Al Hester

{{short description|American historian}}

Albert L. Hester (May 31, 1932 - April 11, 2019){{cite web|url=https://obits.dallasnews.com/obituaries/dallasmorningnews/obituary.aspx?n=albert-hester&pid=192652811&fhid=3631|title=Albert Hester|publisher=Dallas Morning News|accessdate=25 July 2019}}

{{cite web |url=http://grady.uga.edu/grady-college-remembers-al-hester/ |title= Grady College remembers Al Hester|last=Freeman |first=Sarah |date=April 22, 2019 |website=Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication |publisher= University of Georgia|access-date=June 21, 2019}} was a professor of journalism at the University of Georgia (UGA), a columnist, historian, newspaper reporter, and author. He wrote more than ten books including Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery: An African-American Historical Site about the Gospel Pilgrim Cemetery for African Americans in Athens, Georgia,{{cite web|url=http://onlineathens.com/stories/030804/new_20040308035.shtml#.WnXcOnVOk0M|title=Forgotten graves: Silent cemeteries hold untold history - Online Athens|first=Beth|last=Hatcher|website=onlineathens.com}}{{cite web|url=http://onlineathens.com/stories/011005/new_20050110030.shtml#.WnXeMXVOk0M|title=Famous grave found off Fourth Street - Online Athens|first=Lee|last=Shearer|website=onlineathens.com}} and Enduring Legacy: Clarke County, Georgia's Ex-Slave Legislators Madison Davis and Alfred Richardson about Madison Davis and Alfred Richardson.{{cite web|url=http://accheritage.blogspot.com/2011/01/dr-al-hester-to-discuss-enduring-legacy.html|title=This Day in Athens: Dr. Al Hester to Discuss the "Enduring Legacy" of Madison Davis and Alfred Richardson|first=Athens-clarke Heritage|last=Room|date=13 January 2011|publisher=}} He wrote Athens, Georgia, Celebrating Two Hundred Years at the Millenium with his wife Conoly Hester, who is also a writer and editor. He also authored some 200 articles.

He was a professor emeritus of the Journalism Department at UGA's Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication. He was Journalism Department chair and director of the Cox International Center for Mass Communication Training and Research, which he founded. It was funded with support from James M. Cox Jr. and provides training and research in support of international journalism.{{cite web|url=http://www.grady.uga.edu/coxcenter/Cox_History.php|title=Cox International Center|website=www.grady.uga.edu}} He retired from the University of Georgia in 1997.

During his career in journalism, Hester was a reporter and editor for the Dallas Times Herald in Dallas, Texas, for 13 years.{{cite web|url=http://oxfordleader.com/local-soldier-major-knox-never-backed-down/|title=Local soldier Major Knox never backed down - Oxford Leader|website=oxfordleader.com}}