Earl Hamner Sr.

Earl Hamner Sr. was an American writer and television executive, born in 1891. He is best known as the father of novelist and creator Earl Hamner Jr., who inspired the famous TV series "The Waltons." Earl Hamner Sr. worked in the publishing industry, particularly in magazine editing and printing. His family’s experiences and upbringing in rural Virginia deeply influenced his son’s storytelling. Earl Hamner Sr. played a significant role in shaping American literary and television narratives, contributing to the portrayal of family life and Southern culture in mid-20th-century media.