Despite ongoing criticism, Saxon developed a growing following. When he died in 1996 at 73, he was producing $27.5 million a year in sales of what were, in essence, self-published books. Several states allowed the books on their adoption lists, although, in some, like Texas, the adoption committeees set them apart as non-conforming.

Saxon's crusade for his methods was widely noted. Newsweek, Time, Education Week and Reader's Digest all chronicled his David against Goliath story. In 1981 National Review carried an article by Saxon about a statewide test of his teaching methods.

By many measures, Saxon indeed was right. He cited test and test that students learned faster and retained more using his method of teaching. Even so, critics persisted that the Saxon Method was too simple and lacked the substance needed to really understand algebra. His method: introduce students to new concepts gradually and offer continuous review. While he acknowledged that other methods worked with bright students with a good math aptitude, those methods failed beginners and students who had trouble learning the basic concepts.

Saxon, a retired Army officer, wrote his first book while teaching at Rose State College in the 1970s. He had been bothered that students were neither comprehending nor retaining the algebra from their textbooks. At a student's suggestion, he wrote some math problems. His students began to learn algebra using his method, and like many instructors who are dissatisfied with the texts they are using, he decided to write his own. After publishing two junior college textbooks, Saxon decided to write math textbooks at the high school level. But when he went to publisher after publisher with his idea, they weren't interested. Saxon mortgaged his home, borrowed money from his kids and put all of his savings into starting his own publishing company. First called Grassdale Publishers after his grandmother's farm, he switched to Saxon Publishers in 1986.

Working from his home, he began to market Algebra I in 1981, driving 15,000 miles around Oklahoma to find adopters. Twenty teachers agreed to test his manuscript along with a competing math book. At the end of the school term, the 1,400 students participating in the test were able to complete 26 problems for every one completed by students in other classes.

"The response of teachers to his first book was strong," according to the company's official biography of John Saxon. "They thought the books were great and they were willing to tell anyone about them." What was so different? The idea of incremental development: the introduction of topics in bits and pieces, permitting the assimilation of one facet of a concept before the next facet is introduced. Both facets are then practiced together until another is introduced.

In the forward to the company's product catalog Saxon wrote: "Learning need not be difficult, but neither does it happen quickly. Time is the elixir that turns things new into things familiar. Therefore, the most effective way for students to learn is through gentle repetition extended over a considerable period of time."

After Algebra I, Saxon went on to author or co-author Algebra II, Algebra 1/2, Advanced Mathematics, Math 54, Math 65, Math 76, Math 87, Calculus and Physics.

His catalog lists five things that make Saxon texts different:

• Teachers don't lecture during class. Instead, students spend most of class time working the problem sets and practicing.
• Beginning with middle grades, students use the text that coincides with their skill level, not grade level.
• Students meet the National Council for Teachers of Mathematics standards.
• Testing is similar to standardized tests.
• Successful completion of Saxon's Algebra I, Algebra 2 and Advanced Mathematics gives students credit for two years of algebra, one year of geometry, one semester of trigonometry, and one semester of advanced algebra/precalculus.

In 1996, Saxon acquired a phonics program from author Lorna Simmons, now called Saxon Phonics. It also utilizes Saxon's method of continuous review. The K-2 program has 140 scripted lessons each presenting a new increment of instruction and a review of previous learning. Saxon Publishers sales force is made up of mathematics teachers. When he began marketing his texts, he gave away thousand of free texts to schools as a way to prove the value of his books. His books are now being used by school districts in all fifty states and in several foreign countries.

Three Saxon books -- Algebra I, An Incremental Development; Algebra 2, An Incremental Development; and Advanced Mathematics, An Incremental Development -- made it to the Texas State Board of Education's nonconforming adoption list in 1998. This is no small feat, considering the enormous opposition Saxon's programs endured. His methods have been called "drill and kill" by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and are either loved or hated by various math teachers and school boards across the country.

Saxon died on October 17, 1996. He left behind a publishing company worth $27.5 million, now owned by his four children -- Dr. John H. Saxon, Dr. Selby Saxon-Harrison, Dr. Bruce C. Saxon, and Sarah Perkins. The company is run by Frank Wang, who began working with Saxon in 1980 at age 16. Wang became president in 1994 and is now chief executive and interim chairman of the board. The company has 100 employees.

— reported by Kim Pawlak, 1997

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