Ralph Charles Hammond (b. 1916), attended Berea College through his junior year when he was drafted into the United States Army. While stationed in England, he did special studies at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and at Oxford University. Upon returning from four years of service in World War II he graduated from the University of Alabama he was awarded an Honorary Doctor's Degree from the University of West Alabama for his "Contribution to Alabama Life and Literature" in 1992.

During World War II, he was assigned to be the first United States Army Military War Correspondent in the European Theatre of Operations. Participating in the Normandy Invasion at Utah Beach, he was awarded Five Battle Stars for his correspondent work across Europe through the Battle of the Bulge. He is the author of thirty-seven books, and served as Press Secretary for the State of Alabama from 1947-1950 as speechwriter and Chief of Staff to Governor James E. Folsom. From 1963 he served two terms as Mayor of Arab, Alabama. Long an active leader in Alabama's literary life, he has been President of the Alabama State Poetry Society, The Alabama Writer's Conclave and the National Federation of State Poetry Societies. He was a former Poet Laureate of Alabama from 1991-1995. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Arab and composed the words and music to some 50 modern hymns. Hammond died at the age of 94 on December 10, 2010.