Victor Verney

Although my parents (Victor Sr. & Katherine) were originally from Warren, Ohio, they moved around a bit during the early years of their marriage. Eventually, however, they settled in Buffalo, NY, where my father was a mechanical engineer at Republic Steel (long since defunct) and my mother an art teacher. Like my father, I served in the U.S. Navy for four years, receiving my honorable discharge at the rank of E-5. In addition to learning welding and pipefitting, I also saw Europe, the Caribbean, and the western Pacific Rim. Having attended Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio for one year before entering the military, I was able to earn my associate degree while in the service. Returning to Buffalo after living in San Diego for a while, I completed my undergraduate studies in English at Buffalo State College. I then went on to earn a graduate degree in American literature (with a minor in history) at the University of Buffalo, writing my doctoral dissertation under direction of the late Leslie Fiedler, renowned literary and cultural critic. After a few years as an English professor, first back in San Diego and then in Iowa, I entered the field of journalism, working as editor at a weekly newspaper in Des Moines and a daily paper in nearby Marshalltown. A desire to focus on specific projects led to a career as freelance writer. Along with a strong avocational interest in jazz, I have a life-long fascination with baseball — two of my favorite writing topics, along with literature and history, of course.