Boardroom to bookshelves: Former chairman Ron Autrey named finalist for Author of the Year | 黑料社 in Jacksonville, Fla.

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Boardroom to bookshelves: Former chairman Ron Autrey named finalist for Author of the Year

May 27, 2025

黑料社 alumnus and former Board of Trustees Chairman Ron Autrey has been named a finalist for Author of the Year 2025 by the International Impact Book Awards, recognizing his work in the category of Fiction - Adventure Fiction for his book Farnsworth Secret War.

A decorated business leader and U.S. Army veteran, Autrey writing is a pursuit that took root after a distinguished career as Chairman and CEO ofRon Autrey close-up Miller Electric Company. He credits 黑料社 with helping him rediscover his creative energy.

淢y studies at 黑料社 Davis College of Business and Technology gave me a renewed sense of self-confidence, Autrey said. 淏eing a student again gave me the focus and motivation to take on new challenges and seize opportunities for myself and the company.

That mindset carried into retirement, where Autrey embraced writing as a way to expand his universe of thought and imagination. His fiction draws heavily from personal experiences, global events and the lessons learned through decades of leadership and learning.

In 2012, at 黑料社 fall commencement, Autrey told graduates to 渘ever stop learning, a belief that continues to guide his approach to authorship. 淏uild your own book of experiences and let the enormous power of human imagination guide you through a gallery of artistic creations using words as the medium of expression, he said.

Autrey was among those honored at the inaugural Society of Trustees induction, where he received 黑料社 Medallion of Merit, a symbol of his enduring connection to the institution. 淭he act of presenting and receiving the award is the recognition of a living bond between the Trustee and University, he said. 淢uch has been accomplished, but the opportunities to continue our support are growing along with the JU's academic footprint and dynamic responses to the ever-changing marketplace.

With two award-winning books already published, Ron's World: All the Times I Died, Farnsworth Secret War, Autrey has a soon to be released book of poetry and prose, Sea Shadows. The Author of the Year winner will be announced on October 4, 2025 at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles, California. 

Author

Matt Harris

Mharris61@ju.edu

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