FIVE THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT: Carroll Barnhill

At 77, East County resident Carroll Barnhill published a collection of poems. Learn more about him in our candid Q&A.

1. HOME-GROWN: Carroll Barnhill grew up at the "old crate mill" in Bradenton.

2. WORD FOR WORD: He knows pieces of all of his poems but only knows the one titled "The Cracker Prayer" by heart.

3. CREATIVE COLLABORATION: Barnhill has a horse called Shanart, who was named in honor of muralist and friend Shannon Lewis. Lewis created the image that now graces the cover of his new book.

4. BIRTHDAY BOY: Barnhill was born July 27, 1933. "I like to say, 7-27 and 33, I've been here a while, as you can see," Barnhill says.

5. MAN OF THE HOUR: A few years ago, Barnhill was invited to Disney World for a three-day writing convention after a friend secretly submitted one of his poems for the event. Barnhill won second place for one of his poems. "I got a big silver cup," he says.