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Betty Lou Shipley

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Betty Lou Shipley
BornBetty Lou Forsythe [1]
(1931-07-11)July 11, 1931[2]
Edmond, Oklahoma[2]
DiedMarch 14, 1998(1998-03-14) (aged 66) [2]
OccupationPoet laureate of Oklahoma
Alma materUniversity of Central Oklahoma[2]

Betty Lou Shipley (July 11, 1931 – March 14, 1998) was the twelfth poet laureate of the state of Oklahoma.[1][2] Shipley's term as laureate was cut short by her death.[3] Along with authoring three books of poetry, Shipley was the poetry editor for Byline Magazine[4] and operator of Full Count Press and, later, Broncho Press.[4][1]

Early life

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Betty Lou Shipley (née Forsythe) was born in Edmond, Oklahoma on July 11, 1931. She lived in Enid, Oklahoma and Duncan, Oklahoma as a child.[1] She graduated from Duncan High School in 1949[4] and went on to earn a degree in secondary education and a master's in creative studies from the University of Central Oklahoma.[1]

Awards

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Her book Someone Say Amen was awarded the 1998 Oklahoma Book Award.[2]

Works

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  • Called Up Yonder: Poems from the Bible Belt (Cardinal, 1980)
  • Somebody Say Amen (By-Line, 1997)
  • Meltdown: Poems from the Core (Full Count, 1980)

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Holliday, Shawn (2015). The Oklahoma Poets Laureate : a Sourcebook, History, and Anthology. Holliday, Shawn, 1969-, Barnes, Jim, 1933-, Brown, Nathan L. (Nathan Lee), 1965-, Davis, Delbert, 1883-1965., Fry, Maggie Culver, 1900-1998., Hamilton, Carol. (First ed.). Norman, Oklahoma: Mongrel Empire Press. p. 190. ISBN 9780990320432. OCLC 905700998.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Praising the career of Oklahoma Poet Laureate Betty Lou Shipley; expressing condolences upon her death" (PDF). Senate Concurrent Resolution 69. State of Oklahoma: 2nd Session of the 46th Legislature. 1998. Retrieved 3 August 2019.
  3. ^ "Oklahoma's Poet Laureates and their Terms". The Oklahoman. 7 November 2004.
  4. ^ a b c "Poet ready for any occasion". Sapulpa Daily Herald. 22 May 1997. Retrieved 20 July 2021.