January 18, 1946

Mre Ge Herbert Smith, President’
Willamette High Sehset.
Salem, Oregon

Dear President Smith:

I owe you my humble apology. I took your letter with me
on our Christmas basketball tour and fully expected to answer it immed-
jately. As is the case with most of these good intentions, I did not
do it due to the fact that your communication was laid aside, among
others, due to excess outside pressure thet I did not anticipates

Upon returning to my office the mail on my desk was
very heavy and I neglected to place my Christmas mail ahead of the
other letters, I am dictating this letter just prior to our game
with the University of Oklahoma tonight.

I am happy indeed to recommend Wr, Elmer H. Schaake as
a@ young man of most exesllent character, He is not only one of the .
finest and cleanest young men thet I know, but he is an excellent coach.
He leads his men by the power of his clean life and sympathetic under-
standing» : . |

He was my assistant varsity basketball coach while ‘at the
University. He was also first assistant to our head football coach,
Henry Shenk, in thet sport. I had Elmer Schaake on my varsity basketball
team for three years ané while Birector of Athletics I came very closely
in contact with him on the football trips. I feit him at all times to be
a gentleman in the finest sense of the word. tie was a Lawrence, Kansas,

. boy and I had ample opportunity to observe his actions and his conduct.

Never did he disappoint me.

fe is a man of family, having a lovely wife and two healthy
and wonderful children. Mrs» Schaake is one of the most beautiful and
lovely women that I know. She is a splendid homemaker and Mr. Schaake
is a fine femily man. : ‘.

I am happy to recommend him without reservation or evasion.

Very cordially yours,

—

Director of Physicel Education, |
FCA:NF Varsity Basketball Coach.