UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI COLUMBIA INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS February 7, 1946 Dr, F. G. Allen Varsity Basketball Scie University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas Dear Dr. Allen: Thanks so much for your pleasing comments about my work. Coming from one who has been in position to see all of my faults as well as the few better characteristics, it is deeply appreciated. _My shift in duties was wholly my own choice and was made after considerable thought. In fact, the Committee wondered if responsibilities couldn't be altered to permit me to handle both jobs, but details connected with them were so conflicting that I didn't believe such a set-up was wise. How- ever, it was nice to know that my coaching work had been considered satisfactory. : It is difficult to look forward to a future with less intimate contacts among basketball coaches and players. I enjoy administrative work, though, and believe it offers compensations to me ’which will offset the losses. At gis time I feel that the move is a good one for,“-- only the future can show whether or not I an meting a mistakes Thanks again for your well wishes, and may I extend my kindest personal regards. Yours truly, Hdwards Executive Secretary of Athletics George Acting GRE/ms February 5, 1946 ' Mre George Edwards Varsity Basketball Coach University of Missouri Columbia, Missouri Dear Georges My failure to write you earlier is no criterion of ' my intention, When Iread of your resignation, I intended fully to write you right away and congratulate you on the fine promotion that you have received, You have had a long and honorable past as a coach and the many boys who have served under you will remember the © fine high quality of sportsmanship that you instill in your | boyse I remember you well in your piaying days at Central High when I officiated many of your ball games, I also. remember your contribution as a fine football and baskete ball player in the University of Missouri and in 1912 and 1913 when you were captain of the Missouri Varsity. You were kind enough to give us a basketball game when I was at Warrensburg. If it had not been for you we would not have obtained the Fame Through these experiences and others I have learned to admire you in many, many WaySe | While at times some of our friends may have caused a slight ripple of competitive awareness, never at any time has there been any doubt in my mind as to your absolute fairness and feaflessness. May your continued many years in this new position bring a deep satisfaction, which jou 80 justly deserve. : : Sincerely yours, Director of Physical Education, FOA:MF Varsity Basketball Coach. \ / Mr. James W. ‘Crossett, ESQUIRE, , 919 No. Michigan Avée, re Chicags 11, Disssiss * “a as" * roe re - Crossett: eee os NeiGiie iaphber will explain patite? my ‘int “ vit guaeeseh ikl -— better than a comment I might make in the small space provided therefor. I have definitely made my statements regarding the genbling evil and I think oer yen is acquainted with that. ar * bain. eel gut" » ee the N.CeAchy dnl lia ‘Riag0s" are a group ‘of men entnaee any lew enforcing power. Both of these organizations are in fact paper organizations, and while there is a great deal of talk there is never < anything done except a silly appeal to the coaches to keep information away from the gamblers. Even with the power that Judge Landis had, he had a struggle to deep down oe in thé parks of the Cons league teams . The N.C.A.A. is a heterogenous organization with not the same ‘senke in the various conferences; therefore, there is no unanimity of opinion on eligibility or how this matter should be handled. Athlete ios have gotten to be big business, but the N.C.A.A. and the A.AU. have not grown with the growth of interest in sports and the money take at the gate. Regardless of the sport concerned, when great interest is attached to any sports activity the gamblers are always there working their percent- ages for their own benefit and not for the benefit of the sport. It has long been known that the A.A.U. only p i sports in which there is money for the A.A.U. They may make a token gesture of letting a certain district or area promote their so-called amateur sport, but when there is a great money income at the gate, then the A.A.U. promotes it and takes a part or all of it to run their New York and Chicago RGRRAE STE AS TS expense. The N.C.A.A. followed in the wake of the A.A.U. in wanting | to take all the money as they started to do in 1942. With certain unfavor- able publicity upon the attitude such as the N.C.A.A. showed, they began to disburse more of it until now they are doing a fair job, but they de- pended upon Ned Irish to make the money for them. The