January ll, 1945.

Dean O. C. Schwiering,

College of Education, : ‘
University of Wyoming,

Laramie, Wyoming.

Dear Dean Seluriering:

I sent you the wire yesterday afternoon and immediately
went to basketball practice. I was ready to dictate the letter regard- _
ing Elmer Schaake this morning when your phone message came in. However,
I atill feel that you might want to know more concerning him than you
gieaned from our telephone conversation.

Schaske is married, and has a lovely wife and two child-
ren. The past two years he has assisted Coach Henry Shenk with our var-
sity football team, and this year is assisting mo #iwh basketball. while
the University had an ASTP wit here, Schaake taught full time in their
physical training program. At the present he teaches the civilian classes
in physical conditioning. z

* While at the University of Kanass as a student, Elmer
Sehaake was a star athlete. In his three years of football at Kansas,
he was a member of the Big Six Champions in 1930, 1951 and 1932 he played
quarterback, and in 1952 he was captain and all-Big Six selection for this
position. He was a member of our championship basketball teams, playing
at guard position. The year after he graduated he assisted me with spring
practice in basketball, and assisted Coach Lindsay in his spring practice
in football. I have found fewsen who possess the innate fundamental ath-
letic ability that Schaake possesses. . 3

After his graduation he played one year of professional
football under Coach George “Potsy" Clark, when Clark was coaching the
Detroit Lions. He was.one of the outstanding players in the professional
league that year. He played but one year of professional ball so as to
enable him to clear up his college debt. After his professional debut, he
coached at Bethany College at Lindsborg, Kansas, where he had unusually
fine success. Bethany, being a small denominational school, had difficulty
in meeting her financial responsibilities, and Schaake came back to the
Lawrence High School where he had a most enviable record, winning a great
number of championships before he came to the University as a member of our

department when our program was enlarged.