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A chance meeting in Europe
Sept. 7, 2007
No matter where I travel in the world, I always meet someone who reminds me of home. These days home is a small town in southwest Missouri, but I remember my Kansas upbringing and my days at ESU. (However, while I was there it was known as Kansas State Teachers College and, as my diploma reads, Emporia Kansas State College.)
This past summer I was touring Central Europe with my nephew and my son (who had been attending Karlov University in Prague). It was a wonderful vacation. We had been eating and drinking and hiking our way across Berlin and Vienna and we were now in Prague. On this particular morning, my nephew and I were strolling through one of the very picturesque parts of the city, when a familiar logo caught my eye.
When I realized this young lady was wearing an ESU t-shirt, I asked her if she was indeed a student there. She answered yes, and then told me there was a whole group from ESU there! I explained that I was an alum, and suddenly I was surrounded by a couple dozen young people. We were introducing ourselves and talking about our travel experiences. We weren’t a large disparate group of travelers any more—we all had something in common. No matter how wonderful a trip, a friendly face is always welcome. And ESU faces are always friendly.
After a few minutes of reminiscing our group broke up. We all had other sights to see and things to do. But this little meeting was one of the highlights of my trip because it reminded me of the bonds we can have over many miles and a couple of generations.
My days at ESU were a long time ago but they remain important to me. ESU provided me with the tools that have enabled me to do so many things. I am in my 31st year of teaching (English to gifted high school students). I’ve been able to travel the world. I’m married to a wonderful intelligent man, and we’ve raised a wonderful intelligent son. I have a wonderful life.
I owe much of this to ESU. I am pleased and proud to say that. And I am pleased and proud that ESU is still meeting the needs and expanding the minds of a new generation. And to any of you in that group of travelers who are reading this, I hope you enjoyed the rest of your trip as much as I did!
Sincerely,
Mona (Ehret) Brown (BSE 1975)
Mount Vernon, Mo.
More on the first dance band!
Dear Editor:
May I please join in on the discussion concerning "the
first dance band" that you included in the Spotlight, summer 2007 edition?
Dr. Trusler did a commendable task of recording the history of the bands following 1946 but Professor Gene Grissom was a bit too modest! He omitted his own big band that was the "lone campus band" of the school year 1941-42. The quote is from the 41-42 yearbook, page 12. In fact, there are three photos of Gene Grissom and the Varsity Club Band in the 41-42 yearbook, pages 12, 75 and 154.
I always enjoy reading the Spotlight.
Sincerely,
Merle E. Hogg (BME 1948)
La Mesa, Calif.
Not calling him "Doctor"
July 30, 2007
Dear editor,
I was especially interested in your brief professional biography of Stuart Cram. I'm honoring him by not calling him "Dr.," and the following little story explains why.
While I was working on my Master's degree with Dr. Winston Cram's guidance, I needed to speak to him one day when he was out of his office. As I walked up to his door, "Stu" was in the yard, and I told him I was looking for Dr. Cram. In his response, he said that his dad was "a Dr. but not the kind that does anybody any good."
I trust that by now he realizes how much good his father did do for others, aided by his "Dr." title, and can feel that the title of "Dr." has opened the door to greater opportunities for doing "somebody some good" on his own part.
Medical Doctors have their Hippocratic Oath. Emporia State certainly fosters, from the Cram legacy, among many others, an equivalent commitment to "do somebody some good" on the part of the holder of a Doctor's degree in any field.
Frances Louise Taylor (MS 1960)
Lincoln, Neb.
Riding with The Red Dogs
Thanks for this opportunity to say a few words. In 1966 I transferred from Kansas University to Kansas State Teacher's College to join the majority of our band "The Red Dogs" (1965-1969), who were attending school in Emporia. Those attending school at KSTC were Kent Leopold (sax and organ), Steve Dahl (front man, singer, trombone, trumpet), Randall Grundy (organ, trumpet), Don Mike Hatfield (sax, flute, arrangements), Don Lindley (drummer, trumpet), Butch Neese (singer, bass), and myself (singer, songwriter, guitar, bass). Although the group was booked out of Lawrence, Kansas (Midcontinent Entertainment) and we were the house band for the "Red Dog Inn" in Lawrence (only playing there every other month or so), seven of us would practice in Emporia and occasionally play the local venues... such as "Renfro's" and the student union at school. Each weekend during the school year, our group motored to Friday and Saturday night concerts or dances, often having to leave school early on Fridays to make a "gig" in, for instance, St. Paul Minnesota. We traveled in our own bus that was parked off campus. For 100 days during the summer months, we toured one night stands for concerts, dances, and dance clubs in fourteen midwestern states. Then we returned to fall semester classes.
Several band members lived in the same house where we occasionally practiced. I remember fondly, the relationships we had with fellow students and teachers during those years, and the beautiful and easy to walk campus. Those of the group not married, dated students at school. Randall and Mike married two smart and beautiful KSTC women. After leaving the band in 1969, I returned to KSTC and graduated with a BS in Business.
