Ralph Haygood Stephens was born on October 4, 1910 in Wrens, Georgia. He grew up helping his father, Charles Wynn, put out The Jefferson Reporter, a weekly paper that had to be typeset by hand. During this time he became the first of four sons to serve as editor for his father's newspaper. He graduated from Wren's High School as the class Salutatorian in 1928. Stephens went on to receive his BA degree from Georgia Southern College (1933) and his MA in English at the University of Georgia in 1939. In the initial years of his professional life Stephens was the principle of two high schools, served in the Army during World War II, and taught English at the University of Georgia for several years. Along with John Donald Wade he was instrumental in establishing the Georgia Review, the University of Georgia's literary quarterly. Ralph Stephens joined the University of Georgia's staff in 1936 as a graduate assistant in the English Department and served as assistant director of the University Press from 1940-49. He was an assistant professor of journalism from 1949-50. In 1950, Stephens became the director of the University of Georgia Press, a post he held until his retirement in 1978. He was responsible for initiating several series, among them Contemporary Poetry, Georgia History, Lamar Lectures on Southern Life and Letters, and Wormsloe Foundation Publications on Colonial History. During his tenure at the university press, it published more than 500 books in various disciplines. Throughout his career Stephens had been interested in promoting the appreciation and enjoyment of poetry and became much in demand for his poetry readings, with Robert Frost listed as his favorite poet. He regularly gave poetry recitals for high schools, colleges, writer workshops, and various clubs. The Dixie Council of Authors and Journalists honored him for his lifetime of devotion to published works. Stephens was also the recipient of a Southern Books Competition award for book design and had served as Vice President of the Association of American University Presses.
From the description of Ralph H. Stephens Collection, 1910-1994. (University of Georgia). WorldCat record id: 688484245
