William Neely: Difference between revisions

William Neely
William Neely
Born	August 18, 1930; Jane Lew, West Virginia, U.S.
Died	March 25, 2008 (aged 77); Wilmington, North Carolina, U.S.
Education	West Virginia Wesleyan College (BA)

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William Neely (August 18, 1930 – March 25, 2008) was an American writer, most famous for his book Stand on It by Stroker Ace.

Early life and education[edit]

He was born in Jane Lew, West Virginia, the son of Walter and Madge Neely. After high school, Neely graduated West Virginia Wesleyan College, completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. He spent a year (1952–1953) pursuing graduate work at West Virginia University.

Career[edit]

He served as sports editor of the Clarksburg Exponent and editor of the Hinton Daily News before returning to his alma mater as director of public relation. Neely went to work for the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, serving as manager of racing public relations from 1961 to 1966. In 1966, he left Goodyear to work as public relations manager of central region for Humble Oil Company, a position he held until 1970. Neely retired in 1970 to concentrate on writing full-time. His first book, Spirit of America, was published in 1971.

Bill Neely's best-known work was published in 1973, Stand on It by Stroker Ace, co-written by Bob Ottum. The novel, based in part on Neely's own experiences as a professional auto racer and on his experiences in the racing world with Goodyear and in part on NASCAR legend Curtis Turner, became quite popular for its gritty humor and its pull-no-punches depictions of the world of professional stock car racing. The novel was adapted into a 1983 film, Stroker Ace, starring Burt Reynolds and Loni Anderson. It also inspired a song, "Stoker's Theme", by Charlie Daniels.

Neely continued to write, particularly about the world of American stock car racing. Notable works include biographies of two of the sports founding pioneers — Cale: The Hazardous Life and Times of America's Greatest Stock Car Driver (Cale Yarborough) and King Richard I (Richard Petty). He has also served as a contributor to both Playboy and Sports Illustrated. Neely was the first recipient of the West Virginia Writers Association "Summit Award", for a "lifetime of excellence as a professional writer."

He also starred in I Know What You Did Last Summer, Matlock, and The Night Flier.^[1]

Personal life[edit]

He died on March 25, 2008, at the age of 77, in Wilmington, North Carolina following complications from heart surgery.

Works[edit]

Spirit of America
Grand National
A Closer Walk
Country Gentleman
Drag Racing
Stand On It (with Bob Ottum)
Cars to Remember
Playboy Book of Racing, Driving and Rallying
Daytona U.S.A.
Official Chili Cookbook
Roy Acuff's Nashville
A.J.: The A. J. Foyt Story
505 Automobile Questions (You Were Afraid to Ask)
Cale: The Hazardous Life and Times of America's Greatest Stock Car Driver
King Richard I
Alone in the Crowd
Pilots

References[edit]

