[1] He has won numerous teaching awards and been a Distinguished University Professor for many years.

After teaching at Samford for 12 years, he joined the faculty at Auburn University in 1977, where he remained until his retirement in 2005.

Growing up, Flynt moved around the South frequently with his parents because his father held a series of sales jobs.

The family landed a couple of occasions in Anniston, Alabama, where Flynt graduated from high school in 1958.

[5] He was a longtime friend of Harper Lee, the author of To Kill a Mockingbird;[6][7] and gave the eulogy at her funeral.