RICHMOND, Va., Jan. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- For millions of Americans, the experiences they had serving in World War II changed their lives forever. For author E. Bruce Heilman, military service played a pivotal role in launching a distinguished career in higher education administration. In his new memoir, "An Interruption That Lasted a Lifetime: My First Eighty Years" (published by AuthorHouse), he describes his Kentucky childhood, his eye-opening years as a Marine and the challenges and rewards of serving as a successful university administrator.

This poignant memoir is divided into four sections that detail key periods in Heilman's life. The first, "Formation," begins with his birth in a tenant house on an isolated Kentucky farm in 1926. His childhood provided him with a solid foundation upon which he built his life -- a life that he thought would always be lived on the farm or in fulfilling his higher ambition of driving a truck. As the gears of war accelerated, those assumptions would change.

Heilman takes readers with him through the second portion of the book, "Transformation," as he serves in the Marine Corps in combat on Okinawa and on occupation duty in post-war Japan. His memories, set in the historical context of letters he wrote to his mother, provide the story of not only how Heilman was transformed into a man with limitless possibilities, but also the story of how a great generation, now dwindling in numbers, was changed forever through combat and service.

The author's progression through obtaining his doctorate, fathering a family of six and embarking on an impressive career in higher education is highlighted in "Reclamation." The final section of the book is an insightful look at the crucial role played by higher education leaders as told through the eyes of a man whose career in academia is well-marked with achievement. With more than 50 years in higher education, Heilman has served as the president of a college and a major university and currently is a university chancellor. The rich experiences and lessons he has learned are wonderfully detailed, illuminating the complexities of higher education administration.

"An Interruption That Lasted a Lifetime: My First Eighty Years" reveals an engaging story of one man's extraordinary life path, as well as the story of a generation who bravely suffered through a worldwide conflict and emerged to build the America of today.

About the Author: E. Bruce Heilman has served as Chancellor at the University of Richmond since 1988 and worked as the college's President and CEO for roughly 17 years prior to his current appointment. After serving in the Marine Corps during World War II, Heilman earned his undergraduate, master's and doctoral degrees from Vanderbilt University with majors in Business Administration and Higher Education Administration. He has taught at numerous institutions around the country, was coordinator of higher education for the State of Tennessee and President of Meredith College. Among other honors, he was selected as one of the "100 Most Effective College and University Presidents in the USA" and was named as one of the "Richmond Area's Most Influential People" in 1984 and 1986. "An Interruption That Lasted a Lifetime" is his first book.

AuthorHouse is the premier book publisher for emerging, self-published authors. For more information, please visit www.authorhouse.com.

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SOURCE AuthorHouse