Earl Hamner stops for a picture in the lobby of CCM's Mary Emery Hall while taking a tour of the college. Thoroughly impressed with the facilities, he says, "I want to enroll. I want to come back. It's stunning, just overwhelming. I've run out of wows." photo/Peter Griga

Of course, any aspirations he had in becoming the next Ernest Hemmingway were largely kept quiet, considering the way a previous literature professor had tried to discourage his career choice. Even though a pitiful grade marred the writing assignment that Hamner considered "brilliant," he knew he was meant to write.

So he continued to do so. Regularly. Regardless of the surroundings. He would act the part of a writer until he became one.

Persistence paid off. Six novels and scores of scripts later, UC's Emmy-winning alumnus was sharing words of wisdom with current students, most of whom had not been born when Hamner, 80, was making his biggest claim to fame -- as the creator of "The Waltons" television series.

Hamner, CCM '48, came to campus in May to receive the Frederic Ziv Award for outstanding achievement in telecommunication. In bestowing the honor, the College-Conservatory of Music's electronic media division basically welcomed back an alumnus from its first graduating class (originally the College of Music of Cincinnati's broadcast department).

The award joined an impressive list of others on Hamner's resume, highlights of which include writing TV episodes for the "Twilight Zone," authoring the novel "Spencer's Mountain" (which later became a movie starring Henry Fonda), creating "The Waltons" (1972-81), producing the TV series "Falcon Crest" and the animated movie "Charlotte's Web," as well as several current projects.

Those credentials were enough to impress students for whom the words "Good night, John Boy" carried far less significance than they did for the faculty in the room. Yet because "The Waltons" attracted 50 million Americans at its height of popularity, has aired in nearly every foreign country and still remains in syndication here and abroad, electronic media seniors relished the opportunity to seek sage Hollywood advice from the real-life John Boy.