JOPLIN, Mo. —
When Webb City resident Nolan Head set out to write about the early life of the United States’ first president, George Washington, he wanted to tell a story that could relate to teenagers today.
Almost 18 months later, Head on Saturday was at The Bridge, a Joplin youth center, signing copies of “Chronicles of Young George Washington” for young adults he had set out to reach. Head said he hopes that journey inspires a new generation to find a moral path in today’s society.
“There isn’t a lot written about the early years of his childhood,” Head said of Washington. “My goal was to find actual facts and tell the story from Washington’s point of view, like he was here telling it to the reader. I want his efforts of sharing, Christian morals and common sense to shine through in the situations that I recounted for the reader.“
Head hopes the 94-page fictional account of Washington’s formative years influences younger people to learn more about Washington’s life.
“He was the son of two orphans, and he lost his father at an early age, but his influence was in a lot of what he later became,” Head said. “That morality that he learned in his young life is relevant today. As an adult, you don’t just wake up and want to be a Christian one day; that has to be nurtured in your younger life as it was in Washington’s life. Because of his upbringing in faith, he was able to exemplify character, faith and courage in almost everything he did.”
Character is something that Head has found in area charities, to which he reached out when he found out that his first book was to be published. Head contacted Peterson Outdoor Ministries and Christians’ Haven, both of Webb City, to see whether he could help further their missions. He said he decided that 100 percent of the profits from the book would be donated evenly to the two charities.
“This is the least that I can do to support what they do,” he said.
Tron Peterson, who founded Peterson Outdoor Ministries, was on hand at the book-signing session Saturday. His charity supports wounded military veterans, in addition to terminally ill children, and their families through outdoor therapy. The Webb City-based program has helped more than 90 service members and their families since its founding.
“I read the book to my kids nightly, and they thoroughly enjoyed it,” Peterson said. “Once they reached out to us for an endorsement on the book and what Nolan was trying to accomplish, we were on board. I think it’s great to reach kids and show them that there is a moral way to life.”
Availability
“Chronicles of Young George Washington” may be pre-ordered on Amazon.com for $9.99. The book will be available on March 26.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Writer Nolan Head talks about George Washington’s family tree on Saturday at a book-signing event at The Bridge in Joplin. With him are Tron Peterson, founder of Peterson Outdoor Ministries, and Lynn Ragsdale (right), with Christians’ Haven. Head is donating proceeds from his book, “Chronicles of Young George Washington,” to the charities. GLOBE | RYAN RICHARDSON
Discussion
Webb City author writes book about the early life of George Washington
- Local News
-
-
Civil War committee honors sacrifice of soldiers ambushed at Rader Farm
Dozens of local residents gathered Saturday at the Rader Farm on the 150th anniversary of the massacre of 15 soldiers of the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry and three white soldiers from the 2nd Kansas Volunteer Artillery Battery by guerrilla Confederate forces.
-
Summer classes scheduled for Joplin, MSSU
Summer classes for Joplin Schools have been scheduled for Monday, June 3, through Friday, June 28.
-
Mike Pound: No cure for ‘worst parent ever syndrome’
I may be the worst parent ever. The reason I say that is because our 15-year-old daughter, Emma, suggested that was the case the other day when I was driving her home from school.
-
Wally Kennedy: Ye Olde King Pizza to open by September
Let’s start at the beginning. Earlier this year, Brian and Tracy Myers, of Joplin, signed a licensing agreement to bring a Ye Olde King Pizza to Joplin. This style of pizza was the forerunner for what eventually would become Joplin’s signature pizza restaurant, Pizza by Stout. That restaurant at 2101 S. Range Line Road was destroyed by the May 2011 tornado.
-
FACES OF RECOVERY: 176,869 volunteers help put Joplin together again
They initially came in droves, pouring into Joplin by the thousands during the months following the May 2011 tornado to clear debris, clean up damaged homes and businesses and distribute donations of food, water, clothing and other necessities.
-
VIDEO: Nearly 2,300 take part in second Joplin Memorial Run
Having just cruised across the line to finish in first place in the Joplin Memorial Run’s half-marathon, Andrew Webb paused for a moment to catch his breath and take it all in.
-
PBS stations to broadcast ‘Deadline in Disaster’ documentary
Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) stations across Missouri this week will broadcast “Deadline in Disaster,’’ a one-hour documentary that chronicles how The Joplin Globe helped its readers find hope in the aftermath of the EF-5 tornado that struck Joplin two years ago this week.
-
Hatred, resentment and retribution fueled bloody encounter at Rader’s Farm
Members of the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry regiment had been in Jasper County in large numbers on previous foraging missions. Coming from their outpost in modern-day Baxter Springs, Kan., the armed former slaves in Union uniforms had entered the property and homes of white residents to take their food or other useful supplies.
-
Ceremony to mark push for Civil War memorial
Organizers hope that today’s ceremony marking the 150th anniversary of a Civil War battle northwest of Joplin also will encourage support to finance a permanent memorial on the site.
-
Disaster response team to hold tornado memorial ride
A group of motorcycle enthusiasts who focus on disaster relief plan to hold a motorcycle ride through Joplin on the second anniversary of the May 22, 2011, tornado.
- More Local News Headlines
-
