The Mary and John Gray Library hosted an exhibit opening on Feb. 11, 2013, featuring the career of Dave Oliphant, a 1963 Lamar University graduate, author of 28 books, and an accomplished poet and scholar.

The exhibit opening included an address by Oliphant and musical selections from a band he belonged to at then-Lamar State College of Technology, The Technicians. The exhibit included Oliphant’s memorabilia including his diploma from Lamar State College of Technology, a copy of the first publication of “Pulse” Lamar State College of Technology's student literary journal, in which Oliphant was first published, and a manual typewriter on which he created his early manuscripts.

Born in Fort Worth in 1939, Oliphant’s family eventually moved to Beaumont where he graduated from South Park High School in 1957. He attended Lamar State College of Technology, earning a Bachelor of Arts in English in 1963. He received his master’s degree in 1966 from the University of Texas at Austin and eventually completed his doctoral studies at Northern Illinois University. Oliphant began his teaching career in 1967, ultimately spending 30 years at the University of Texas as assistant professor, editor of a scholarly journal, and coordinator of the freshman seminar program.

Oliphant is not only a teacher, but a deeply committed writer who has published 28 books, including four books on the history of Texas jazz, and three edited anthologies of Texas poetry.

While a student, Oliphant took the opportunity to take part in an exchange program at the University of Chile. His love for the Hispanic culture blossomed and on his next trip to Chile he met and married his wife, Maria.

Anyone interested in learning more about Oliphant can come to Special Collections which holds a copy of all of his books.