Mardo Williams

Award-winning author Mardo Williams (1905-2001) completed the first draft of One Last Dance at age 95. His daughters, honoring their father’s wishes, finished the book after his death.
Mardo began his writing career in 1927 as the only reporter at the Kenton, Ohio daily, The News-Republican, eventually writing a daily business column with byline for the Columbus Dispatch. At age 89 he wrote a book about his mother, Maude (1883-1993): She Grew Up with the Country, an intimate look at the woman, the country, and the times.
Two years later Maude was published and he toured with it. Maude, now in its third printing, reveals the spirit of a century and is a favorite with book discussion groups and college history classes. Mardo also penned an illustrated children’s picture book, Great-Grandpa Fussy and the Little Puckerdoodles, a collection of 21 stories (for ages 5 and up). In 2001, he became the first posthumous recipient of an OHIOANA AWARD for his body of work as author and journalist. In May 2006, he was inducted posthumously into the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame.