Breazeale, John

Born hearing; joined the Navy in 1915. Deafened in 1917 by either the explosion of a signal gun, meningitis, or some combination of both. After a disability discharge, attended the Mississippi School for the Deaf for a short time, then Gallaudet College for 6 weeks, but withdrew because he would not accept the use of sign language. Went to Tulane University instead, graduating 1922. A part-time reporting job during college became a full-time job after graduation. He reported field stories for the New Orleans Item-Tribune, the United Press, and the Brandon Weekly News, interviewing people through pen-and-paper or, when that did not work, through gestures. Married Jessie May Owen in 1922. Biography is The Cracked Tune (1976).