ESU students to read poems from Emporia poet

Walt Mason was better known locally as “Uncle Walt.”  This Emporia poet obtained an international readership from 1908 to 1920 when he retired to La Jolla, California. At his career zenith, Mason was syndicated daily in over two hundred newspapers in the US and Canada. In 1907, when he began working for The Emporia Gazette, Uncle Walt was a middle-aged, alcoholic, debt-ridden, itinerant failure in life. What happened?

At 7 p.m. Thursday, April 5, the Emporia Public Library will sponsor a program about Walt Mason to kick-off National Poetry Month and to promote the exploration of Emporia’s history during this sesquicentennial year.

The biographical narrative will be presented by Roger Heineken, member of the White Community Partnership. Mason’s poetry will be read by Emporia State University students. Derby sophomore Jenn Hunt and Wichita junior Robyn Verner are members of the ESU Educational Theatre Company.

This program is free to the public and will be held in the large meeting room of the library, 110 E. Sixth Ave.

Last Updated July 2, 2007>