The early years in the life of Dave Roper could never have been easy. Born to a poor family in the time between Statehood and the outbreak of World War I, Roper managed to survive into the years of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl. Those are the years that provide the background for his memoirs, "Son of a Sharecropper: Growing Up in Oklahoma 1913-1940," co-written with David L. Roper.

The Del City Library, part of The Metropolitan Library System, will present an evening with Dave H. Roper on Tuesday, June 20, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

"Dave H. Roper is a 90-year old retired teacher" said Del City librarian Sam Weehunt. "He was also a school administrator and preacher, and he writes a humorous newspaper column called ' The Rambling Roper,' so when he talks about his experiences in early Oklahoma he is quick and funny."

Weehunt invites every to come hear Roper's stories. He will talk about the day he brought a pistol to school, the day he accidentally started a forest fire, and the family's first black dust storm.

"From 1913 to 1940, Dave Roper lived in or visited almost every rural town in Oklahoma ," Weehunt added. "All that time he continued to pursue his dreams of a building a family and owning some land of his own."

"Son of a Sharecropper: Growing Up in Oklahoma 1913-1940" recounts one resilient man's hardships, humor, and hope.   

Dave H. Roper will be at the Del City Library, 4509 S.E. 15 th in Del City , on Tuesday, June 20, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. to discuss his book and autograph copies. The program is free and open to the public.

Call 672-1377 for more information.

The Metropolitan Library System of Oklahoma County includes 12 libraries and five extension libraries. Libraries include Belle Isle, Capitol Hill, Ralph Ellison, Ronald J. Norick Downtown Library and Southern Oaks in Oklahoma City, as well as Bethany, Choctaw, Del City, Edmond, Midwest City, Village and Warr Acres. Extensions are located in the communities of Harrah, Jones, Luther and Nicoma Park and include Wright Library in Oklahoma City . You can also reach us at www.metrolibrary.org.