Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Parker Lau signs with Luther College to play basketball at West Burlington. Joining Parker are his parents, Christy and Tim Jameson.
Thomas Sowell is an American author, economist, and political commentator who is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.
Thomas Sowell is the author of more than 45 books (including revised and new editions) on a variety of subjects including politics, economics, education and race, and he has been a syndicated columnist in more than 150 newspapers. Sowell was born in segregated Gastonia, North Carolina, to a poor family, and grew up in Harlem, New York City.
Due to poverty and difficulties at home, he dropped out of Stuyvesant High School and worked various odd jobs, eventually serving in the United States Marine Corps during the Korean War.
Afterward he took night classes at Howard University and then attended Harvard University, where he graduated magna cum laude in 1958. He earned a master’s degree in economics from Columbia University the next year and a doctorate in economics from the University of Chicago in 1968.
In his academic career, he has served on the faculties of Cornell University, Amherst College, Brandeis University, the University of California, Los Angeles, and, currently, Stanford University. He has also worked at think tanks including the Urban Institute.
Since 1977, he has worked at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, where he is the Rose and Milton Friedman Senior Fellow on Public Policy.
Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Brady Martin (1) drives the lane as Pella Christian’s Aiden Stoltz (15) defends during Substate final Saturday, February 25, 2023 at Oskaloosa, Iowa. Pella Christian Eagles edged West Burlington Falcons, 54-53.Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Jace Figuereo (3) with a layup during Substate final Saturday, February 25, 2023 at Oskaloosa, Iowa. Pella Christian Eagles edged West Burlington Falcons, 54-53.Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Mason Watkins (24) drives past Pella Christian’s Tysen De Vries (3) during Substate final Saturday, February 25, 2023 at Oskaloosa, Iowa. Pella Christian Eagles edged West Burlington Falcons, 54-53.Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington fans cheer on their Falcons during Substate final Saturday, February 25, 2023 at Oskaloosa, Iowa. Pella Christian Eagles edged West Burlington Falcons, 54-53. Iowa High School Class 2A’s Substate-6 final, Saturday, February 25, 2023 at Oskaloosa, Iowa. Pella Christian Eagles edged West Burlington Falcons, 54-53. Photo by Dan HockettIowa High School Class 2A’s Substate-6 final, Saturday, February 25, 2023 at Oskaloosa, Iowa. Pella Christian Eagles edged West Burlington Falcons, 54-53. Photos by Dan Hockett
Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Jace Figuereo (3) in the paint against Albia in District-11 final at Davis County High School in Bloomfield, Iowa, Tuesday, February 21, 2023. Class 2A’s sixth-ranked Falcons defeated Albia 49-32. Figuereo was the game’s top-scorer with 16-points.Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Mason Watkins (24) shoots a jumper in district-11 final at Davis County High School in Bloomfield, Iowa, Tuesday, February 21, 2023. Class 2A’s sixth-ranked Falcons defeated Albia 49-32. Watkins contributed 12-points for the sixth-ranked Falcons. Albia Blue Demons v West Burlington Falcons in Iowa Class-2A District-11 Final at Davis County High School in Bloomfield, Iowa, Tuesday, February 21, 2023. Class 2A’s sixth-ranked West Burlington defeated Albia 49-32. Photos by Dan Hockett
Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Mason Watkins (24) sinks a trey at the end of the first quarter during Class 2A’s District-11 quarterfinal, Friday, February 17, 2023 at West Burlington, Iowa. Class 2A’s 5th –ranked West Burlington defeated L-M, 75-39. Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Parker Lau (4) sinks a three during Class 2A’s District-11, quarterfinal, Friday, February 17, 2023 at West Burlington, Iowa. Class 2A’s 5th –ranked West Burlington defeated L-M, 75-39. Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Brady Martin (1) takes the ball to basket with several of Louisa – Muscatine defenders in pursuit during Class 2A’s District-11 quarterfinal, Friday, February 17, 2023 at West Burlington, Iowa. Class 2A’s 5th –ranked West Burlington defeated L-M, 75-39.Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Jace Figuereo (3) looks to pass around L-M’s Chris Day (13) during Class 2A’s District-11 quarterfinal, Friday, February 17, 2023 at West Burlington, Iowa. Class 2A’s 5th –ranked West Burlington defeated L-M, 75-39. Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Hayden Vandenberg (30) shoots a jumper over L-M’s Ty Northup (25) during Class 2A’s District-11 quarterfinal, Friday, February 17, 2023 at West Burlington, Iowa. Class 2A’s 5th –ranked West Burlington defeated L-M, 75-39.Photo by Dan Hockett L-M’s Finnegan Cline (33) drives around West Burlington’s Brady Martin (1) during Class 2A’s District-11 quarterfinal, Friday, February 17, 2023 at West Burlington, Iowa. Class 2A’s 5th –ranked West Burlington defeated L-M, 75-39. Louisa – Muscatine Falcons v. West Burlington Falcons during Iowa Class 2A’s District-11, quarterfinal, Friday, February 17, 2023 at West Burlington, Iowa. Class 2A’s 5th –ranked West Burlington defeated L-M, 75-39. Photos by Dan Hockett
Photo by Dan Hockett Danville’s Graci Walker (12) leaps in celebration after her buzzer-beater lifted the Bears to a 56-54 Class 2A region-6 quarterfinal victory over West Burlington Tuesday night at West Burlington, Iowa. Photo by Dan Hockett Danville Bears celebrate after a buzzer-beater lifted the Bears to a 56-54 Class 2A region-6 quarterfinal victory over West Burlington Tuesday night at West Burlington, Iowa.Danville Bears v West Burlington Falcons in Class 2A Region-6 quarterfinal Tuesday, February 14, 2023 at West Burlington, Iowa. Danville defeated West Burlington, 56-54. Photos by Dan Hockett
Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Brady Martin (1) sinks a lay-up against Burlington at Carl Johannsen Gymnasium in Burlington, Iowa, Tuesday February 7, 2023. Brady contributed 24-pts for the Falcons. West Burlington defeated Burlington, 76-46.Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Parker Lau (4) hits a jumper inside the lane against Burlington at Carl Johannsen Gymnasium in Burlington, Iowa, Tuesday February 7, 2023. Lau contributed 17-pts for the Falcons. West Burlington defeated Burlington, 76-46.Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Mason Watkins (24) shoots a three against Burlington at Carl Johannsen Gymnasium in Burlington, Iowa, Tuesday February 7, 2023. Brady contributed 12-pts for the Falcons. West Burlington defeated Burlington, 76-46. West Burlington Falcons v. Burlington Grayhounds at Carl Johannsen Gymnasium in Burlington, Iowa, Tuesday February 7, 2023. West Burlington Falcons defeated Burlington Grayhounds, 76-46. Photos by Dan Hockett
Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Abbey Bence (20) double and triple teamed by Burlington Grayhounds at Carl Johannsen Gymnasium in Burlington, Iowa, Tuesday February 7, 2023. Despite Burlington’s coverage, Bence topped all scorers with 27-pts for the Falcons. West Burlington defeated Burlington, 76-57.Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Taryn Havener (14) goes to the basket against Burlington at Carl Johannsen Gymnasium in Burlington, Iowa, Tuesday February 7, 2023. Havener contributed 19-pts for the Falcons. West Burlington defeated Burlington, 76-57.Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Isabelle Ritter (12) is fouled going to the basket against Burlington at Carl Johannsen Gymnasium in Burlington, Iowa, Tuesday February 7, 2023. Ritter contributed 5-pts for the Falcons. West Burlington defeated Burlington, 76-57. West Burlington Falcons v. Burlington Grayhounds at Carl Johannsen Gymnasium in Burlington, Iowa, Tuesday February 7, 2023. West Burlington Falcons defeated Burlington Grayhounds, 76-57. Photos by Dan Hockett