Sgt. Simon Alexander Haley

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simon_Haley

Simon Alexander Haley (March 8, 1892 - August 19, 1973) was a professor of agriculture, and father of writer Alex Haley. He was born in Savannah, Tennessee to farmer Alec Haley and his wife Queen (Davy) Haley. Both his parents were born as slaves, and both apparently fathered by white slave owners. Simon attended Alcorn College in Mississippi at age 15. After enlisting in the military during World War I, he married Bertha George Palmer, also a student from Alcorn. Simon then finished his master's degree in agriculture at Cornell University. Bertha died in 1932, and Simon was remarried two years later to professor Zeona Hatcher. Simon Haley held positions at various southern universities including Alabama A&M just north of Huntsville, Alabama.