Summers County man publishes autobiography

HINTON, WV (WVNS) — We all have a story to tell, but the audience we reach with it can be limited.

One Summers County man took the initiative to try and reach as many people as possible with his story by publishing his own autobiography.

Frederick “Fred” Long was born in Hinton in 1948. He has lived three quarters of a century on this planet and according to his autobiography, it has been a wild ride.

The book, simply titled, “My Autobiography” begins with writings from far before 2024.

Long said his story has literally been years in the making.

“I was about thirty years old at the time. And I started writing down everything I could remember about, you know, my life up to that period,” said Long.

Long said he was inspired by the autobiography of Benvenuto Cellini, a 16 ^th century Italian goldsmith and sculptor, to record his own life in this manner.

Long hopes that his stories of serving in Vietnam in the Air Force, as a city councilman for Hinton, and with various non-profits, inspire his own grandchildren to achieve something worthwhile.

“So, I would hope that they would be inspired to do the same thing and try to give back as much as they possibly can to the community they live in.” explained Long.

Long said his life has been a series of adventures one after another.

From following President Kennedy’s directive to take a 50-mile hike with some of his friends, to singing for $40 a night at a casino in Las Vegas, Long said he has lived an interesting life.

He also said that he never went looking for these adventures.

“You don’t have to look for it because it’s all around you, you just have to take advantage of it.” said Long.

Long’s autobiography clocks in at over 500 pages long with photos scattered throughout.

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