Congratulations to Penn Manor history teacher Dr. Todd Mealy on the publication of his fifth book, “Glenn Killinger, All American: Penn State’s World War I Era Sports Hero.”
The book tells the story of Killinger, who grew up in Harrisburg and was a standout athlete in football, basketball and baseball at Penn State. He went on to serve in the military during World War I and later was a college coach and athletics director.
Mealy uses Killinger’s story to examine how American culture during the “Great War” focused on heroism, masculinity and athletics to create national icons promoted by the military and the media.
The book covers the implementation of college sports at military installations across the country in 1918 and the creation of the Student Army Training Corps, which made athletics a requirement for college students. After the war, businessmen capitalized on using the media to manufacture heroes in the form of celebrities to sell products.
Mealy said the book should appeal to readers with an interest in sports, military history and American culture.
“Glenn Killinger” is available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and the Midtown Scholar in Harrisburg.
Mealy’s other books include “This is the Rat Speaking”; “Legendary Locals of Harrisburg”; “Aliened American,” a biography of William Howard Day; and “Biography of an Antislavery City,” about anti-slavery advocates, Abolitionists and the Underground Railroad in Harrisburg.