Background
Starks was born December 7, 1929, in Shidler, Oklahoma.
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Howard Starks
Edit ProfileEducation
He graduated high school in Fittstown, Oklahoma and served in the United States. Army before earning a bachelor"s degree in education from East Central State College in Ada, Oklahoma.
Career
He is best known for his poem, "August: Osage County," which was one of the inspirations for Tracy Letts" Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name. He began a career in education with two years in the Fox and Healdton, Oklahoma public schools before entering the University of Oklahoma graduate school. He taught as a graduate assistant in English before teaching at University of Nevada, Reno and University of Colorado in Boulder.
In 1968 he came to Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant and remained until his retirement in 1995.
He taught courses in humanities, mythology, modern poetry, and numerous branches of literature.
Achievements
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He was very active in theater and drama at SOSU as a performer, director, costume designer and drama coach, and in 2002 he received the Distinguished Faculty Award from Southeastern State Oklahoma University for his meritorious service and accomplishments. The collection contained fifteen poems, but one poem from the book, "August: Osage County," has achieved both national and international prominence because of Tracy Letts" play of the same name. Letts" drama won the Pulitzer Prize and the Tony Award for best play of 2008.
Connections
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Born
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Died
April 7, 2003 (aged 73) -
Nationality
United States