On April 21, long-time Oxford resident Margaret Stoddard was honored at the 75th anniversary of the Avery Hopwood Award at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor for being the oldest living winner of the award.
Stoddard, 95, joined hundreds of U-M grads who’ve won the prestigious writing award since it was established in 1931.
Avery Hopwood attended the university and later became a millionaire. One-fifth of his estate was given to the Regents of the university for the encouragement of creative work in writing.
Students are awarded $120,000 in cash prizes for their various pieces of work and are recognized at the awards ceremony.
Past Hopwood winners include playwright Arthur Miller, poet Frank O’Hara and poet Nancy Willard.
Stoddard attended the event with her daughter, Lois Stoddard, grand daughter Alexandra Fontana and great-grand daughter Vail Southhorn.
She said she was quite humbled when the crowd of about 200 gave her a surprise standing ovation. ‘I thanked them,? she said. It was very overwhelming.?
Stoddard won the Hopwood award in 1952 for her essay ‘Triune,? about her father and his experiences with the automobile though at the time she only won $100 for her writing. ‘I was very proud of that essay,? she remembers.
Stoddard and others who attended the event were given a special book which listed the Hopwood winner’s names and some featured work as a gift.
Stoddard said she began writing at the age of 8 and continues today. She drew her inspiration from stories her mother and father told her about growing up in Oxford. ‘We were great talkers,? she said. ‘My dad had such interesting things to tell.?
Stoddard has written numerous children’s stories, essays and even an opera. Her novel ‘The Leopard’s Changing Spots: Rorey’s Men? was published in 2003. She keeps two large cupboards full of her many writings.
‘I have enough stories to last my grandchildren for a long time,? she said.
The life-long Oxford resident said she really enjoyed her weekend at her alma mater, but the highlight of the weekend was being kissed by many of the male students who held her in such high esteem.
‘I must be very kissable,? she laughed.