Thad Stem Jr.

Thaddeus Stem Jr. (1916–1980) of Oxford, North Carolina was an American poet, author and newspaper columnist. His work frequently was published in the Raleigh News & Observer and The Pilot (Southern Pines, N.C.). He also wrote or co-wrote 16 books. The major works included The Animal Fair (1960), Entries from Oxford (1971), Senator Sam Ervin's Best Stories (1973), and Thad Stem's Ark (1979). He was honored with the North Carolina Award for Literature in 1974.