John Pruitt is a 10-time Emmy Award-winning TV News Anchor/Reporter who retired from WSB in Atlanta after a career spanning 46 years covering Georgia news. He is scheduled to speak at the Elbert County Public Library, 345 Heard Street in Elberton, GA, on Monday, October 3rd at 12 noon for a “Books and Bites” program to promote his new novel Tell It True. Attendees will be served something sweet & savory along with soda, water, or coffee since they will be missing their normal lunch time. Attendees are more than welcome to bring their own brown bag lunch!
Although a work of fiction, Tell It True draws heavily upon Pruitt’s real-world experiences covering Georgia in the 1960s and includes his coverage of the murder of WWII Veteran, Lt. Col. Lemuel Penn, by area Ku Klux Klan members at the Broad River Bridge on Highway 172 between Elbert and Madison Counties.
Library Director, Jan Burroughs, says “This will be an incredibly interesting book talk based on a horrendous event that happened right in our own back yard. We’re hoping that those still working can attend during their lunch time to hear Mr. Pruitt speak about his novel Tell It True.” She continues with, “ A friend who has been on the Board of Directors for the Pat Conroy Literary Center received an early copy and she says this is one of the best novels she’s ever read! To me, this is very high praise coming from someone who has read thousands of books over her years in the publishing industry.”
Seating will be limited so those wishing to attend the program should call the library at 706-283-5375 to reserve their space.
For those who have never had the opportunity to stop and read the marker on the Madison County side of the Hwy. 172 Bridge, the Georgia Historical Society marker reads:
On the night of July 11, 1964 three African-American World War II veterans returning home following training at Ft. Benning, Georgia were noticed in Athens by local members of the Ku Klux Klan. The officers were followed to the nearby Broad River Bridge where their pursuers fired into the vehicle, killing Lt. Col. Lemuel Penn. When a local jury failed to convict the suspects of murder, the federal government successfully prosecuted the men for violations under the new Civil Rights Act of 1964, passed just nine days before Penn’s murder. The case was instrumental in the creation of a Justice Department task force whose work culminated in the Civil Rights Act of 1968.
Do not miss this opportunity on Monday, October 3rd, at 12 noon to meet John Pruitt and to purchase and have signed his book, Tell It True before it is released for sale to the general public. For more information and to reserve your seat call the Elbert County Public Library at 706-283-5375.
For more information, contact:
Janet A Burroughs
Director Elbert County Public Library
345 Heard St. Elberton, GA 30635
Phone: 706-283-5375
Fax: 706-283-5456
www.elbertlibrary.org
