The Art Of A Death Row Friendship

Written by Rocklin D. Alling

Rock Alling is a semi-retired oral surgeon who has practiced over four decades in the Birmingham area after serving in the US Army. Dr. Alling was raised in a military family, attended college at Indiana University and residency at University of Louisville. While serving his overseas tour of duty, he even had the opportunity to perform a surgical procedure in the operating room where he was born in Stuttgart, Germany.

Although he has written several dental profession articles, his current book takes a interesting auto biographical turn when he relates a life long interest in the penal system and a relationship with an Alabama Death Row inmate. This friendship was forged with the mutual love of art and matured into a sincere bonding for eight years ending with a witnessed execution.

Rock has been married for close to fifty years to Pam producing three perfect sons and eight-even more -perfect grandchildren. His hobbies include painting, hiking and traveling. Whether it was climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro for this 40th birthday or drinking a martini at Rick’s Cafe in Casablanca, Morocco to his 70th birthday, his unusual journey with his prison friend was one of the most meaningful experiences of his life.

(All profits for this book will be donated to Kairos International Prison Ministry)