James Lowell McPherson, appointed in 1943 at the age of 22 by Governor Matthew M. Neely, holds the record as the youngest poet laureate. According to Jim Comstock, McPherson's parents, unbeknownst to him, submitted a poem entitled "West Virginia" (written while an undergraduate at West Virginia University) to a contest conducted to select the state's laureate. (note 5) He received the letter notifying him of his laureateship while serving as a Pfc in "the 95th Infantry Division in the California Desert" (Comstock 3055). McPherson had attended Marshall, but received his B.A. degree from West Virginia University in 1942. He later did graduate work at Columbia University. Knopf published his novel, Goodbye Rosie, in 1965. Consider each day a gift. Use each for who knows when we shall no longer be able to do so. James R COTTRILL. BuckyK3LIE@aol.com 3119 Pioneer AVE, Pittsburgh, PA 15226-1740 412-563-2379