N.C.AeA. tournament was intended to be originated and promoted for the purpose of fighting o2e Ned Irish's professionally promoted tournament. The N.C.A.A. always con- tended that the colleges should promote their own tournaments, and for Ned Irish, a professional promoter, to do that was revolting to their ideals. The travesty of the situation is now that the N.C.AsA. is going hand in glove with Mr. Irish, not only accepting him but putting on their own tournament in his own bailiwick. I have no differences with Mr. Irish Slbebcklés, _— that he is a professional promoter and he is not interested in stamping out : gambling, only just keeping the criticism away from his tournament so far as possible, Mr. Irish knows that if public opinion would get strong enough to | prefent the colleges from entering his tournament, then he would be interest- ed as a business man in stamping it out. But Mr, Irish's Madison Square Garden is nothing but a gambling den where over sixty per cent of the people attend for that purpose. The gamblers buy up blocks of seats and Mr, Irish sells his tickets in a season ticket block. lr. Average Spectator never gets those seats because Mr. Average Spectator cannot put out over e hundred dollars for a season ticket for all the games, Therefore, the astute ifr. Irish sells them in season ticket blocks, and the forty per cent of basket- ball fans who go for the Ter and not for the gambling, get the poorer seats in the place. . The Worlds’ Championship (Chicago) that you mention is not a worlds’ championship, it is only a national championship. We Americans are prone to magnify and elaborate. low could it be a worlds' championship with nobody competing, only people from this nation? But why should I tell you these things? You know them better than I. You are in Chicago where one of the big boys determines the odds on all betting events. The gamblers are ~ -the ones that the newspaper boys quote as to the odds on this or that team — . all over he nation, regardless of any sport. - Unless any one cf these orgenizations puts someone in Vakinnge to organize a sport ina way that there is some power to fight gambling, then these sports will go the way of horseracing where it is admittedly known that horseracing could not exist without the gambling. But you will always have enough gamblers following these tournaments to make them @ success, and only the better people, so-called, suffer. All athletic directora and coaches know this well enough, but you can get few of them to say so. The Pollyanna attitude of these officers in high places in these organizations is only lip’ Satu rags ae your question #2, on the systems of officiating, t would say that the present system is better because the officials follow the ball more closely, and if there is good tesmwork between two highly efficient officials then they are generally pretty much on tep of the plays and they oan see the game better moving in and along with the plays than the sideline or endline officials can see in a stationery position. The crow's nest officiating would be perhaps helpful in using the present system of officiating with the mon in the crow's nest being the | arbiter should either of the two present officials conflict on a decision that would be made on the same play. Even then I am not sure that it would provide much aid. The difficulty, of course, is in getting good officials. That is a very tough job and the gamblers have made officiating very, very oe tough because they are not interested in the sportsmanship of the game or the play. They are interested in the result because they have money placed on the outoome, And that is the bad thing because these gamblers will get to certain types of officials and certain types of players. They will not get to all of thom but they will get to some of them, and when you have’ a shrewd, unprineipled gang operating, with no group operating to oppose them, then the result. is obvious. On your question “3 I should say that we need better Sallie in fundamentals by our basketball coaches. But here again the big time coach goes out and recruits his team and doesn't worry about the fundamentals. But the small time coach should give more time to teaching fundamentals. If we had good fundamentals taught the youngsters, the fire-oengine game could still operate without putting too great a strain on the player. Medical science is agreed that after a 45-second rest the heart in a normal healthy person com- pensates sufficiently to exert no harm on the — The recuperation — is satisfactory. is eile to. your question -4, I think thet there are so many angles involved that it is a mtter of research because there is so mish difference in the opposition of teams that some teams make a great record, but their opposition is weak. ‘The coaching record is much more difficult than picking an outstanding collegiate basketball player. I still piek Hank Luisetti as the best alleround player in the country. . In answer to your question #6, again it would take definite research to arrive at an answer. The Helms Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles is the only one that I know that has made mich research along this line. |. Very cordially yours, . Director of Physical Rducation, — , eo Varsity Basketball Coach. Co , CAQUULE. 