Those were very special years in my life. I'd like to thank everyone I met but haven't stayed in touch with through the years. We shared memories at a turning point in music, social change, and politics, during that time when we were growing up and away from the parents, navigating our right of passage to adulthood. To all of you who've made it this long....congratulations!
Jerry Knaack (BSB 1971)
Shawnee Mission, Kan.
The first dance band? Hardly!
Editor’s note: The January 2007 Spotlight credited Distinguished Alumnus Marshall McNott “with forming ‘The Pastels,’ ESU’s first dance band.” The phrasing raised the ire of at least two alumni of the music department, and we’re happy to share their recollections with you!
Dear editor:
I enjoyed very much reading the latest
edition of Spotlight, and was especially
glad to see that Marshall McNott is doing
well. Marshall was a fine trumpeter, and
although my junior, we played together
in several dance ensembles. “The Pastels”
was hardly ESU’s first dance band.
Beginning in 1946 there were: The Eddie
Wortman Orchestra, The Counts, The
Tophatters, Jim Bells Group, and the
Rosalie (Askew) Lennigan ensemble. I
know. I played at times in all of them!
Cordially,
Dr. Ivan Trusler (BS 1950, MS 1953)
Panama City, Fla.
Eugene Grissom (BME 1948), an
Emporia native, played music in KSTC
groups from the early 1930s through
his graduation in 1948, taking time out
to serve in the U.S. Army in WWII. He’s
kept up his research on the KSTC music
scene from those years, and offered this
list of musicians he recalled: Skaggs,
Todd, Adams (last names); Harry “Izzy”
Smith, Clark Evans, Lynn Hackler,
Loyde Young, Jocko Phillips, Lee
Johnson, Gus Smith, Roy Galleau, Eddie
Wortman, T.D. Wheat, and Tom Tholen
and Joe Turner, “The Counts.”
A treat in the mailbox
It is always a treat to come home and find the latest issue of the ESU
Spotlight in my mailbox.
I particularly enjoyed the recent issue highlighting the "old meets
new"...the cover photo is wonderful!
Keep 'em coming!
Thanks,
Kim Krebs (BS 1982)
Overland Park, Kan.
Staying connected
Dear editor:
I am a May ’06 graduate of ESU and the new web
editor/writer at Newman University. I have been
writing for their alumni magazine, Challenge, and also
their weekly newsletter. While working on a section in
their alumni magazine called “Class Notes” I began to
wonder about my classmates from ESU and the alumni
connection I have with ESU. A lot of my friends who
are ESU graduates I don’t think know about Spotlight.
I think it is a great way to keep in touch and was curious
about the process of reaching local graduates. Please
let me know how to subscribe, I would appreciate it.
And by the way, the web version of the magazine looks
great! The graphics and art that you are using to build
the layout and colors are amazing! Keep up the good
work! Thanks!
Lindsay Schneider (BS 2006)
Wichita, Kan.
Editor’s note: All graduates are automatically added
to the Spotlight mailing list, but the tricky part is
maintaining current addresses. To update an address,
call (620) 341-5440 or e-mail sacpc@emporia.edu.
On board in the Information Age
Dear Editor,
A website of the past students, researchers, and teachers of Emporia State University may be hosted as a part of the website of your University. The website may contain the brief bio-data of every past student, researcher, and teacher, if possible, with his/her photograph, email address, so that they may contact each other and your University to undertake certain developmental, research, educational, cooperative, social work and other creative projects according to their interest, convenience, and expertise. All the past students, researchers, and teachers would contact you when the website would be hosted, to include their names in the website for the noble cause. The website would create a “Emporia State University World” for the peace, progress, and prosperity of “Good Earth.”
The ideas, proposals, programs, and projects to be undertaken by the alumni may be depicted in a special part of the existing website of your Alumni Association. This part of the website would guide and inspire the alumni through audio-visual information, lectures, and “visits” to sites of existing successful projects, discussion, interaction etc. in certain countries.
An Alumni Magazine may be hosted through the medium of the internet as part of the website, to disseminate and exchange notes on appropriate constructive programs and projects that may be undertaken by the alumni in their spare time, at your University and at their respective places. The news and views of their noble ideas and activities may appear in the internet Alumni Magazine to enthuse and beckon the past and present people of your University to initiate innovative programs and projects.
Your University and its Alumni Association may start a TV channel to broadcast constructive and positive ideas, activities, projects, programs, and other relevant material, plus cultural programs. If necessary, a few appropriate Universities may collaborate for the purpose or initiate the TV channel jointly.
