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 Mason Watkins (24) led all scorers with 21-points for the Falcons. Iowa’s Class 2A, 6th –ranked West Burlington over Central Lee, 68-36.Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Brady Martin (1) goes to the basket against Central Lee Tuesday, January 24, 2023 at West Burlington. Martin contributed 20-points for the Falcons. Iowa’s Class 2A, 6th –ranked West Burlington over Central Lee, 68-36.Central Lee Hawks v. West Burlington Falcons Tuesday, January 24, 2023 at West Burlington. Iowa’s Class 2A, 6th –ranked West Burlington defeated Central Lee, 68-36. Photos by Dan Hockett
Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Abbey Bence (20) shoots over Central Lee’s Kodi Moeller (35) Tuesday, January 24, 2023 at West Burlington, Iowa. Bence scored 28-points for the Falcons. West Burlington overpowered Central Lee, 72-43.Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Kyra Garr (3) shoots a free-throw against Central Lee Tuesday, January 24, 2023 at West Burlington, Iowa. West Burlington overpowered Central Lee, 72-43.Central Lee Hawks v. West Burlington Falcons Tuesday, January 24, 2023 at West Burlington, Iowa. West Burlington defeated Central Lee, 72-43. Photos by Dan Hockett
Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington – Notre Dame second baseman Lolo Krieger (17) catches a popup by Central Lee’s Shanna Burford (18) in the second inning of the Region-8 semifinal Saturday July 9th, 2022 at Barb Cater Field in West Burlington, Iowa. West Burlington-Notre Dame defeated Central Lee, 4-3. No. 7 Falcons will meet No. 10 Davis County in the Regional final Tuesday at home in West Burlington. Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington – Notre Dame’s Anna Engberg (2) tags out Central Lee’s Sophie Turner (27) at third in the Class 3A Region-8 semifinal Saturday July 9th, 2022 at Barb Cater Field in West Burlington, Iowa. West Burlington-Notre Dame defeated Central Lee, 4-3. No. 7 Falcons will meet No. 10 Davis County in the Regional final Tuesday at home in West Burlington. Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington – Notre Dame’s Maddy Knapp (3) slides safe on a put-back beating the tag by Central Lee’s Kenna Sandoval (20) in the Class 3A Region-8 semifinal Saturday July 9th, 2022 at Barb Cater Field in West Burlington, Iowa. West Burlington-Notre Dame defeated Central Lee, 4-3. No. 7 Falcons will meet No. 10 Davis County in the Regional final Tuesday at home in West Burlington. Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington – Notre Dame’s Rowan Willford (9) catches a fly ball in the Class 3A Region-8 semifinal Saturday July 9th, 2022 at Barb Cater Field in West Burlington, Iowa. West Burlington-Notre Dame defeated Central Lee, 4-3. No. 7 Falcons will meet No. 10 Davis County in the Regional final Tuesday at home in West Burlington. Iowa Softball Class 3A, Region-8 semifinal, Saturday, July 9th, 2022 at Barb Cater Field in West Burlington, Iowa. West Burlington-Notre Dame defeated Central Lee, 4-3. No. 7 Falcons will meet No. 10 Davis County in the Regional final Tuesday at home in West Burlington. Photos by Dan Hockett
Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington – Notre Dame’s Brynn Logan (10) slides safe at home before Central Lee catcher Bella Steffensmeier (11) in the third-inning at Barb Carter Field in West Burlington, Iowa, June 3, 2022. West Burlington – Notre Dame defeated Central Lee, 4-0. Central Lee Hawks v. West Burlington – Notre Dame Falcons at Barb Carter Field in West Burlington, Iowa, Friday, June 3, 2022. West Burlington – Notre Dame defeated Central Lee, 4-0. Photos by Dan Hockett
Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington – Notre Dame’s McKenna Marlow (2) takes first place in the Class-A, 100-meter dash, at the Falcon Relays Tuesday afternoon in West Burlington. Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington – Notre Dame’s Josie Bentz (2) takes the baton from teammate Audrey Brockway on the final leg of the Class-A, 4×200-meter relay to take first place at the Falcon Relays Tuesday afternoon in West Burlington. Photo by Dan Hockett Danville’s Rylee Morris runs in the Class-B, 4×800, at the Falcon Relays Tuesday afternoon in West Burlington. Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington – Notre Dame’s Kennedy Ritter (8) competes in the Class-A, 3000-meter run at the Falcon Relays Tuesday afternoon in West Burlington. Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington – Notre Dame’s Hadley Augustine (5) competes in the Class-A, 400-meter run at the Falcon Relays Tuesday afternoon in West Burlington. Photo by Dan HockettPhoto by Dan HockettPhoto by Dan HockettPhoto by Dan HockettPhoto by Dan HockettPhoto by Dan HockettPhoto by Dan HockettPhoto by Dan HockettPhoto by Dan HockettPhoto by Dan HockettPhoto by Dan HockettPhoto by Dan HockettPhoto by Dan HockettPhoto by Dan Hockett2022 Falcon Relays, Tuesday, March 29, 2022 in West Burlington, Iowa. Photos by Dan Hockett
Photo by Dan Hockett New London’s Kade Benjamin takes first place in the high jump with a leap of 6’-6” at the Falcon Relays Monday afternoon in West Burlington. Photo by Dan Hockett New London’s Carter Allen takes first place in shot-put with a throw of 50’-11.5” at the Falcon Relays Monday afternoon in West Burlington. Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington- Notre Dame’s Grant Boal places second in Class A with a leap of 5-06 at the Falcon Relays Monday afternoon in West Burlington. Photo by Dan Hockett Danville’s Caiden Gourley places second with a leap of 5-10 at the Falcon Relays Monday afternoon in West Burlington. Photo by Dan Hockett Danville’s Sawyer Nelson places third in Class B with a leap of 5-08 at the Falcon Relays Monday afternoon in West Burlington. Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington- Notre Dame’s Tyler Burch takes fourth place in Class A with a throw of 42’-4” at the Falcon Relays Monday afternoon in West Burlington. Photo by Dan Hockett Danville’s Caiden Gourley places second with a leap of 5-10 at the Falcon Relays Monday afternoon in West Burlington. Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington- Notre Dame’s Tyler Burch throws the discus at the Falcon Relays Monday afternoon in West Burlington. Photo by Dan Hockett
Photo by Dan HockettPhoto by Dan HockettPhoto by Dan HockettPhoto by Dan HockettPhoto by Dan HockettPhoto by Dan HockettPhoto by Dan HockettPhoto by Dan HockettPhoto by Dan Hockett2022 Falcon Relays Monday, March 28, 2022 in West Burlington, Iowa. Photos by Dan Hockett
Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Parker Lau (4) delivers ball to the basket during Class-2A District-12 game Monday night in West Burlington. West Burlington defeated Central Lee, 63-29. Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Arya Nowroozi (12) delivers ball to the basket during Class-2A District-12 game Monday night in West Burlington. West Burlington defeated Central Lee, 63-29. Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Zach Webb (22) shoots over Central Lee’s Maddox Doty (15) during Class-2A District-12 game Monday night in West Burlington. West Burlington defeated Central Lee, 63-29. Photo by Dan Hockett Central Lee’s Alex Sandoval (11) goes to the basket during Class-2A District-12 game Monday night in West Burlington. West Burlington defeated Central Lee, 63-29. Central Lee Hawks v West Burlington Falcons in Iowa Class-2A District-12 game at West Burlington, Iowa, Monday, February 14, 2022. West Burlington won 63-29. Photos by Dan Hockett
Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Brady Martin (1) goes to the basket over Central Lee’s Maddox Doty (15) Friday night in West Burlington. West Burlington defeated Central Lee, 67-31.
Central Lee Hawks v. West Burlington Falcons, Friday, December 3, 2021, at West Burlington, Iowa. West Burlington defeated Central Lee, 67-31. Photos by Dan Hockett
Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Kenna Marlow (1) goes to the basket over Central Lee’s Mura Watkins (11) Friday night at West Burlington. West Burlington won, 52-33. Photo by Dan Hockett West Burlington’s Abbey Bence (20) takes it to the basket over a Central Lee defender Friday night at West Burlington. West Burlington won, 52-33.
Central Lee Hawks v. West Burlington Falcons, Friday December 3, 2021, at West Burlington, Iowa. West Burlington won 52-33. Photos by Dan Hockett