Ross Franklin Lockridge Jr., born on April 25, 1914, and passing on March 6, 1948, was an American writer celebrated for his novel Raintree County (1948). This novel not only became a bestseller but has also been lauded by both readers and critics alike. It was even considered by some as a potential "Great American Novel". At the zenith of his novel's success, Lockridge tragically committed suicide at the tender age of 33.