Local resident James E. Sandlin is now a published author. His book is entitled “Clod Buster (Farmer), U.S. Marine, Cumberland Presbyterian, Manufacturing Engineer (Tool Designer W/AutoCAD).”
“Over the years, I would tell my youngest daughter things and she would say, ‘Daddy, you should write that down’,” said Sandlin. “I finally told her that I’m writing a book. I thought it would take four to five months, but it took three-and-a-half-years.”
The book is filled with those stories, as well as photos taken by Sandlin over the years.
“I have always enjoyed taking pictures,” he said. “Some of the pictures are mine, while others I received from friends and family members. I also received permission from the Southern Standard to include exerpts from the paper.”
One of the books was donated by Sandlin to Magness Library in honor of the Sandlin, Taylor, Neal, Thompson, Webb, Judkins, Cantrell and Pinegar families.
“There is a lot of history in this book,” said Sandlin. “I wanted the library to have one as a way to help preserve the history.”
Sandlin was born April 6, 1937 to Johnny Clarence and Nancy Elizabeth (Taylor) Sandlin in DeKalb County.
He attended grammer school in Blue Springs, Cross Roads, Matha Hill, and back to Blue Springs through the eighth grade in DeKalb.
From February 1956 to February 1959, Sandlin served in the United States Marine Corps after attending boot camp at Parris Island and advanced combat training at Camp Lejeune.
Sandlin worked for Life Insurance Company of Georgia in Nashville in spring 1956, Spartan Industries in Smithville from 1959 to 1961, and Century Electric, Gould, MagneTek, and A.O. Smith (all at the same location) from 1961 to 2003, among others.
On June 11, 1961, Sandlin married JoAnn Webb. The couple had two daughters, Teresa Lynn and Melanie Dawn, and currently have four grandchildren.
A copy of the book can be purchased by contacting Sandlin at 473-5306. The current price is $20 each, while supplies last. However, if more copies need to be ordered, the cost will increase to $25 due to shipping, handling and taxes.