Kirk Sprague-Williams is a 54-year-old Independent Tolkien Scholar from Kalamazoo Michigan. He discovered Tolkien when he was in fifth grade. Since 5th grade he has read all four books once a year.  Ten years ago, he started reading the essays and the letters, as well as a large amount of the books other Scholars have written and began to seriously research Professor Tolkien and his world and works. Kirk gave the keynote address for the dedication of part of the Kalamazoo nature reserve to Tolkiens Taur-Nu-Fuin (Mirkwood)