Emory King

Emory King ( born February 22, 1931 in Jacksonville, Florida; † 14 August 2007 Tropical Park, Belize ) was a Belizean writer and journalist. King served his country in many capacities, including as national film commissioner.

Life

At the age of 22 years, King started out with some friends on a yacht from the U.S. a cruise. Off the coast of Belize, the group was shipwrecked. After King had recovered from the accident, he decided to stay in Belize. He was in the tourism advertising, working for the Chamber of Commerce and as a businessman.

King joined the ruling People's United Party since 1954. He cultivated a close relationship with George Cadle Price, the first Prime Minister of Belize. 1958 King contributed to the fact that German-speaking Mennonites expelled from Mexico were able to settle in what was then British Honduras.

From the 1970s until his death King was a columnist for the Belize Times, the weekly newspaper of the People's United Party. He has produced documentaries about Belize and starred in two feature films shot there supporting roles. In 1998 he was appointed honorary film commissioner of the country.

King wrote several books, including Emory King's Drivers' Guide to Belize and The Great Story of Belize in two volumes. He led at times the Belize Historical Society. His interpretation of Belizean history (as in King's book Belize, 1798 - The Road to Glory on the battle off the island of St. George 's Caye ) disagreed with the Belizean writer and journalist Evan X Hyde, the King also reproached lack of knowledge of sources ( eg concerning the devastating hurricane in September 1931).

King was married to Elisa King and father of several children, of whom son Alex died sooner than he