Glenn R. Swetman, PhD

Dr. Glenn R. Swetman passed away on Thursday, March 10, 2016. Born and raised in Biloxi, he was called “Robin” by his family, life-long friends and former schoolmates. An author, retired English professor, and a scholar, Glenn graduated from Biloxi High School, earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Southern Mississippi, his master’s degree from McNeese University, and his PhD from Tulane University. He taught at a number of universities including Nicholls University in Thibodaux, Louisiana and was the Writer-in-Residence at William Carey University’s coast campus. Glenn was the author of numerous scholarly articles and creative works and fourteen volumes of poetry including Concerning Carpenters and Childhood Saints which was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. He also wrote a novel entitles Aaryn of the High Islands. He and his daughter Margot had recently completed a book based on a system of teaching grammar that Glenn had created and used entitled The Nine Questions of English Grammar. He was a member of and held leadership positions in many educational and profession organizations including the National Association of State Poetry Societies and the National Society of Educators and Scholars. He was a life member of the Lions Club and enjoyed being a member of the Biloxi Lions Club, the chapter to which his father was a charter member. He was also in the National Rifle Association, Order of Mithras carnival association, and Sons of Confederate Veterans. He was associated with U.S. Army Intelligence during his military service and is listed in Who’s Who in the World. When he was not writing, reading, or lecturing, Glenn enjoyed going duck hunting or alligator hunting, building and driving sports cars, playing video games, and telling stories to his grandsons. He traveled widely throughout Latin America and observed the black cayman, the pink dolphin, and fer-de-lance in their own habitat. He caught piranha for breakfast on the Amazon River in Brazil and alligator for lunch on Bayou la Bouffe in Louisiana. Preceded in death by his parents, Glenn Lyle Swetman and June Read Swetman, he is survived by his daughter Margot Swetman Quave and son-in-law Thomas Quave of Biloxi, his son Glenn Lyle Maximillian Swetman and daughter-in-law Margaret Frohn Swetman of New Orleans, LA, his daughter Glenda Louise Swetman and son-in-law Stephen Quick of San Francisco CA; his grandsons, Glenn Edward Quave and William Cotton Quave of Biloxi; and his granddaughter Kathryn Smith Evans of Oakland, CA. He is also survived by his sister Nancy Breeland and brother-in-law Albert Breeland of Biloxi, his sister June McGown and brother-in-law William McGown of Ocean Springs, his brother Chevis Swetman and sister-in-law Marcia Swetman of Biloxi and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 17, 2016 at the Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Home in Biloxi from 4-6 pm with a service beginning at 6 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Sadler/Lions Club Scholarship Fund c/o The Peoples Bank, P.O. Box 1416, Biloxi, MS 39533.