PETER HILTY SPENDS HIS LIFE READING BOOKS

Peter Hilty's life is an open book.

He reads constantly, everything from dictionaries to biographies.

The former Southeast Missouri State University English professor loves the written word and has long delved into the origin of family names.

The Cape Girardeau man is stuck on words. "Nothing interests me more," he said. "I work a crossword puzzle or two a day. Words will come up that are new to me."

Hilty regularly opens the dictionary. "It is a rare day that I don't read the dictionary several times," he said.

Hilty, who writes poetry and frequently writes letters to the Southeast Missourian, sees artistry in the written word.

In recent years, Hilty has become immersed in biographies, finding them more engaging than fiction.

"History is principally about people," said Hilty.

He has read biographies on Sir Isaac Newton, the Wright brothers and others.

During a six-month period, he couldn't get enough of aviation pioneers Orville and Wilbur Wright.

"I read all the books I could find on the Wright brothers," he said.

On visits to other cities, Hilty regularly visits the municipal libraries to see if they have books he has missed.

Books allow people "to live" in another time, Hilty said.

"I learn things about every part of the world and all humanity every day in my readings, he said.

Hilty taught at the university for 30 years, retiring seven years ago.

He estimated he reads a book a week. "I read more than I did when I was teaching," said Hilty, whose house is filled with books.

"I have quite a few books at home, not all of which I have read," he said.

Hilty doesn't finish reading every book he starts. "I don't feel an obligation to finish it if I don't like it too much."

But in Hilty's life, there's always another book just waiting to be read.