919 NORTH MICHIGAN AVENUE CHICAGO 11, ILLINOIS November 12, 1945 Dear Coach: Esquire’s current sports poll is devoted to basketball! Enclosed you will find an official poll ballot. We would greatly appreciate your opinions, as a leading basketball Coach, on the various ques- tions submitted. Will you be kind enough to fill out the ballot and return as directed? Thanks a lot for your valuable cooperation. Cordially yours, ESQUIRE, INC. James W. Crossett Sports Poll as | coe November 12, 1946, Lt. (jg) He G. Engleman, USNR, BOQ, Naval Repair Base, Algiers, Louisiana. Dear Howard: I should have answered your good letter of October 26 sooner, but I wanted to have a talk with Mr. Quigley concerning your coaching of the freshman team, Of course we do nothave freshmen here and will not have this year, but when you come to the University at the end — of the first semester we will be happy to have you help us. _ Howard, the remmeration has never been too great, but the freshman coach hes always received $300.00 a year for coaching basketball. I imagine that coming in the second semester you would get one-half of that which would help a little. Mr. “uigley said that he desired to pass on any recommendation to the Chancellor, who in turn will pass it on to the Board of Regents for their approval, and we would not want anything mentioned about it until the Board passes upon the ' matter. I am very sure they will do this, but this was Mr. Quigley's request. , 7 : I want you to know how wonderful it would be to have you back with us here on the hill, and your ee ERENT Geese we eles Ce dignitud pleasure, I assure you. Now, available apartments or small houses are certainly a question. So many o° the veterans are driving in from the Sunflower Ordnance Works housing plant there. They have some lovely apartments, and some new ones, and many of the veterans are taking advantage of that. However, we are still having an exodus of the plant workers, and I be- lieve when they completely close down the Sunflower Ordnance Works that we will still have more apartments or small houses for rent. The people near an ordnance plant have been spoiled by the prices that have been paid by the workers. Money was terribly cheap then, and the workers were willing to pay most any price. I do not believe that we gan blame Lawrence for this attitude, but a general situation attributed to the war and “a prices. Gosh, 4 WAL be good to see you and we are looking forward to the day when you can be with us. Mrs. Allen was operated three weeks ago at St. Luke's hospital and after two weeks she came — and she is / 5 5 t 4 sabe oe sees ae = i ee Ge "eR , ee TENE ee @Ze : ; Pages 3 qneee B® esos Fre 5 - t fe ; # . , Pb. WL gt, bryos eer’ oF 3 tae Ri Pe aaa be eli recto rig Sma ‘epg me coe? Hogs Hig : rep Pree — — 2 * ing poTyeAe get pe ie ee ae smeame on rag Cae oe Sree, Spee oe pre whengren ge as. garry pipe eer * ane Teteve ae sate Th en aoe eee _ hes pe rg. gt, Sar i nae aes ene e409. EET: ie * mine ped po peRh a eK ae a TS. Someta ge! lam .gorengul + - + — ~ rn OE TOO | RO sg had er " — ee. vate eareseos Ee MeN Co a s ‘ pee es ses ee, po* page February 28, 1945. Lt. Ray Evans, 0687736, Hdqrs. G Task Forse, APO 652, o/o PMes Miami, Fla. My dear Ray: I was delighted to have your letter of February 21 and to know that you are in such an ideal spot. Weare just getting ready to leave for Ames, Towa, tomorrow, Kirk Scott sprained his ankle badly day before yesterday and he has a pretty flat tire. This is going to hit us pretty hard, but we are going to give those Cyclones everything we have got. - You know how we oan battle them, Ray, when the chips are down and when we are crippled and the odds are against us.