Death Rays and the Popular Media, 1876-1939 by William J. Fanning

While in Reutte, Bill and Robyn’s daughter, Ellie, was born.Īfter the birth of his daughter, Bill and his family moved back to Texas where he taught history at The Greenhill School in Dallas. They married in 1972 and moved to the Alpine town of Reutte, Austria, where he taught at the Bundesrealgymnasium as a Fulbright Scholar. For his dissertation, he took off for Freiburg, Germany to conduct research in the Bundesarchiv-Militärarchiv (German Military Archives).īill also lived in Austria while doing research at the University of Vienna before taking his first teaching job at Texarkana Community College (TCC) in Texarkana, TX, where he met his beloved wife, Robyn. in Modern European History at Texas Christian University. Intrigued by the German army in the Second World War, Bill went on the pursue his Ph.D. After obtaining his Bachelor’s degree from East Texas State University (now Texas A&M Commerce), Bill earned a Master of Arts degree from East Texas in English and another Master of Arts degree in German and French from the University of Mississippi. Growing up in Sulphur Springs and Texarkana, TX, Bill developed a love for history at an early age. This became a running family joke and explanation as to why Bill became the smartest Fanning, and quite possibly the smartest human in existence. Arriving home following Bill’s birth, his father grabbed his newborn son who was wrapped in a blanket, and unknowingly carried him into the house upside down. Bill was born in Austin, TX to Judge William Jeffress Fanning and Merle Jo Barrett Fanning.

Fanning was a passionate history scholar and teacher who devoted his life to historical research, writing, and teaching and inspiring his students. Memorials in lieu of flowers may be given to the American Heart Association or a charity of choice.ĭr. Saturday in City Cemetery, Sulphur Springs. Saturday at First United Methodist Church with a reception following in Wesley Hall.

Death Rays and the Popular Media, 1876-1939 by William J. Fanning