April 4, 2000

By Brenda Lindsey
Highlander Staff

“I began as a photojournalist, and I realize I am still trying to do that in my writing. I want to be as visual as I can,” said nonfiction writer William Least Heat-Moon, who visited Lyon College April 3-4 to accept the 2000 Leila Lenore Heasley Prize and to perform readings from his three published books.

Dr. Walter B. Roettger, College president, welcomed about 70 students, staff and local community members with a friendly “Hello” before introducing members of the Heasley family and Annas Heasley, who officially presented Heat-Moon with the Heasley Prize.

Roettger explained the Prize was conceived by Dr. Martha Heasley Cox ’38, Professor Emerita of English at San Jose State University in San Jose, Calif., to “enrich and affect the intellectual life of the community,” and was named in memory of Leila Lenore Heasley ’35. The prize was established by Dr. Cox and other members of the Heasley family. It also honors Jesse Richard Heasley, Lillian Seay Heasley ’28, Therrell Heasley ’32, Paul Heasley ’47 and his family, and Dr. Cox.

Gene Hyde, co-chair of the Leila Lenore Heasley Prize Selection Committee, said the Heasley Prize was created to recognize a distinguished representative of American or international letter, theater, or cinema.

Hyde said Least Heat-Moon's first book, “Blue Highways: A Journey into America,” (1984) was an example of fine prose style. His second book, “PrairyErth” (1991), Hyde said, “stands as a single study of American life as an American standard.” Least Heat-Moon's third book, “River-Horse”(1999), was “sparkling with powerful prose.”

Least Heat-Moon then rose to thank the Roettgers for a wonderful dinner and extended his appreciation for receiving the Leila Lenore Heasley Prize.

Before beginning the reading, he explained that this was his second visit to Independence County, which he said is the only county in the U.S. named Independence, and he was trying to visit all the counties in the United States. .

“Readers like people best of all. We do care for people in our country,” Least Heat-Moon said. Holding up a sheet of paper with two paragraphs on it, he said, “I rewrote this 25 times and it took four years.” He then read the first passage of “Blue Highways” in what he explained was an attempt to set the mood for the people appearing in the other readings.

Least Heat-Moon then read several passages from each of his other two books. His last book, “River-Horse,” was written after he and several companions crossed the United States using only the waterways. “I think that the real characters of the book are the rivers. As it says in the book, we are all little jugs of water, little oceans. I wanted to bring to awareness the preciousness of water. I wanted people who don't think about environmental issues to read it.”

Least Heat-Moon was born William Trogdon in Kansas City, Mo. His ancestry is English, Irish and Osage Indian. He explained how he took the native American name of Least Heat-Moon, which he uses as his pen name.

He said his father took the name Heat-Moon to honor his Osage ancestry. When Least heat-Moon’s older brother was 13, he went on a traditional Osage “vision quest” in which he spent three days alone in the wilderness with three matches, a sleeping bag and a knife. When he completed the quest, he took the name Little Heat-Moon. William Trogdon went on a similar vision quest at 13 and upon his return he chose the name Least Heat-Moon.

He began using the name on his writings as he realized that the part of him writing was impulsive and spiritual. “I think that comes from the Osage side. The person telling the story is Least Heat-Moon.”

The audience responded warmly to the readings. While the crowd mingled and discussed the lecture, Heat-Moon had a lengthy book signing session after the readings.

Nicole Bolin, a senior at Lyon, said, “Heat-Moon's reading was very humorous and entertaining.”

Susan Tucker, a junior at Lyon, said the reading from “Blue Highways” reminded her of her grandmother. “I identified with the images in the tiny town and the old woman who lived by the railroad tracks. I want to read “River-Horse.'”

Assistant Professor of Philosophy Martha Beck said, “Martha Cox created a great Prize. I thought the reading was very good, and he writes so vividly.”

Trula Pectol, a sophomore at Lyon, said, “I could just picture what he was reading about. He painted a wonderful picture for the listener.”

Past winners of the Heasley Prize are Donald Harington, 1997-98; Fred Chappell, 1998-99; and Rosellen Brown, 1996-97.