Retired attorney grew up in Lawrence County

An author who grew up in Lawrence County will have a signing of his new novel, “The Burlington Agreement,” at Ironton’s Consigned Books during Rally on the River.

M. Douglas Mann was born in 1944 and grew up in Burlington. As a child, he wondered why South Point was all white, while the population of Burlington was half African American.

He was attending Marshall University Laboratory High School in Huntington in 1961 when it was announced that the previously all-white class would be integrated. Unlike the negative reaction of many of his classmates, Mann went to the student’s home in Huntington and told him if he had any trouble or needed any help, to come to him.

Mann had forgotten about the incident until their 50th class reunion when the man got up and recounted the story. He said it gave him the confidence to succeed and become a college professor.

Mann went on to become an attorney in Atlanta, Georgia and after he retired, he moved to the mountains of Virginia with his wife.

“The Burlington Agreement” is a 394-page historical fiction based on Mann’s years growing up in southern Ohio.

The heart of the book is about an 1850 agreement between blacks and whites in the area of Burlington and South Point that provided peace and security for over a century thereafter.

The story itself is about two families, one white and one black, that share the name of Mason.

Ed Mason, who is white and wears braces thick-lens glasses and braces because of polio, is attacked by a group of black kids.  He is rescued by a black teen named Burt Mason.

Burt was in a similar situation the year before when he was rescued from white kidnappers by Ed’s grandfathers. Burt wanted to report the situation to the police but his family refuses and he learns about the Burlington Agreement and his family part in it.

On Aug. 19, Mann will sign books from noon-4 p.m. at the Consigned Books Store, located at 221 S. Third Street in Ironton.

The author’s blog and contact information www.mdouglasmann.com