Albert Hodges Morehead
Encyclopedia
Albert Hodges Morehead, Jr. (August 7, 1909 – October 5, 1966) was a writer for The New York Times
, a bridge
player, a lexicographer, and an author and editor of reference works.
on August 7, 1909 to Albert Hodges Morehead I (1854–1922) and Bianca Noa (1874–1945). Albert senior was a choral conductor. Bianca's brother was Loveman Noa
, the Naval hero. Albert's siblings were: Kerenhappuch Turner Morehead (1905–1907) who died as an infant; and James Turner Morehead (1906–1988). His parents lived in Lexington, Kentucky
but were spending their summer in Georgia
at the time of his birth. The family moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee
after the death of Albert's father in 1922 in Baylor County, Texas
. He attended the Baylor School
and later Harvard University
. In 1939, Albert Morehead married Loy Claudon (1910–1970) of Illinois, and the couple had two children: Philip David Morehead
(b. 1942) and Andrew Turner Morehead (b. 1940). He was a noted bridge partner of Gen. Eisenhower.
), the Chattanooga Times, the Chicago Daily News
, The Plain Dealer, and the Town Crier of Newton, Massachusetts
. He later worked for The New York Times
. In 1944 he published 36 articles, under four pseudonyms, in Redbook
magazine, and in 1951 published 29 articles in Cosmopolitan
magazine. From 1945 to 1947, he was the puzzle and quiz editor for Coronet
magazine and was the consulting editor for games in Esquire magazine. Starting in 1946 he was a consultant to the United States Playing Card Company
, and he was vice president and general manager of Kem Plastic Playing Cards, Inc. for three years. He was author, co-author or editor of over 60 books, including books on games and puzzles, and a number of reference works, some of which are still in print. He edited W. Somerset Maugham
's "The Ten Best Novels of the World" and Fulton Oursler's "The Greatest Story Ever Told." Finally, he served as vice president of the John C. Winston Company, a book publisher, for three years.
was a life-long pursuit for Morehead. From 1927 on, he played in bridge tournaments, and in 1932, during the depression he was hired as a writer for Ely Culbertson
's magazine, The Bridge World
. In 1928 he was made editor, and in 1929 he became the general manager of all of Culbertson's bridge publications. In 1934, he won the Charles M. Schwab
Trophy, and served as both president and chairman of the board of the American Contract Bridge League. He later wrote The New York Times bridge column for more than 25 years.
With Ely Culbertson
and Geoffrey Mott-Smith, Morehead published the book
Hoyle: The New Encyclopedia of Games, with Official Rules in 1950.
, and his remains were cremated and the ashed scattered.
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, a bridge
Contract bridge
Contract bridge, usually known simply as bridge, is a trick-taking card game using a standard deck of 52 playing cards played by four players in two competing partnerships with partners sitting opposite each other around a small table...
player, a lexicographer, and an author and editor of reference works.
Early years
Morehead was born in Flintstone, Taylor County, GeorgiaTaylor County, Georgia
Taylor County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. As of 2000, the population was 8,815. The 2007 Census Estimate shows a population of 8,738...
on August 7, 1909 to Albert Hodges Morehead I (1854–1922) and Bianca Noa (1874–1945). Albert senior was a choral conductor. Bianca's brother was Loveman Noa
Loveman Noa
David Bernard Loveman Noa was an officer in the United States Navy. He was killed while on duty in the United States' newly acquired overseas territory of the Philippines...
, the Naval hero. Albert's siblings were: Kerenhappuch Turner Morehead (1905–1907) who died as an infant; and James Turner Morehead (1906–1988). His parents lived in Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
but were spending their summer in Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
at the time of his birth. The family moved to Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga, Tennessee
Chattanooga is the fourth-largest city in the US state of Tennessee , with a population of 169,887. It is the seat of Hamilton County...
after the death of Albert's father in 1922 in Baylor County, Texas
Baylor County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 4,093 people, 1,791 households, and 1,156 families residing in the county. The population density was 5 people per square mile . There were 2,820 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile...
. He attended the Baylor School
Baylor School
Baylor School is a private, coeducational prep school on the outskirts of Chattanooga, Tennessee. The school was founded in 1893 and since 1915 has been located on the same hillside site by the Tennessee River. The school went through several incarnations: moving from an all-male military academy...
and later Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. In 1939, Albert Morehead married Loy Claudon (1910–1970) of Illinois, and the couple had two children: Philip David Morehead
Philip David Morehead
Philip David Morehead is the Head of Music Staff of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists, and the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center...
(b. 1942) and Andrew Turner Morehead (b. 1940). He was a noted bridge partner of Gen. Eisenhower.
Journalism
Through high school and college, Morehead worked on the Lexington Herald (now the Herald-LeaderLexington Herald-Leader
The Lexington Herald-Leader is a newspaper owned by The McClatchy Company and based in the U.S. city of Lexington, Kentucky. According to the 1999 Editor & Publisher International Yearbook, the Herald-Leaders paid circulation is the second largest in the Commonwealth of Kentucky...