Clubs of physics, chemistry, mathematics, engineering, art & culture, music, dance, physical exercise, botany, healthful foods and soft drinks, cooperative units, research & development units, and other useful clubs may be established so that present and past people of your university may, jointly with others if necessary, really engage themselves in united and systematic work that is enjoyable and meaningful, rather than fritter away their time and expertise. This will be for the betterment of their physical and spiritual health and serve mankind and nature as well.
Your university can thus become an important center for universal cultivation and propagation of ideas and wisdom through internet-enabled cooperation. The past students and researchers may arrange the fund for the website and to initiate the programs and projects. Sponsored links would be another source of finance. Evidently, some of the programs and projects would be very profitable in many ways.
I shall discuss specific projects for your consideration if you are interested. I am sure, many useful projects would evolve when present and past people of your university come together.
With regards,
Sincerely,
Alok Sanyal, Ph.D
*Editor's note: in a reply to Dr. Sanyal, we noted that " we are in the formative stage of launching an Internet portal for alumni to access and revise their own information, make it available to other alumni, form groups based on similar interests, and much more. We anticipate that the portal will become operational several months into 2007." Also, new features have been introduced for Spotlight to encourage reader participation.
Camelot, then and now
Dear President Schallenkamp:
I felt compelled to write you after reading an item in the winter Spotlight, “ESU touted as model for teacher preparation programs,” on page 6. Dr. Levine called it “the Camelot for teacher education.” It describes how I felt at age sixteen about the entire college.
Then, the fact that KSTC ranked second only to Columbia University in teacher education was widely circulated. I, and I am sure many others, mentioned (really bragged) to everyone we knew what a wonderful rated college we were. It never entered my mind to question the reputation. Was I proud! Now after seventy-three years, how wonderful to have it verified! I am really thrilled that at least ESU is in a four-way tie for the honor. I hope you have long-since heard the news then circulated….
Virginia Welch Forbeck (BSE 1937)
Seal Beach, Calif.
Feb. 21, 2006
Memory Train
Dear editor,
In looking through the Winter ’06 Spotlight, and reading of alumni and their memories brought back a flood of my own. I was a transfer student from Arkansas City Jr. College in the Fall of 1951. (Yes, I know – it is now Cowley County Community College but I never attended it – ACJC was the name of my school.) I was an art major with a minor in Biology. Leslie Meredith was a Biology major and we met at Mr. Gladfelter’s Square Dance lessons in the Student Union Ballroom. We got engaged in Peter Pan Park in January ’52 and were married for over fifty years. (He died in a wreck May 5, 2003.) Married couples on campus back then were a minority and those with a child, even more rare. We lived in apartments which were converted bedrooms in the upstairs of large houses close to the campus. One such apartment became a nightmare – extension cords supplying power to lights, refrigerator and bed lamps all from one plug-in. When I pulled a light chain on a wall lamp and the light bulb exploded, I called the Dean of Men and inquired about safety inspections for student housing. I was assured their investigators would check into it, and Dr. King saw that it happened – right then – within thirty minutes of my call! He evidently was in Dean Trusler’s office visiting when I called. There were half a dozen infractions of their safety regulations that the Landlord was instructed to correct immediately, and they did!
When the Senior Reception with Dr. & Mrs. King was getting close, “What are you wearing?” became a great conversation topic across campus. I was going to wear my best dress which was a “*street-length” white one which was my wedding dress. [* denoted not that the skirt touched the ground but that it was worn out and about town looking like the other ladies garb.] I was quite the object of pity and offered cast off formals from sorority member class mates which I firmly declined. As we were going through the reception line, each of us seniors shaking hands quickly and walking on, Dr. King and his wife pulled Leslie and me out of line to visit and inquire about the safety of our living quarters. He held up the line for about five minutes while those back in behind us craned their necks to see what was holding up the line and it was a girl dressed informally!
Leslie and I graduated in May 1954 and he became a High School Biology teacher and I a full time mom. We had four children by 1963 when he did double duty of Iola High School and Junior College classes until their separation in 1970 when he went exclusively to teaching Jr. College Biological Sciences until he retired about 1995. He retired “before I’m teaching grandkids of former students!”
The basics I learned in Jr. College and became the foundation of teaching from Miss Kretsinger, Charles Thompson and Norman Eppink and remained with me for 20 years before my family obligations diminished and I could become a full-time, Award Winning Artist.
In 2004, I remarried to another Artist and we’re are enjoying our Art activities and traveling around Kansas and off across the nation where our collective family of ten live – spread out from coast to coast.
It was good to read of Rebecca King Stevens and Miss Bigge – Mrs. Tillotson was my Lab School instructor. Wondered where she went?
Thanks for the ticket to the Memory Train.
Phyllis Fox Meredith Shetlar (BSE 1954)
Iola, Kan.
Jan. 25, 2006
P.S. Forgot to include I won 1st in watercolor as a Sr. in the Student Art Show, Spring of ’54. It was a street scene of Strawn, Ks. before it was inundated via John Redmond dam & reservoir.
Last Updated April 17, 2008