‘ But frankly, Towa State have the odds on us beoause our boys are not stable enough in the clutohes. I think the boys have done exceptionally well for the training that they have had. You see, they do not have any freshman training fundamentals, and that reacts against us in a very definite way. ' Time after time a man is open but in their excitement they fail to locate him and then when they come down the floor on the ~ offense you never know what they are going to do. Sometimes they respond correctly, and at other tims they go haywire. But in war time, you know, Ray, it is not like it is when peace is on the earth. We are waiting until that time and you and the other boys are back - and we can meet one Gerald Tucker who hails from Winfield, Kansas, . and who has his temporary abode in the Sooner state! Well, I promised . that guy three years of the toughest competition in the Big Six, and I want you boys to help me out in making that come true. _Keep the contact up with Bob Hendren, as you doubtless can do more than anyone else. Every once in a while give me the dope if you happen to be with him, and I will continue to fire epistles to him. He did not answer my letter, but I know how that goes with boys in the service, - they are just too busy and can't find time. I will tell our gang that you wish them well and I will promise you they will fight for you if.they will fight for anybody. With all good wishes, Ian . Sineerely yours, Director of Physical Bduoation, FCA:AH Varsity Basketball coach. Fes Megs - nl Octeber 20, 1945 Lt. Ray Evans Hdqe 2nd Air Ferce Super Bomber - Colerade Springs, Colerade Dear Rays I have had a mumber of letters from Bob Allen, Mary Allen Hamilton, and others stating that you had given me the name of Bob Hendren last year and these people wondered why I had not written him with the idea of trying to interest him in the ‘ ‘University of Kansase I went back into my file this morning and found that on February 14, 1945, I wrote Bob a full-page letter and I quote it herewith: "T had a fine visit with our former super-star, Ray Evans, when we played the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. Ray told me of your wonderful athletie ability and said that he would give anything to see you at the University of Kansas when he returns to college after the war is over. "Ty am writing you to see what you have in mind and to assure you that nothing would give me more pleasure than to see the wish that Ray Evans expressed come true. Have you thought of your college future to any great extent? "I know how busy you are. All boys in the service are bereft of any extra time to write letters, but I would appre- giate your writing me so that we might exchange ideas. "T am sending you a Jayhawk Rebounds which is a monthly letter that we get out to our boys in the service. Doubtless you will know none of these boys but you can see what we are doing to keep our boys on the fighting fronts advised as to our hopes and ambitions for theme "Ray just mailed me a tear sheet in which your team is shown on the sport page. He outlined your 6ft. S8in., 250 pounds in a very graphic way. He thinks you are tons, and you must be from your recorde "With all good wishes to you in your second game against the Wings, I am" oe ae never heard from Bob and little expected to because most boys in the service do not write the coaches unless they are well acquainted with theme On the twenty-eight of February 1945, I wrote you a letter regarding Bob as follows: “Keep the contact with Bob Hendren, as you doubtless can do more than anyone else. Every once in awhile give me the dope if you happen to be with him, and I will continue to fire epistles to him. He did not answer my letter, but I know how that goes with boys in the service, - they are just too busy and can't find time." | | Lt. Ray Bvans, October 20, 1945 ; 2 On April 24, 1945 I wrote you thanking you for writing me regerding Cpl. James Kane whose address was and perhaps is 8838 South Morgan Street, Chieago, Illinois. I wrote Cpl. Kene and did not hear from him. Here is the paragraph I wrote you: “There is hardly a day passes that some fellow on Mass- achusetts Street doesn't say, ‘Won't you be glad to have Charlie Black and Ray Svans back? And »ou know what my answer is - a big affirmative YS, with an exclamation! One of the boys at the jost Office said thet he saw Charlie's dad who said that Charlie had earned a citation. He only has six more missions, they say, until he has a chances, at least, for a short furlough. Well, we are hoping.” I want to tell you that Charlie Balek is in Sioux City, I@wa now awaiting his release. He mother drove down to Coffeyville to get his wife and baby girl last week. thin me and I want to write him but if he has q hi; want to address him correctly, I am terribly sae: kciine entne coneeh te ool WR meen a University, He certainly would be a darling, Did you ever, see a six foot eight inch guard the size of Beb Hendren? 