Irsfeld, John H.

Novelist and former English professor John H. Irsfeld was born on December 2, 1937 and grew up in Mineral Wells, Texas. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts in 1959 from the University of Texas at Austin, he taught high school Spanish and English in Calallen, Texas. From 1961 to 1964, Irsfeld served in the United States Army. After his military service, Irsfeld returned to UT-Austin, where he completed his Master of Arts in 1966 and Ph.D in 1969, studying English and American literature.

Irsfeld joined the English Department faculty at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) in 1969 and became full professor in 1977. He served as the Chair of the English Department from 1977 to 1984, and again from 2000 to 2004. Irsfeld held many other administrative positions within the university, including serving as Deputy to UNLV President Robert Maxson from 1987 to 1990 and as Vice President from 1990 to 1994.

In addition to his teaching and administrative career, Irsfeld was a novelist and contributing writer to many Las Vegas, Nevada and Texas publications. His published novels include Little Kingdoms, Coming Through, Rats Alley, and Radio Elvis and Other Stories. John Irsfeld retired from UNLV in 2011 with Professor Emeritus status, and as of 2025, resides in his home state of Texas.

Source:

Nevada Writers Hall of Fame. "John H. Irsfeld." Accessed November 26, 2025. https://library.unr.edu/nevada-writers-hall-of-fame/john-h-irsfeld