Walt McDonald
Encyclopedia
Walter Robert McDonald is an American
poet
and former professor
. He served as Poet Laureate
of Texas in 2001. In May 2002, he retired from Texas Tech University
as "Paul Whitfield Horn Professor of English
" and "Poet in Residence".
include Faith Is A Radical Master and A Thousand Miles of Stars. Before joining the faculty at Texas Tech, he was a pilot
in the Air Force, and also taught at the Air Force Academy
. Some of his experiences as a pilot are reflected in his verses.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
and former professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
. He served as Poet Laureate
Poet Laureate
A poet laureate is a poet officially appointed by a government and is often expected to compose poems for state occasions and other government events...
of Texas in 2001. In May 2002, he retired from Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University
Texas Tech University, often referred to as Texas Tech or TTU, is a public research university in Lubbock, Texas, United States. Established on February 10, 1923, and originally known as Texas Technological College, it is the leading institution of the Texas Tech University System and has the...
as "Paul Whitfield Horn Professor of English
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
" and "Poet in Residence".
Career
McDonald's most recent books of poetryPoetry
Poetry is a form of literary art in which language is used for its aesthetic and evocative qualities in addition to, or in lieu of, its apparent meaning...
include Faith Is A Radical Master and A Thousand Miles of Stars. Before joining the faculty at Texas Tech, he was a pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
in the Air Force, and also taught at the Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
. Some of his experiences as a pilot are reflected in his verses.