Francis Irby Gwaltney (9 September 1921 in Traskwood, Arkansas – 27 February 1981) was a prolific Southern American author.
During World War II, he served with the 112th Cavalry in the Philippines Campaign (1944–45) where he met Norman Mailer.
He married Emma Carolyn Calhoun on August 19, 1947,[4] earned a master's degree in English in 1950 and taught at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Arkansas (1952-53, 1970-81) and Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana (1963-70).
His most famous novel based on his war experiences was The Day the Century Ended that was filmed as Between Heaven and Hell.
Gwaltney wrote teleplays for Alfred Hitchcock Presents and The Fugitive.