Jacksonville University alumnus and former Board of Trustees Chairman Ron Autrey has been named a finalist for Author of the Year 2025 by the International Impact Book Awards, recognizing his work in the category of Fiction - Adventure Fiction for his book Farnsworth Secret War.
A decorated business leader and U.S. Army veteran, Autrey’s writing is a pursuit that
took root after a distinguished career as Chairman and CEO of
Miller Electric Company. He credits Jacksonville University with helping him rediscover
his creative energy.
“My studies at Jacksonville University’s Davis College of Business and Technology gave me a renewed sense of self-confidence,” Autrey said. “Being a student again gave me the focus and motivation to take on new challenges and seize opportunities — for myself and the company.”
That mindset carried into retirement, where Autrey embraced writing as a way to expand his universe of thought and imagination. His fiction draws heavily from personal experiences, global events and the lessons learned through decades of leadership and learning.
In 2012, at Jacksonville University’s fall commencement, Autrey told graduates to “never stop learning,” a belief that continues to guide his approach to authorship. “Build your own book of experiences and let the enormous power of human imagination guide you through a gallery of artistic creations using words as the medium of expression,” he said.
Autrey was among those honored at the inaugural Society of Trustees induction, where he received Jacksonville University’s Medallion of Merit, a symbol of his enduring connection to the institution. “The act of presenting and receiving the award is the recognition of a living bond between the Trustee and University,” he said. “Much has been accomplished, but the opportunities to continue our support are growing along with the JU's academic footprint and dynamic responses to the ever-changing marketplace.”
With two award-winning books already published, Ron's World: All the Times I Died, Farnsworth Secret War, Autrey has a soon to be released book of poetry and prose, Sea Shadows. The Author of the Year winner will be announced on October 4, 2025 at the Loews Hollywood Hotel in Los Angeles, California.
