“The White Man Who Stayed” is, according to its author James Autry, “a memoir of somebody else’s life.” That somebody else is James’ cousin and personal hero, Douglas Autry, who returned to his native Mississippi following his service in WWII to become the rural Benton County superintendent of education during the period of time when the schools were being forcibly integrated. But instead of resisting as many white men in his position did, or leaving the state to relocate to an area more aligned with his non-racist ideals, Autry stayed and devoted his life to doing the right thing. He paid a significant price for standing by his principles, including imprisonment at Parchment Farm on trumped up charges, but nevertheless he persisted.
James Autry has led an inspiring life himself, rising to the top of the Fortune 500 corporate ranks in his adopted state of Iowa, then taking early retirement to write (15 books and counting), lecture, and conduct workshops on Servant Leadership.
Please enjoy our conversation about this timely subject.
James Autry has led an inspiring life himself, rising to the top of the Fortune 500 corporate ranks in his adopted state of Iowa, then taking early retirement to write (15 books and counting), lecture, and conduct workshops on Servant Leadership.
Please enjoy our conversation about this timely subject.
(Douglas Autry) saw a lot of action (in WWI), he saw a lot of death, and I think somewhere in the midst of all that horror, the color of people began to make no difference to him whatsoever.
If I stick to just improving education for the students and keeping the peace in the schools, those are the two most important things I can do.
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