Mel Tappan: Difference between revisions
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He then wrote a monthly column on survival weapons for ''Guns and Ammo'' magazine. Shortly before his death, he also wrote a few monthly columns for ''Soldier of Fortune'' magazine. Through these venues and his 1977 book ''Survival Guns'' – which as of 2008 is still in print after more than 30 years – he became an influential spokesman of the "armed-defense" wing of the [[Survivalist]] movement. The back cover of ''Survival Guns'' quotes Laura Cunningham of [[The New York Times]] as describing Tappan as "The Survivalist voice of reason." |
He then wrote a monthly column on survival weapons for ''Guns and Ammo'' magazine. Shortly before his death, he also wrote a few monthly columns for ''Soldier of Fortune'' magazine. Through these venues and his 1977 book ''Survival Guns'' – which as of 2008 is still in print after more than 30 years – he became an influential spokesman of the "armed-defense" wing of the [[Survivalist]] movement. The back cover of ''Survival Guns'' quotes Laura Cunningham of [[The New York Times]] as describing Tappan as "The Survivalist voice of reason." |
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Tappan edited what is perhaps the most important newsletter on survivalism and survivalist retreats in the 1970s, the ''Personal Survival ("P.S.") Letter''. It was published from 1977-1982. The newsletter included columns from Tappan himself as well from [[Jeff Cooper (colonel)|Jeff Cooper]], Al J. Venter, Bill Pier, [[Bruce D. Clayton]], Rick Fines, Nancy Mack Tappan, J.B. Wood, Dr. Carl Kirsch, Charles Avery, [[Karl Hess]], Eugene A. Barron, Janet Groene, [[Dean Ing]], Bob Taylor, [[Reginald Bretnor]], C.G. Cobb, and several other writers, some under [[pen name]]s. The majority of this newsletter revolved around selecting, constructing and logistically equipping survival retreats.<ref>[http://www.frfrogspad.com/persurv.htm Magazine Articles By Jeff Cooper(<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Following Tappan's death in 1980, [[Karl Hess]] took over publishing the newsletter, eventually renaming it ''Survival Tomorrow''. |
Tappan edited what is perhaps the most important newsletter on survivalism and survivalist retreats in the 1970s, the ''Personal Survival ("P.S.") Letter''. It was published from 1977-1982. The newsletter included columns from Tappan himself as well from [[Jeff Cooper (colonel)|Jeff Cooper]], Al J. Venter, Bill Pier, [[Bruce D. Clayton]], Rick Fines, Nancy Mack Tappan, J.B. Wood, Dr. Carl Kirsch, Charles Avery, [[Karl Hess]], Eugene A. Barron, Janet Groene, [[Dean Ing]], Bob Taylor, [[Reginald Bretnor]], C.G. Cobb, and several other writers, some under [[pen name]]s. The majority of this newsletter revolved around selecting, constructing and logistically equipping survival retreats.<ref>[http://www.frfrogspad.com/persurv.htm Magazine Articles By Jeff Cooper(<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Following Tappan's death in 1980, [[Karl Hess]] took over publishing the newsletter, eventually renaming it ''Survival Tomorrow''. |
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Ironically, and largely unknown to his readership, Mr. Tappan himself spent the last years of his own life confined to a wheelchair, after initially incurring a severe foot laceration from a broken drinking glass in his swimming pool and then developing debilitating leg failure, due in part to the obesity developed during his convalescence from the laceration. This eventually led to congestive heart failure. |
Ironically, and largely unknown to his readership, Mr. Tappan himself spent the last years of his own life confined to a wheelchair, after initially incurring a severe foot laceration from a broken drinking glass in his swimming pool and then developing debilitating leg failure, due in part to the obesity developed during his convalescence from the laceration. This eventually led to congestive heart failure. |
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Revision as of 05:02, 24 April 2008
Born Melrose H. Tappan III, Mel Tappan (1933–1980) was the editor of the newsletter Personal Survival ("P.S.") Letter and the books Survival Guns and Tappan on Survival. He also co-authored and edited a book with popular psychologist and commentator Roy Masters.
After attending Stanford University, Tappan first worked as a banker in Texas. He collaborated with Roy Masters on writing and editing the book How to Conquer Negative Emotions (1975). Tappan developed an ever-growing expertise in firearms while living in Los Angeles. He contacted Don Stephens after reading the "Personal Preparedness" columns by Stephens in Inflation Survival Letter. Tappan was invited to present a lecture as part of Mr. Stephens "Seminars On Survival" (SOS) dinner series, giving him greater public presence and recognition.
He then wrote a monthly column on survival weapons for Guns and Ammo magazine. Shortly before his death, he also wrote a few monthly columns for Soldier of Fortune magazine. Through these venues and his 1977 book Survival Guns – which as of 2008 is still in print after more than 30 years – he became an influential spokesman of the "armed-defense" wing of the Survivalist movement. The back cover of Survival Guns quotes Laura Cunningham of The New York Times as describing Tappan as "The Survivalist voice of reason."
Tappan edited what is perhaps the most important newsletter on survivalism and survivalist retreats in the 1970s, the Personal Survival ("P.S.") Letter. It was published from 1977-1982. The newsletter included columns from Tappan himself as well from Jeff Cooper, Al J. Venter, Bill Pier, Bruce D. Clayton, Rick Fines, Nancy Mack Tappan, J.B. Wood, Dr. Carl Kirsch, Charles Avery, Karl Hess, Eugene A. Barron, Janet Groene, Dean Ing, Bob Taylor, Reginald Bretnor, C.G. Cobb, and several other writers, some under pen names. The majority of this newsletter revolved around selecting, constructing and logistically equipping survival retreats.[1] Following Tappan's death in 1980, Karl Hess took over publishing the newsletter, eventually renaming it Survival Tomorrow.
Ironically, and largely unknown to his readership, Mr. Tappan himself spent the last years of his own life confined to a wheelchair, after initially incurring a severe foot laceration from a broken drinking glass in his swimming pool and then developing debilitating leg failure, due in part to the obesity developed during his convalescence from the laceration. This eventually led to congestive heart failure.
In his writings, Tappan encouraged survivalists to relocate to and prepare survival retreats in lightly-populated regions, and did so himself, moving to Rogue River, Oregon for the last years of his life. He is best known for his Survival Guns book. The subsequent book Tappan on Survival – based on his magazine and newsletter articles – was published shortly after his death (November 2, 1980) from congestive heart failure at age 47. The book was reissued by Paladin Press in 2006 with a new foreword by Bruce D. Clayton.
He was married to Nancy Mack Tappan, an heir to the Mack Truck fortune, who was his constant companion, administrative assistant, editor and most loyal supporter.
Tappan was outlived by his father, Melrose H. Tappan Jr., who died December 12, 1988. His grandfather, Melrose H. Tappan Sr., died January 4, 1960. All three were buried at West Hill Cemetery, in Sherman, Grayson County, Texas.[2]
To honor her late husband, Nancy Mack Tappan endowed Austin College (in the Northeast Texas town of Sherman) with the Melrose H. Tappan Jr. and Melrose H. Tappan III Presidential Scholarship.[3]