Hartzell Spence (1908–2001)

Hartzell Spence, February 15, 1908 - May 9, 2001 Hartzell Spence was born on February 15, 1908 in Clarion, Iowa, the son of a Methodist Minister. Spence graduated from the University of Iowa in 1930 and was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa fraternity. After graduation, Spence went on to the United show more Press Association where he was the bureau manager in Iowa. From there he was promoted to New York to supervised the agency's special service bureau. At the start of his writing career, Spence was rejected many times until a friend of his told him to write about what he knows. So Spence wrote a book entitled "One Foot in Heaven" about a Methodist minister's family that moves around a great deal. This title became a best seller and launched his career. In joining the armed forces, Spence was assigned to Yank, a publication written by and for the enlisted man. As the executive editor of yank, Spence was able to bring many things to the publication. he was the inventor of the pinup, which found it's way into each edition of Yank and which lasted far after the rest of the issue had been discarded. Spence also discovered a Sargent who penned cartoons and introduced his work, "Sad Sack" to Yank and became an instant success. After retiring from the Yank. Spence was transferred to the Army Air Forces as special assistant to General Lauris Norstad. He then received the Legion of Merit in 1945. After leaving the service, Spence again began to write in ernest, producing historical novels such as, "The Big Top" written with Fred Bradna about a circus ringmaster. He also wrote over 200 articles for publications such as the Saturday Evening Post, Look and Reader's Digest. He also wrote "Marcos of the Philippines" in 1964 a biography of Ferdinand E. Marcos. Hartzell Spence, the man who invented the pinup, died at his home in Essex, Connecticut on May 9, 2001. He was 93. show less