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John C. Blythe's new book

Retired doctor's hunting memories become basis of book

By Katie Cole (Contact) | Alex City Outlook

Published Friday, August 28, 2009

Dr. John Blythe’s hunting trips to Georgia had always been a great resource for him – abundant quail, good friends and lots of laughs. Now, those trips have become the focus of his new book, The Last Hunt in Early County.

The head oncologist at Russell Medical Center for 35 years, Blythe and retired Maj. Paul Farmer, a fellow Alexander City resident, made annual trips to Early County, Ga., to bird hunt on the land of Farmer’s college friend William Hudspeth. The men always returned with plenty of stories of missed shots, disobedient dogs, burning cars and non-alcoholic beer. After years of reminiscing to family, Blythe began writing the stories down.

“It really sort of encouraged me to go ahead and write those down,” Blythe said. “I started off writing those down just to copy them and give them to the kids.”

Blythe soon decided to turn the stories into a book, developing his memories and giving them structure.

“I really just fell into it and enjoyed doing it…I’m sure ego had something to do with it,” Blythe said.

For the retired doctor, who spent years using medical terms and templated writing, the writing process was a fun project that took less than a year to complete.

Although hunting plays a big role in the memoir, friendship, family and loss are the real focus.

“I was using hunting as the glue (from which) all the friendships sort of evolved,” Blythe said.

Blythe and his wife, Ruth, who have five children and numerous grandchildren, live with their four dogs in Alexander City.

The Last Hunt in Early County was self-published through Xlibris and can be bought for $10 at Carlisle Drugs, Queen’s Attic, Jackson’s Drugs and the Russell Medical Center gift shop.

Blythe plans to write another book at some point, although he’s not sure what his next topic will be.

“As a matter of fact, it was so much fun, I want to do it again,” Blythe said. “I’ve got some ideas of what I want to do. It takes a rainy day to get started.”

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