), the Chattanooga Times, the Chicago Daily News
Chicago Daily News
The Chicago Daily News was an afternoon daily newspaper published between 1876 and 1978 in Chicago, Illinois.-History:The Daily News was founded by Melville E. Stone, Percy Meggy, and William Dougherty in 1875 and began publishing early the next year...
, The Plain Dealer, and the Town Crier of Newton, Massachusetts
Newton, Massachusetts
Newton is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States bordered to the east by Boston. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Newton was 85,146, making it the eleventh largest city in the state.-Villages:...
. He later worked for The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
. In 1944 he published 36 articles, under four pseudonyms, in Redbook
Redbook
Redbook is an American women's magazine published by the Hearst Corporation. It is one of the "Seven Sisters", a group of women's service magazines.-History:...
magazine, and in 1951 published 29 articles in Cosmopolitan
Cosmopolitan (magazine)
Cosmopolitan is an international magazine for women. It was first published in 1886 in the United States as a family magazine, was later transformed into a literary magazine and eventually became a women's magazine in the late 1960s...
magazine. From 1945 to 1947, he was the puzzle and quiz editor for Coronet
Coronet (magazine)
Coronet was a general interest digest magazine published from October 13, 1936, to March 1971 and ran for 299 issues. The magazine was owned by Esquire and published by David A. Smart from 1936 to 1961.-Typical issue:...
magazine and was the consulting editor for games in Esquire magazine. Starting in 1946 he was a consultant to the United States Playing Card Company
United States Playing Card Company
The United States Playing Card Company, started in 1867, produces and distributes many brands of playing cards, including Bicycle, Bee, Hoyle, Kem, and others, plus novelty and custom cards, and other playing card accessories such as poker chips. The company was once based in Cincinnati, Ohio, but...
, and he was vice president and general manager of Kem Plastic Playing Cards, Inc. for three years. He was author, co-author or editor of over 60 books, including books on games and puzzles, and a number of reference works, some of which are still in print. He edited W. Somerset Maugham
W. Somerset Maugham
William Somerset Maugham , CH was an English playwright, novelist and short story writer. He was among the most popular writers of his era and, reputedly, the highest paid author during the 1930s.-Childhood and education:...
's "The Ten Best Novels of the World" and Fulton Oursler's "The Greatest Story Ever Told." Finally, he served as vice president of the John C. Winston Company, a book publisher, for three years.
Bridge
BridgeContract bridge
Contract bridge, usually known simply as bridge, is a trick-taking card game using a standard deck of 52 playing cards played by four players in two competing partnerships with partners sitting opposite each other around a small table...
was a life-long pursuit for Morehead. From 1927 on, he played in bridge tournaments, and in 1932, during the depression he was hired as a writer for Ely Culbertson
Ely Culbertson
Ely Culbertson was an entreprenurial American contract bridge personality dominant during the Thirties and Forties. He played a major role in the early popularization of the game, and was widely regarded as "the man who made contract bridge"...
's magazine, The Bridge World
The Bridge World
The Bridge World , the oldest continuously published magazine about contract bridge, was founded in 1929 by Ely Culbertson. It has since been regarded as the game's principal journal, publicizing technical advances in bidding and the play of the cards, discussions of ethical issues, bridge politics...
. In 1928 he was made editor, and in 1929 he became the general manager of all of Culbertson's bridge publications. In 1934, he won the Charles M. Schwab
Charles M. Schwab
Charles Michael Schwab was an American steel magnate. Under his leadership, Bethlehem Steel became the second largest steel maker in the United States, and one of the most important heavy manufacturers in the world....
Trophy, and served as both president and chairman of the board of the American Contract Bridge League. He later wrote The New York Times bridge column for more than 25 years.
With Ely Culbertson
Ely Culbertson
Ely Culbertson was an entreprenurial American contract bridge personality dominant during the Thirties and Forties. He played a major role in the early popularization of the game, and was widely regarded as "the man who made contract bridge"...
and Geoffrey Mott-Smith, Morehead published the book
Hoyle: The New Encyclopedia of Games, with Official Rules in 1950.
Runner-ups
- North American Bridge ChampionshipsNorth American Bridge ChampionshipsNorth American Bridge Championships are three annual bridge conventions sponsored by the American Contract Bridge League . The "Spring", "Summer", and "Fall" NABCs are usually scheduled in March, July, and November for about eleven days. They comprise both championship and side contests of...
(1)- ChicagoReisingerThe Reisinger national bridge championship is held at the fall American Contract Bridge League North American Bridge Championship .The Reisinger is a board-a-match event.-History:...
(now Reisinger) (1) 1935
- Chicago
Death
Morehead died of cancer in 1966 in ManhattanManhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, and his remains were cremated and the ashed scattered.
External links
- Homepage
- Albert Hodges Morehead at ACBLAmerican Contract Bridge LeagueThe American Contract Bridge League is the largest contract bridge organization in North America. It promotes the game of bridge in the United States, Mexico, Bermuda, and Canada, and is a member of the World Bridge Federation...
- Albert Hodges Morehead at Findagrave