John W. Flores

John W. Flores (March 28, 1958 - ) was born in Dallas, Texas and grew up on a family farm near Fort Worth. He is a Pulitzer Prize-nominated American journalist, biographer and short-story writer, and a recipient of the U.S. Navy Meritorious Public Service Award, signed by Marine Corps Commandant James T. Conway. He was named as recipient of a Texas Senate Resolution (SR 168) for his years of research and writing as a journalist for Texas daily newspapers, and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson honored him with two citations for his work as a writer in New Mexico. He received a national award for writing from the U.S. Department of Veterans Services in September 2010. In October 2010 he received the Louisiana Veterans Honor Medal from Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Lane Carson. In 1997 his work for a Texas newspaper won two Associated Press Managing Editors first place awards.
History
He graduated from Alvarado High School May 28, 1976 and enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard for four years active duty as a search-and-rescue crewman based out of Naval Air Station New Orleans (Group New Orleans). It was during this early period of his life that Flores began writing, as a contributor to the Base New Orleans newspaper.
Upon completion of active duty, Flores attended the University of Texas at Austin where he acted as press aide to U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen, and as a staff writer for Texas General Land Office Commissioner Garry Mauro, working in the Land Management Division.
He would later work for several Texas newspapers, including the Killeen Daily Herald, Corpus Christi Caller-Times, The Monitor (McAllen), and The Dallas Morning News. In New Mexico he worked for the Albuquerque Journal, where he received his first journalism award in 2001. The same year, he was hired by South Texas oilman Lucien Flournoy, based in Alice, Texas, to write his memoirs. Flores and his wife, Rowena, spent more than a year with Mr. Flournoy while completing the manuscript. Flores interviewed President Jimmy Carter, former Houston Mayor Bill White, and many other notable people, for the book, titled: "Flournoy: A Legendary Wildcatter".
The first book Flores published was "When The River Dreams: The Life of Marine Sgt. Freddy Gonzalez", in fall 2006. This work led to several awards including a Texas Senate resolution (SR 168) in summer 2006, sponsored by Senator Juan Hinojosa, D-Mission, and signed by Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst; the U.S. Navy Meritorious Public Service Award, signed and delivered by Marine Corps Commandant James T. Conway in an Aug. 2009 ceremony held by the commanding officer of the 4th Recon Battalion in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Flores was also presented a citation by Governor Bill Richardson, in September 2010, for placing second nationally in a writing contest held by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. In summer 2009, he was honored by Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez for his work, and Chavez designated June 29, 2009 as "John Flores Day in Albuquerque" in his mayoral proclamation. In October 2010 Flores was presented the Louisiana Veterans Honor Medal for his service in the U.S. Coast Guard. As well, John W.Flores , had an article published April 1, 2011 by La Prensa San Diego on the revolutionary leader Emiliano Zapata.
A new edition of the Freddy Gonzalez story, titled "Fields of Honor", is expected to be published by Texas Tech University Press in 2011.
Flores was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in fall 1996 for a series of articles written for the Corsicana Daily Sun. His series resulted in several first place awards from the Associated Press Managing Editors (APME), in 1997, including the Community Service Award. He interviewed then-Governor George W. Bush for one of the stories. He was voted by the National Press Club board of governors as a new member in 2010 for his work as a writer. In 2011, he has received on behalf of the Gov. Rick Perry of Texas a commission to the rank of admiral of the State's historic civil defense group, the Texas Navy
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