HOW I GOT OUT of the COTTON FIELDS: Lessons on Life, Love, and Survival

How I Got Out of the Cotton Fields is easy to read --hard to put down. Dr. Raymon Crawford adroitly uses vivid language to weave a remarkable story of a triumphant spirit that is victorious despite heartbreaking challenges.

His words paint colorful images that breathe life onto the pages of the book-we smell the aroma of the sweet potatoes roasted in the fire place-we close our eyes and feel the cool breeze created by the cracks in the walls of the uninsulated house and strain to see by the dim kerosene lamp-we taste the Grandma Kelly's scrumptious pinto beans and cornbread - we take the journey with him.

This story of a struggle is creatively told. Raymon takes the reader on a vicarious journey to the cotton fields of North Carolina, many of us recall, as he wishes, our on cotton fields- we are inspired!

In true educator style, he enumerates the lessons learned; as a seasoned military leader, he "commands" us (with his riveting account) to read more, and more, until we reach the end of this compelling book. We learn the lessons.

This book is more than a simple chronology of the writer's journey from the cotton fields of North Carolina to the halls of academia-some of the most Prestigious American colleges and to the corridors of the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense-the Pentagon. It takes each reader on an enthralling trek into the depth of the human spirit.

Raymon E. Crawford was born in poverty on a farm in Charlotte, North Carolina. The crop was cotton and the only way for him to get out of the cotton fields was to get a great education.

He graduated from North Carolina A&T University with a Bachelor's Degree and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Further education included two Masters' Degrees from Hampton University and Central Michigan University, and a Doctorate Degree from Clark Atlanta University.

Dr. Crawford served his country for twenty-two years in the Army, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He received the Covenant Purple Heart Award.

Dr. Crawford served as Vice President of Morehouse College and Grambling State University. He retired after ten years as an Administrator on the secondary school level.

He is a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, a member of 100 Black Men of America, National Association of Personnel Workers (NAPW), and Rotary Club. He is very active in his church and has an unquestionable faith in God.

Dr. Crawford is married to Urenna N. Crawford and they have a blended family of nine adult children. The Crawfords currently reside in Conyers, Georgia.