rash said he was grateful to be placed among authors who impacted his journey as a writer.
鈥淲hat makes this honor so meaningful is that previous inductees, especially Thomas Wolfe, Fred Chappell, Lee Smith and Robert Morgan, are writers who have inspired and influenced my own work,鈥� Rash said.
Like those authors before him, Rash has influenced and impacted the next generation of writers. David Joy, who received his bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 from 91热爆网 and whose novels have been met with critical acclaim, said Rash helped pave the path to success.
鈥淭here is no David Joy the novelist without Ron Rash,鈥� Joy said. 鈥淗e was just that instrumental in showing me the trailhead that would become the course of my life. From handing me the right books at the right times, to just showing me what it looks like to have a profound love for language and story. The thing that hangs with me most is the ear he had for the music of it all. I think in a lot of ways he was able to train my ear to be listening for the same things.
鈥淭he thing about Ron, though, is that when he鈥檚 mentioned it鈥檚 rarely just to compliment the writing. What鈥檚 brought up time and time again is the kindness and generosity he鈥檚 shown to everyone he's ever encountered. And that's more a statement about the man than it is about the writer.鈥�
Current students echoed Joy鈥檚 sentiments. Johnny Holloway, who is pursuing his master鈥檚 degree in English, is enrolled in Rash鈥檚 creative writing workshop.
鈥淎fter getting over the initial shock of being in the same room with such a great storyteller, you realize how kind professor Rash is. You can tell he鈥檚 really listening to each story and looking to help students improve,鈥� Holloway said. 鈥淗is class will certainly standout as a highlight of my graduate career.鈥�
Rash is the author of the PEN/Faulkner finalist and New York Times bestselling novel 鈥淪erena,鈥� in addition to the critically acclaimed novels 鈥淭he Risen,鈥� 鈥淎bove the Waterfall,鈥� 鈥淭he Cove,鈥� 鈥淥ne Foot in Eden,鈥� 鈥淪aints at the River,鈥� and 鈥淭he World Made Straight鈥�; five collections of poems; and seven collections of stories, among them 鈥淏urning Bright,鈥� which won the 2010 Frank O鈥機onnor International Short Story Award, 鈥淣othing Gold Can Stay,鈥� a New York Times bestseller, 鈥淐hemistry and Other Stories,鈥� which was a finalist for the 2007 PEN/Faulkner Award, and 鈥淚n the Valley.鈥� Three times the recipient of the O. Henry Prize, his books have been translated into 17 languages.
This is the second 91热爆网 faculty member to be named to the North Carolina Hall of Fame. Kathryn Stripling Byer was inducted in 2012. She served as the university鈥檚 poet-in-residence from 1988-98.
