Best-selling author John Feinstein will be the featured speaker for Mississippi University for Women’s Welty Gala at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, at the Trotter Convention Center at 402 Second Ave. N. in downtown Columbus.
Feinstein, who also works for The Washington Post, The Golf Channel, Golf Digest and other outlets, has written 36 books, including “A Season on the Brink,” a story about Bob Knight and the Indiana men’s basketball team’s 1985-86 season, and “A Good Walk Spoiled,” a story about the experiences of PGA players in the 1993 and 1994 seasons. Both books were No. 1 New York Times bestsellers.
Feinstein’s latest book, “The Legends Club: Dean Smith, Mike Krzyzewski, Jim Valvano, and an Epic College Basketball Rivalry,” was published in 2017. It explores the battles in men’s college basketball between the famous coaches at the University of North Carolina, Duke University and North Carolina State University.
Feinstein also has written 10 books for children. The first of the mysteries, “Last Shot,” won the Edgar Allen Poe Award for mystery writing. It also was a New York Times best seller.
Prior to his book about Smith, Krzyzewski, and Valvano, Feinstein had non-fiction success with his book “Where Nobody Knows Your Name: Life in the Minor Leagues of Baseball,” which examines the players, managers, and umpires in Triple-A baseball, the last level before major league baseball.
Feinstein has been inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, the National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Hall of Fame, the U.S. Basketball Writer’s Hall of Fame and the Greater D.C. Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
Nora Miller, W president said, “John Feinstein is a wonderful writer and storyteller. Sports enthusiasts, readers and people who just love to hear good stories will thoroughly enjoy this event. Come join us for a great time and know you are contributing to scholarships for our deserving students.”
How to go
The Welty Gala is the annual fundraiser for The W’s Scholarship Fund. Students from the Ina E. Gordy Honors College, alumni and community members are invited to attend the event, which will kick off at 5:30 p.m. with a private reception with Feinstein for benefactors and patrons. A reception for all attendees begins at 6 p.m. with this year’s Welty Symposium authors followed by dinner and a presentation by Feinstein.
Andrea Stevens, W executive director of development and alumni, added, “The Welty Gala raises funds to support scholarships for deserving W students and is an opportunity for our alumni and friends in the region to hear well-known speakers. It’s always a great evening with a wonderful meal, and it benefits such a worthy cause.”
A book signing will follow Feinstein’s presentation. Black tie is optional.
Online registration is available at muw.edu/weltygala. You also can purchase a ticket by calling the Office of Development and Alumni at 662-329-7148.
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