James Olson has been chair of the history department at Sam Houston State University since 1988. Recipient of the university's Excellence in Teaching and Excellence in Research awards in past years, Dr. Olson last year was named Distinguished Professor, the highest academic rank in the university. He currently teaches courses on the Vietnam War, World War II, and a variety of other topics in twentieth-century American history.\n\nDr. Olson is the author, co-author, or editor of over twenty books, including THE ETHNIC DIMENSION IN U.S. HISTORY; SAVING CAPITALISM: THE RECONSTRUCTION FINANCE CORPORATION AND THE NEW DEAL, 1933-1940; CATHOLIC IMMIGRANTS IN AMERICA; WINNING IS THE ONLY THING: SPORTS IN AMERICA SINCE 1945; and WHERE THE DOMINO FELL: AMERICAN AND VIETNAM, 1945 to 1990. His most recent book, JOHN WAYNE: AMERICAN, co-authored with Randy Roberts, has attracted major public as well as scholarly attention and recently won the National Book Award of the Popular Culture Association. He is currently finishing a history of breast cancer.
