Clarke Newlon
Clarke Newlon was an American writer and journalist born in Griswold, Iowa, around 1905. He pursued higher education at Grinnell College and later married Betty Sniffen, with whom he had two sons. Newlon's career spanned various roles in journalism, including positions at the Chicago Sun-Times, the Dallas Dispatch, and United Press International. He also served as a career officer in the U.S. Air Force from 1942 until his retirement as a colonel in 1958. Following his military service, he established a public relations firm and later worked with Praeger Publishing Company in Washington, D.C. Newlon's writing included contributions to well-known magazines and several nonfiction books covering an array of topics such as aeronautics, Mexican history, and police dogs. His young adult book, "Famous Puerto Ricans," published in 1975, is noted for providing valuable insights into Puerto Rican heritage for young readers. Newlon passed away in 1982 due to pneumonia, leaving behind a diverse body of work that reflects his varied interests and experiences.
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Clarke Newlon
Author
- Born: c. 1905
- Birthplace: Griswold, Iowa
- Died: December 15, 1982
- Place of death: Washington, D.C.
Biography
Writer Clarke Newlon was born in Griswold, Iowa, around 1905. He attended Grinnell College and on May 23, 1936, married Betty Sniffen, with whom he had two sons, Michael and Richard. He worked for the Chicago Sun-Times, the Dallas Dispatch, and United Press International as a reporter and editor. From 1942 to 1958, he served in the U.S. Air Force as a career officer, retiring as a colonel in 1958.
After his retirement, he began his own public relations firm, which he headed until 1964. He then headed Praeger Publishing Company’s office in Washington, D.C., and also began freelance writing. Newlon was a consultant for the U.S. Intelligence Agency and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). He contributed articles to Collier’s, Reader’s Digest, Saturday Evening Post, and other magazines.
In addition, Newlon wrote nonfiction books on a variety of topics. Some of his books were about flight and aeronautics, including 1001 Questions Answered About Space (1962). He also wrote books about Mexican history; famous Mexican Americans; studies of China, the Middle East, and South Africa; and police dogs. His young adult book Famous Puerto Ricans, published in 1975, was a Junior Literary Guild selection. It is one of the few books available to young Puerto Rican Americans who need access to materials about their heritage and has been cited as a book with the potential to improve, or create, understanding of Puerto Rican history and culture for young people without direct ties to the culture. In this book, as in some of his other books, Newlon incorporated interviews, first-hand accounts, and critical commentary along with factual details. Newlon died of pneumonia in 1982.