The Origin of Pen Pals: Learn How it All Started
In this week's episode, Big Steve explores the complete history of pen palling. You'll learn when the phrase "pen pal" was added to the Oxford English Dictionary, and what, exactly, was its original definition. Then, find out about a high-tech penpal matching service that was all the rage at the 1964 World's Fair in New York. Later in the episode, Big Steve will talk about some famous pen pal pairs from throughout history, such as Tony Danza and Tupac Shakur. And what about 100-year-old man and woman who have been writing letters to one another for over 80 years? Finally, the inmate spotlight will focus on a former college professor who has been incarcerated since 1981. If you want to become his pen friend, we'll tell you how.
Gordon Grilz, who we discussed on this episode, is the most educated member of PenPals.Buzz. He's been locked up over 40 years, and is now well into his 70s. Before his arrest, he worked as a college professor and remains a poet to this day.
His profile begins:
I'll always have the memories of my childhood, growing up in St. Paul, Minnesota, with my collie dog, and moving to Arizona at the age of 10. I remember my family telling me stories of my Austrian and Swedish heritage. I enjoyed my time attending Northern Arizona University, where I graduated in 1972 with a B.S. in English and then went on to get my Master's Degree in 1973.
I taught English and Humanities at Mesa Community College, Yavapai College, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University prior to my incarceration in 1981 for a crime of passion.
Now I've spent more than half of my life inside of prison. I even died once...well, kind of. I suffered a near-fatal heart attack just a couple of years ago. My heart completely stopped beating, and I stopped breathing. Somehow, quite miraculously, I survived and am happy to say I've made a full recovery.