Author To Sign Books In Warsaw
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Did you know that Indiana was once home to three professional basketball teams?
Are you a fan of high school basketball in the Hoosier State, or maybe just a history buff?
If so, then Dr. Norman Jones' book "Growing Up Indiana: The Culture & Hoosier Hysteria Revisited" might be for you.
The 70-year-old Jones, who has authored two other books that are not related to high school basketball, played basketball at and graduated from Marion High School in 1954.
His book talks about the Golden Era of Hoosier Hysteria and takes a look at the racial prejudice players at some schools had to deal with a half-century ago.
"Phil Raisor wrote a book called Outside Shooter that talked about the race issue," said Jones, who went on to play collegiately at Manchester and Ball State. "I've seen the race issue myself. Young people today might not believe that black players had to leave town before the sunset. Things like that happened."
Jones is doing a book signing Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. at Readers World on Buffalo Street in Warsaw.
Jones believes that his book, which opens with Jones playing in front of 5,500 fans as a sixth-grader in Marion, will appeal to readers of all ages.
"I think it's for all ages," said Jones. "I've been told it's an inspiring book for boys who want to play sports. Older guys will enjoy it for the history lesson. A lot of people don't know Indiana used to have three professional basketball teams, the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons, the Indianapolis Olympians and the Anderson Duffy Packers. I think people will enjoy reading the book."
While doing a book-signing in Florida, Jones sold 43 books in less than two hours. Among those that bought the book in Florida was former Butler basketball coach Tony Hinkle's daughter, Patty.
Jones said he wrote the 200-page, 12-chapter book in five months.
"I never thought I'd write a book," said Jones. "I've written two others, but I was tired of writing books on motivation and human development. They didn't sell that well, that's not what people want to read about. I think people will enjoy this book."
While doing a book-signing in Marion, Jones said he sold 46 books in less than two hours.
After graduating from Marion High School, Jones earned a letter as a freshman while playing for coach Claude Wolfe's Manchester Spartans and two letters at Ball State University.
Jones earned a B.A. in education in 1959 and an M.A. in counseling and guidance in 1963.
Jones went on to coach basketball, baseball and golf while teaching at Salem and North Vernon in Indiana and Palatine in Illinois.
Jones and his wife, Pat, are retired and live in Illinois. [[In-content Ad]]
Did you know that Indiana was once home to three professional basketball teams?
Are you a fan of high school basketball in the Hoosier State, or maybe just a history buff?
If so, then Dr. Norman Jones' book "Growing Up Indiana: The Culture & Hoosier Hysteria Revisited" might be for you.
The 70-year-old Jones, who has authored two other books that are not related to high school basketball, played basketball at and graduated from Marion High School in 1954.
His book talks about the Golden Era of Hoosier Hysteria and takes a look at the racial prejudice players at some schools had to deal with a half-century ago.
"Phil Raisor wrote a book called Outside Shooter that talked about the race issue," said Jones, who went on to play collegiately at Manchester and Ball State. "I've seen the race issue myself. Young people today might not believe that black players had to leave town before the sunset. Things like that happened."
Jones is doing a book signing Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. at Readers World on Buffalo Street in Warsaw.
Jones believes that his book, which opens with Jones playing in front of 5,500 fans as a sixth-grader in Marion, will appeal to readers of all ages.
"I think it's for all ages," said Jones. "I've been told it's an inspiring book for boys who want to play sports. Older guys will enjoy it for the history lesson. A lot of people don't know Indiana used to have three professional basketball teams, the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons, the Indianapolis Olympians and the Anderson Duffy Packers. I think people will enjoy reading the book."
While doing a book-signing in Florida, Jones sold 43 books in less than two hours. Among those that bought the book in Florida was former Butler basketball coach Tony Hinkle's daughter, Patty.
Jones said he wrote the 200-page, 12-chapter book in five months.
"I never thought I'd write a book," said Jones. "I've written two others, but I was tired of writing books on motivation and human development. They didn't sell that well, that's not what people want to read about. I think people will enjoy this book."
While doing a book-signing in Marion, Jones said he sold 46 books in less than two hours.
After graduating from Marion High School, Jones earned a letter as a freshman while playing for coach Claude Wolfe's Manchester Spartans and two letters at Ball State University.
Jones earned a B.A. in education in 1959 and an M.A. in counseling and guidance in 1963.
Jones went on to coach basketball, baseball and golf while teaching at Salem and North Vernon in Indiana and Palatine in Illinois.
Jones and his wife, Pat, are retired and live in Illinois. [[In-content Ad]]