^ William Neely at IMDb

[1] William Neely at IMDb

[1]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|American writer}}
-{{Unreferenced|date=May 2011}}
+{{Refimprove|date=April 2019}}{{Infobox person
-'''William Neely''' was an American actor and writer, most famous for his book ''Stand on It'' by Stroker Ace. He was born in Jane Lew, West Virginia, August 18, 1930, the son of Walter and Madge Neely. After high school, Neely graduated [[West Virginia Wesleyan College]], completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. He spent a year (1952–53) pursuing graduate work at [[West Virginia University]]. He served as sports editor of the Clarksburg Exponent and editor of the Hinton Daily News before returning to his alma mater as director of public relation.
+| name               = William Neely
-Neely went to work for the [[Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company]], serving as manager of racing public relations from 1961-1966. In 1966 he left Goodyear to work as public relations manager of central region for [[Humble Oil Company]], a position he held until 1970. Neely retired in 1970 to concentrate on writing full-time. His first book, ''Spirit of America'', was published in 1971.
+| birth_date         = August 18, 1930
+| birth_place        = [[Jane Lew, West Virginia]], U.S.
+| death_date         = March 25, 2008 (aged 77)
+| death_place        = [[Wilmington, North Carolina]], U.S.
+| education          = [[West Virginia Wesleyan College]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]])
+}}
+'''William Neely''' (August 18, 1930 – March 25, 2008) was an American writer, most famous for his book ''Stand on It'' by Stroker Ace.
+== Early life and education ==
-Bill Neely's best-known work was published in 1974, ''Stand on It'' by Stroker Ace, co-written by [[Bob Ottum]]. The novel, based in part on Neely's own experiences as a professional auto racer and on his experiences in the racing world with Goodyear and in part on [[NASCAR]] legend [[Curtis Turner]], became quite popular for its gritty humor and its pull-no-punches depictions of the world of professional stock car racing. The novel was made into a 1983 motion picture, ''[[Stroker Ace]]'', starring [[Burt Reynolds]] and [[Loni Anderson]]. It also inspired a song, "Stoker's Theme", by country legend [[Charlie Daniels]].
+He was born in [[Jane Lew, West Virginia]], the son of Walter and Madge Neely. After high school, Neely graduated [[West Virginia Wesleyan College]], completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. He spent a year (1952–1953) pursuing graduate work at [[West Virginia University]].
+== Career ==
-Neely continued to write, particularly about the world of American stock car racing. Notable works include biographies of two of the sports founding pioneers — ''Cale: The Hazardous Life and Times of America's Greatest Stock Car Driver'' ([[Cale Yarborough]]) and ''King Richard I'' ([[Richard Petty]]). He has also served as a contributor to both ''[[Playboy]]'' and ''[[Sports Illustrated]]''. Mr. Neely was the first recipient of the West Virginia Writers Association ""Summit Award"", for a ""lifetime of excellence as a professional writer."
+He served as sports editor of the ''Clarksburg Exponent'' and editor of the ''Hinton Daily News'' before returning to his alma mater as director of public relation.
+Neely went to work for the [[Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company]], serving as manager of racing public relations from 1961 to 1966. In 1966, he left Goodyear to work as public relations manager of central region for [[Humble Oil Company]], a position he held until 1970. Neely retired in 1970 to concentrate on writing full-time. His first book, ''Spirit of America'', was published in 1971.
+Bill Neely's best-known work was published in 1973, ''Stand on It'' by Stroker Ace, co-written by [[Robert K. Ottum|Bob Ottum]]. The novel, based in part on Neely's own experiences as a professional auto racer and on his experiences in the racing world with Goodyear and in part on [[NASCAR]] legend [[Curtis Turner]], became quite popular for its gritty humor and its pull-no-punches depictions of the world of professional stock car racing. The novel was adapted into a 1983 film, ''[[Stroker Ace]]'', starring [[Burt Reynolds]] and [[Loni Anderson]]. It also inspired a song, "Stoker's Theme", by [[Charlie Daniels]].
-He died Tuesday, March 25, 2008, at the age of 77,in [[Wilmington, NC]] following complications from heart surgery.
+Neely continued to write, particularly about the world of American stock car racing. Notable works include biographies of two of the sports founding pioneers — ''Cale: The Hazardous Life and Times of America's Greatest Stock Car Driver'' ([[Cale Yarborough]]) and ''King Richard I'' ([[Richard Petty]]). He has also served as a contributor to both ''[[Playboy]]'' and ''[[Sports Illustrated]]''. Neely was the first recipient of the West Virginia Writers Association "Summit Award", for a "lifetime of excellence as a professional writer."
-== Works Published ==
+He also starred in ''[[I Know What You Did Last Summer]]'', ''[[Matlock (TV series)|Matlock]]'', and ''[[The Night Flier (film)|The Night Flier]]''.<ref>{{IMDb name|0624223}}</ref>
-* Spirit of America
-* Grand National
+== Personal life ==
-* A Closer Walk
+He died on March 25, 2008, at the age of 77, in [[Wilmington, North Carolina]] following complications from heart surgery.
-* Country Gentleman
-* Drag Racing
+== Works ==
-* Stand On It (with Bob Ottum)
-* Cars to Remember
+* ''Spirit of America''
-* Playboy Book of Racing, Driving and Rallying
+* ''Grand National''
-* Daytona U.S.A.
+* ''A Closer Walk''
-* Official Chili Cookbook
+* ''Country Gentleman''
-* Roy Acuff's Nashville
+* ''Drag Racing''
-* A.J.: The A. J. Foyt Story
+* ''Stand On It (with Bob Ottum)''
-* 505 Automobile Questions (You Were Afraid to Ask)
+* ''Cars to Remember''
-* Cale: The Hazardous Life and Times of America's Greatest Stock Car Driver
+* ''Playboy Book of Racing, Driving and Rallying''
-* King Richard I
+* ''Daytona U.S.A.''
-* Alone in the Crowd
+* ''Official Chili Cookbook''
-* Pilots
+* ''Roy Acuff's Nashville''
-He also starred in ''[[I Know What You Did Last Summer]]'', ''[[ESPN Sports Center]]'', ''[[Matlock (TV series)|Matlock]]'', and ''[[The Night Flier]]''.
+* ''A.J.: The A. J. Foyt Story''
+* ''505 Automobile Questions (You Were Afraid to Ask)''
+* ''Cale: The Hazardous Life and Times of America's Greatest Stock Car Driver''
+* ''King Richard I''
+* ''Alone in the Crowd''
+* ''Pilots''
 ==References==
@@ Line 39: / Line 55: @@
 [[Category:1930 births]]
 [[Category:2008 deaths]]
+[[Category:People from Lewis County, West Virginia]]
+[[Category:West Virginia Wesleyan College alumni]]
+[[Category:West Virginia University alumni]]
+[[Category:Writers from West Virginia]]
 [[Category:20th-century American novelists]]
 [[Category:American male novelists]]
+[[Category:20th-century American male writers]]

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