Al Carrell
The popular "Super Handyman" column, distributed three times a week by King Features Syndicate to more than 100 newspapers nationwide, is the work of Al Carrell (who created the feature in 1968) and his daughter Kelly (who started to share the byline in 1995).

"The Super Handyman" is an invaluable resource to those who love the notion of fixing things around the house, and to those who dread it. With easy-to-follow tips and a firm understanding of household needs, the Carrells can turn an "everyman" into a "handyman."

Al Carrell's wife, Jean, pointed him on the road that would define his career. As he carried her over the threshold of their honeymoon apartment, she admonished him to fix the squeaking front door. That might sound like a minor task, but to Carrell, who did not know how to use a hammer, it was more like major surgery. At first he balked at performing household chores, but eventually learned his way around the tool chest.

He began searching for easier ways to do everyday tasks. His knowledge of such shortcuts and money savers soon grew encyclopedic, and "The Super Handyman" column was born.

There have been seven Super Handyman books to date, published by Prentice-Hall and Taylor Publishing. One of them, "The Super Handyman's Encyclopedia of Home Repair Hints," has enjoyed 22 printings and was a Popular Science Book Club selection. His seventh book, "1000 Questions About Home Repair & Maintenance", is from Summit Publishing.

Carrell is a familiar face on television and a reassuring voice on radio.He currently co-hosts the half-hour syndicated TV show "Your New House," which reaches over 80% of all U. S. TV homes. Another hour-long version of the shows daily, Monday -Friday at 6 PM (EST) on The Discovery Channel. His 90-second "About the House" features run in more than 100 markets.

He has appeared as a guest on scores of TV shows, including "Today," "Good Morning America," "Hour Magazine" and "Over Easy."

He and his wife were the hosts of a half-hour TV series called "Great Possibilities in Remodeling," which ran on The Nashville Network. He was featured on CNN twice a day for three years.

For more than 15 years, he has helped radio listeners on KAAM-AM 770 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area who call his weekend show looking for advice. The show airs every Saturday from 10 am to 11 am CST. Fans can call in their questions to 1-877-272-5226. He also has a separate weekend show on the Texas State Network. Al has been a guest on hundreds of stations all over the country.

Al and Jean Carrell live in Texas. They have two daughters, Kelly and Meg, and a granddaughter, Sarah.

Kelly Carrell
Kelly Carrell's name was added to the byline of the popular "Super Handyman" column in 1995. Carrell now writes the column with her father, Al, who created it in 1968. "The Super Handyman", which is distributed three times a week by King Features Syndicate to more than 100 newspapers nationwide, is an invaluable resource for do-it-yourselfers everywhere. Actually, Kelly Carrell has been working on the column for about 13 years, since her daughter, Sarah, was born. At home in Texas, she is the ultimate do-it-yourselfer. She enjoys projects like painting, wood working, remodeling, gardening and has even built a second barn for her pet goats. (They ate the first one.) She is most proud of her masonry work on both her home and on the fireplace she built inside it. She is quick to tackle anything else around the house that breaks down, including appliances that go on the fritz. The column generates several hundred pieces of mail each week, many of which contain handy hints from readers. Carrell tries out the readers' ideas and uses the really good ones for the column. Kelly Carrell has appeared with her father on several television feature spots and has been a guest on his radio show. Would she like to take over the "Super Handyman" column some day? "Yes," she says, "but since Dad isn't about to retire, I'm hoping the job doesn't come open for many, many years to come."