Wayne Flynt, retired distinguished history professor at Auburn University, has held many titles--activist, scholar, public intellectual, author, minister, father and historian.
Flynt is a sixth generation Alabamian who has spent his life devoted to the Baptist church and to Alabama history.
Flynt began his religious and cultural journey when he was a teenager.
"Every religious teenager is getting a signal from their faith and then other signals from culture," Flynt said. "I jettisoned my culture and held on to my faith."
As a history professor at Auburn and one of the creators of the Encyclopedia of Alabama, Flynt has been active in shedding light on Alabama's culture for more than 20 years.
"My calling both as a minister and as an academic is to reach out beyond the classroom, " Flynt said.
While teaching in the history department, Flynt mentored his students. After his retirement, he continued to work with students who were finishing their doctorate degrees.
"He didn't retire to stop working--far from it," said Joseph Kicklighter, history professor.
Kicklighter worked in the Auburn history department while Flynt was the head of the department.
"Between the Baptist church and Alabama, (Flynt) has a wide variety of interests, but all of them concern human beings and how we can make a better world," Kicklighter said.
Because of his desire to teach the world about Alabama and its history, the Encyclopedia of Alabama became a major part of Flynt's life.
Something had to be done about Alabama's wretched image, Flynt said.
"The story of the encyclopedia is both a story about all the mistakes, all the stupidities and all the heroism and the great things that have happened here," Flynt said.
He said the encyclopedia was meant to tell the honest stories of Alabama so people all around the world could read them.
The Encyclopedia of Alabama has been an enormously collaborative effort, and associate history professor Jeff Jakeman has worked closely with Flynt.
"Dr. Flynt has been a pivotal catalyst for the project--going out, speaking to people, opening doors because of his connections," Jakeman said. "He is a very well respected individual."
Flynt said he has had tremendous support from Auburn faculty, newspapers and museums that have contributed parts of their archives for this project.
"It was the ultimate example of teamwork," Flynt said.
Teamwork and collaboration have played major parts in Flynt's life and career.
Kicklighter said Flynt was always supportive of the history professors who worked under him, and he was loved by all the students with whom he worked.
Much of Flynt's work has been rooted in his supportive nature.
He supported Alabama, his students, his colleagues and his church, Auburn First Baptist Church.
"I love this state, and I love its people, and I love its ways, as flawed as they are," Flynt said.
Since the encyclopedia's website was launched, 70 percent of the traffic has been from outside Alabama and 10 percent of that is from outside the U.S.
The website teaches people about every aspect of Alabama, and Flynt said that is his true passion.
Flynt said he is devoted to the people of Alabama.
"My congregation is 4 million Alabamians," Flynt said.
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