TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – University of Alabama faculty and staff will have the opportunity to purchase discounted copies of “Mike Denny: The Shadow of a Single Man,” a book that chronicles the life of former University of Alabama president Dr. George H. Denny, and have the copies signed by author Delbert Reed.
The book recounts the life of Denny, who served as president of UA from 1912 to 1936 and as chancellor for another 15 years. Denny oversaw a period of tremendous growth at UA, bolstering enrollment from less than 400 in his first year to almost 5,000 his last year as president. Twenty-three major buildings were added to campus during that time, and Denny was heavily involved with building the university’s athletics programs.
Delbert Reed, author of the book and former writer in residence at the Paul W. Bryant Museum, will hold an introductory book signing and brown bag book talk at noon, Oct. 26, at Gorgas Library. The book will be available for purchase at a discounted price of $20 for UA faculty and staff. List price for the book is $24.95 plus tax. Additionally, Reed will host a signing Friday, Oct. 21, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Paul W. Bryant Museum.
All royalties go to The Paul W. Bryant Museum at The University of Alabama to establish the Dr. George H. Denny Student Internship Fund.
Mike Denny: The Shadow of a Single Man” is Reed’s third book to be published by the Bryant Museum and his fourth book on University of Alabama subjects. Reed’s previous books include “All of Us Fought the War: The University of Alabama and Its Men and Women in World War II” (2012); “When Winning Was Everything: University of Alabama Football Players in World War II” (2010); and “Paul ‘Bear’ Bryant: What Made Him a Winner” (1995).
“When I was doing the research for the last two books, I was going back through the old papers and archives and ran across a lot of things about Dr. Denny in Corollas and elsewhere. Of course, when I went to school there in ’58 as a freshman, when you went into the student union and going into the post office, his bronze bust was there. You could touch it every day. Of course, there’s Denny Chimes, the stadium – he loomed so large.
“Once I started digging, I couldn’t turn loose. It’s phenomenal what you’ll find. The Denny influence was everywhere from everybody.”
Reed said he is personally inspired by Denny’s dedication to education and has donated the book and all royalties to the University of Alabama to establish a Dr. George H. Denny Internship at the Bryant Museum.
Reed was particularly moved by Denny’s commitment to provide financial assistance to approximately one-third of the 30,000 students who attended UA during his tenure as president. Denny wrote thousands of letters to high school graduates in Alabama and offered jobs on campus to those who could not attend UA due to financial hardships.
“Dr. Denny’s ideals regarding education, truth, duty, leadership and service are still relevant today,” Reed said. “His inspiring words deserve review; his own life of disciplined leadership and service should be studied and emulated, and his work, especially in building the modern University of Alabama, should not be forgotten.”