Howard DeVore (May 26, 1925 – December 31, 2005) was an American archivist, science fiction collector, dealer, expert on pulp magazines, APA and fanzine writer, convention organizer, and active volunteer in science fiction fandom.

Biography

DeVore was born in Palestine, Illinois, on May 26, 1925. His family moved to Detroit, Michigan, when DeVore was six months old. They moved back to Illinois in 1930 because of the Great Depression. He lived on a series of farms, attending a one-room schoolhouse. DeVore's father made a living by "whatever means was necessary, including making moonshine and stealing coal." The family moved back to Detroit in 1934, and DeVore quit school at the age of 16 to start working. He was employed in "various construction trades, auto factories," and ended up working for the United States Postal Service for 22 years. Starting in about 1938, DeVore accumulated an extensive collection of fannish culture and science fiction-related artifacts and publications. During World War II, Young "Howie", as his flight jacket proclaims, was a ball turret gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress, flying bomb runs over France with the Eighth Air Force. In his later years, as his health was in decline, DeVore donated original and electronic copies of much of his collection to various science fiction-themed archives.

Role in fandom

DeVore was an active member of the National Fantasy Fan Federation and First Fandom.

Personal life and death

DeVore and his wife Sybil had three daughters: Cheryl (b. 1944), Karol (b. 1952), and Suzanne (b. 1954). He had five grandchildren: Julie (b. 1966), Ian (b. 1982), Jesse (b. 1985), Sarah (b. 1986), and Jillian (b. 1986), as well as two great-grandchildren: Casey and James. DeVore died on December 31, 2005, at the age of 80. Reflecting his devotion to Midwestcon and other fan conventions, his wake was held at the ConFusion convention in 2006. Later that year, DeVore was posthumously made Fan Guest of Honor at 64th World Science Fiction Convention, held in Los Angeles. His memory was honored at the convention. Several members of his family attended the convention in his honor, and they were recognized during the events.

Awards and recognition

DeVore's directory, Hugo, Nebula & World Fantasy Awards, was a 1999 nominee for the Hugo Award for Best Related Work. In 2004, he was inducted into the Detroit Science Fiction Hall of Fame at ConFusion. In 2005, he was given the First Fandom Hall of Fame award.

Convention Fan Guest of Honor

Citations

Sources