Upon graduation from high school, Huffstickler entered the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. There, following his adolescent discovery of writers such as Steinbeck, O'Hara, and Thornton Wilder, he followed his heart into writing. At Chapel Hill, he discovered poetry but lost his anchor as he married young, had children, and began to work various jobs, including waiting tables.

Following a spell in Florida, he moved to Phoenix, where he continued working in restaurants until moving back to Florida after his first marriage and another relationship ended. Scientology was a philosophical influence during this time.

Huffstickler was drafted in 1954. He served two years in the army, after which he went back to Texas to return to college at San Marcos at Southwest Texas State University. He majored in English and began reading psychology, particularly Jung.

During the Sixties, Huffstickler continued to work a variety of jobs, including contractual writing of pulp fiction under a pseudonym. He ended up in Austin at the age of 37. Until his mother's death in 1973, he worked odd jobs. Upon her death, he began a career in the Automated Cataloging section of the Perry-Castañeda Library of the University of Texas at Austin, where he worked until his retirement at the age of 62.

During his period at the library, he came into his own as a poet both within the rich poetry scene of Austin and eventually in the international small press scene. He began the Hyde Park Poets Series, sponsored various workshops, presented readings, and began to travel with his poetry. He won the Austin Book Award in 1989, with the publication of Walking Wounded, a book based on a stay in a convalescence home following back surgery. Also in 1989, the Texas Legislature passed a resolution honoring Huffstickler for his contribution to poetry in Texas. And in 1997, a tribute to Huffstickler opened the Austin International Poetry Festival.

Huffstickler has published hundreds of poems in journals throughout the world, from the academic to the underground.  Many of his own poems are found under the Press of Circumstance imprint, whereas many others appear in chapbooks published by other presses.  Book-length collections include Walking Wounded and Working on My Death Chant, both from Back Street Press.  Why I Write in Coffee Houses and Diners. Selected Poems (Authors Choice Press) is currently available from www. bn.com.

The music group Glosso Babel, among others, has set his poetry to music. Huffstickler's books, including his chapbooks published under the Press of Circumstance imprint, have been collected by several universities, and his family and friends are currently arranging for a permanent archive for his work in Texas (update soon).

In his later years, Huffstickler began to work actively as an artist and had shows in Houston and Austin.  He spent his last time on earth in Austin, where he regularly presented readings at various venues, kept up with a wonderful network of friends, and continued to write.

Huffstickler passed away on February 25, 2002, following a period of poor health and complications with an aortic aneurysm.  He was in the hospital for two days, always aware of his surroundings and conversant with the many people who stopped by to see him on his way out.  A memorial service was held for him Monday, March 4, 8 P.M., at Hyde Park Theatre in Austin.

To learn more, and to hear Huffstickler's voice, visit the following links:

• Holy Secrets Documentary by Matthew Listiak
• Obituary Reprint
• "Current Outsider: Albert Huffstickler," Vagabond
• Sow's Ear Interview from 1990

Update: Longtime friend of Huffstickler, poet Sylvia Manning is working with Southwest Texas State University-San Marcos, Huffstickler's alma mater, to organize archival material for the Southwestern Writers Collection.