Milton Lomask
Milton Lomask was an American journalist, playwright, and author born in 1909 in Fairmont, West Virginia. He grew up in a small farming community in Iowa, where he faced challenges, including the death of his father and being part of the only Jewish family in the area. Lomask pursued a degree in journalism at the University of Iowa and encountered significant difficulties finding a newspaper job during the 1930s. His determination led him to hitchhike across the country, eventually securing a position in Palestine, Texas, and later at the Des Moines Register. After earning a master's degree from Northwestern University, he served as an officer in the U.S. Army during World War II. Post-war, Lomask shifted his focus to writing and became involved in advertising and public relations in New York. He eventually dedicated himself to writing about history and religious topics until his passing in 1991. His life reflects a journey of resilience and creative exploration in the face of personal and societal challenges.
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Subject Terms
Milton Lomask
Children's Autobiography Writer
- Born: June 26, 1909
- Birthplace: Fairmont, West Virginia
- Died: October 8, 1991
- Place of death: Falls Church, Virginia
Biography
Milton Lomask was born in 1909, in Fairmont, West Virginia. When he was three years old, his family moved to Maquoketa, Iowa, a small farming community. His father died when he was six. Being the only Jewish family in a small town, his mother decided to enroll him in the Christian ScienceSunday School.
Lomask attended college at the University of Iowa, majoring in journalism. Upon graduating, Lomask found it nearly impossible to find a job at a newspaper in the 1930’s. Confident that Iowa held no prospects for him, Lomask hitchhiked south, stopping at cities large enough to have newspapers, and inquiring about jobs. Lomask hitchhiked all the way down to Palestine, Texas, before he was finally offered a job. He kept the job in Palestine for a while, before being laid off.
A few months later, he found a job working in Iowa, for the Des Moines Register. He remained at the Register for about five years. Soon after brief positions at various newspapers around the country, he took a break to get his master of arts degree from Northwestern University. After graduating from Northwestern in 1941, he was drafted by the U.S. Army, and spent the next four years as an officer in the Chemical Warfare Service.
After the war, Lomask settled down in New York, working as a publicity writer, advertising manager, and a playwright. During this time, he started to become more religiously involved. After that, Lomask started to write full time, focusing on history and religious literature. He died in 1991.