Credits

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Robin Gunning

Author

Description

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The voice of James Wenonah Paul Gunning, as written by her son, Robin Gunning, narrates this captivating story that combines the tragic, the triumphant, the heartwarming, and, often the madcap – all the shades of family life – into an unforgettable and touching portrait of the historic Paul family of Pauls Valley.

Contents

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1. Acknowledgments…vi
2. Preface…viii
3. CHAPTER 1 . Roots... 1
4. CHAPTER 2 . Mama and Papa’s Courtship... 14
5. CHAPTER 3 . Newlyweds... 19
6. CHAPTER 4 . Willie and Victoria…26
7. CHAPTER 5 . From Prosperity to Polio… 30
8. CHAPTER 6 . Death and Change… 36
9. CHAPTER 7 . I Am Born… 43
10. CHAPTER 8 . Oklahoma City… 48
11. CHAPTER 9 . San Antonio… 56
12. CHAPTER 10 . Clarksville, Arkansas… 63
13. CHAPTER 11 . Returning Home… 69
14. CHAPTER 12 . Back in Pauls Valley… 76
15. CHAPTER 13 . Me and Bob… 81
16. CHAPTER 14 . More Adventures… 88
17. CHAPTER 15 . Growing Up Poor… 95
18. CHAPTER 16 . Branching Out… 110
19. CHAPTER 17 . Bloomfield… 117
20. CHAPTER 18 . Oteka Falls into a Hay Mower… 124
21. CHAPTER 19 . Back to School in Pauls Valley… 129
22. CHAPTER 20 . The Tragedy That Changed Our Lives Forever…134
23. CHAPTER 21 . Aftermath…140
24. CHAPTER 22 . A Wedding, Politics, and Family Conflict…146
25. CHAPTER 23 . Kaliteyo Goes to College…151
26. CHAPTER 24 . Papa Passes Out of Our Lives…156
27. CHAPTER 25 . I Graduate from High School…161
28. CHAPTER 26 . Haskell Tricks Me Into Enrolling at OU…167
29. CHAPTER 27. Getting Back My Self-Respect…175
30. CHAPTER 28 . I Get Free of Haskell…183
31. CHAPTER 29 . Haskell Loses His Marriage and His Job…188
32. CHAPTER 30 . I Graduate from OU…193
33. CHAPTER 31 . The Cookson Hills…201
34. CHAPTER 32 . Three Come Home, One Leaves…210
35. CHAPTER 33. Kaliteyo Spreads Her Wings…217
36. CHAPTER 34 . Haskell Goes to Jail, Little Tom Visits Arkansas…227
37. CHAPTER 35 . Tom Wins Respect, Bob Lies About His Age…232
38. CHAPTER 36 . Helen leaves Snip, I Take a Vacation…239
39. CHAPTER 37 . Haskell Almost Dies, I Take Mama to New Orleans...245
40. CHAPTER 38 . Snip Goes Back on His Word…252
41. CHAPTER 39 . I Start Thinking About Myself…257
42. CHAPTER 40 . Don…262
43. CHAPTER 41 . Our Wedding…267
44. Epilogue…271
45. Conclusion…273
46. Endnotes…280

Awards

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• The American Advertising Awards
• Independent Publishers Awards | Gold
• Oklahoma Book Award | Finalist

Excerpt

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