4 Mexy Allen Hamilton sent me a clipping from the San Franeiseo Chroncile Sporting Green edited by Bill Leiser as of Monday, Septerber 24 showing the penalty play on Pattorson. That 62,000 in Kezar Stadium was e lolly. From the photograph they had you in a bad spot coming from be- hind and I still think that your le ball before you hit the fellow. Mary said it was game as she is loyal te few star ° Hamilton's think that Ray Evans is tops and I know a of Allen's that have the same viewpo iH e Lt. Ray Evans, October 20, 1945 I also have a letter from Jverett Hill who saw your Air Foree Super Bomber game against 31 Torro Marines from Santa Anna, California. Everett said in his letter: "I am probally a little prejudiced but I thought Ray Bvans was the best back on the field. He passed for the only Cease and all-around played 9 bunetiful guns.” Ray, will you write no at your earliost courentonce regerding your idea of Cpl. James A. Kane's and Cpl. Bob Hendren's decisions concerning the possibility of attending the University of Kansas. With every good wish to you and every good thing, I an, Sincerely yours, Director of Physical Education, Varsity Lasketball Coach . PCA: Im July 16, 1946 Vr. Karl Edwards Department of Education Kensas State College Manhattan, Kansas Dear Karl: - The 2 name of the tien who was leaving is A. Me Ackerblade and his address is 315 Mississippi Street, lewrence, Kansas, He has a two- story house located at the north end of town with the lower part brick and the upper part wooden. I believe the property is in fair shape and there is a very excellent garden lot to the rear, You, might write him | and ask him if-he is interested in-#@elling, but I have been told that he is. I-have no idea just what price he w [11 want or ite | : ae Géagvatutations on your new Jou down here, I think you will . Like it and I am sure that they will like you. You will find that Dean George Baxter Smith is a humdinger and-e dandy man for whom to work. I am looking forward to seeing you and I will keep my eyes and ears open for any possible house that ait turn: ups Very sincerely yours, 3 : Henry A, Shenk, HS sMF | Director of Physical Education. Mey 11, 1946 Mr. Howard Engleman . 1523 Ohio Lawrence, Kansas Dear Howards : This is a sineere congratulation with the Allen household's compliments on your most successful race for the peenseener of the ASC. | This is an honor that is rightly placed and it shows the fine leadership that is yours, further it shows a confidence of your fellow students wher. they elect you by such an overwhelming ma joritye May your administration. ibe a Mtge lye success= ful one and may you and your good family enjoy all of life's _joys and successes, as well as abundant health and ery. Again, congratulations and good luck.s Sincerely yours, Se Director of Payeten Education, PCA:WP | Varsity Basketball Coache © Mey 11, 1946 Mr. Ray Evans . Phi Delta Theta | 1409 Tennessee Lawrence, Kansas Dear Ray: — I want to sincerely congratulate you upon the fine honor that has come to you by your class- mates electing you to senior class presidency. You are certainly worth of this high honor and I am confident that you will conduet yourself in administering this office in a most modest and admirable * ashione 7 We are very proud of you, Ray. Congratulations and good luck. Sincerely, - : Directo” of Physical Education _ POAP Varsity Basketball Coach. April 2, 1946 Pvt. Gene Ellison AcSeN. 37826519 112 Training Coe, First Regte Port Eustis, Virginia Dear Red: ~< a ce Your letter just arrived and I am answering it immediately. — : 2" I am happy that you are well located. Yes, I om to John Helm quite some time ago but received no reply. Why don't you write him again and ask him, what he is planning to do? I have not heard how he came out at Denver, as far as his individual efforts were concerned, I will be interested in hearing from you regarding Helm and any other matters that seem of interest to you. We were not good enough for the Oklahoma Aggies. Kurland was just too tall and we could do nothing about Fses try as we would, 5 We were very happy to name you leader of your group and I hope that you continue to lead as long as you are in the ~ service, and then return to the university for your degree and participation in athigtions \ Our eaketbait banquet is to be held at the Eldridge Hotel at 6:50 PeMe on April 9, Tuesday, and the Co-Op Club, will be host. ‘ Charlie Black just got back from New Yorks He played. in the game in which the Hast beat the West 60-59, He enjoyed an interesting time. ° | \. With all good wishes, I am Sincerely yours, Director of Physical Education, | PCAsMF = Varsity Basketball Coach. og Nae AA ee gk E a. + tore. Ca Have a Contfiary Coe tee La c : | : Bee Ge BOO He SAINT LOUIS UNIVERSITY SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI DEPARTMENT OF ATHLETICS 3672 WEST PINE BLVD. Po ee oo ee March 21, 1946 Mr. Fe Cy Alien, Chairtan Department of Physical Education University of Kansas Lawrences ®ensas E Dear sir: I am completing a study of twenty re preceni ele schools who offer Physical Education majors. Since your school is one of this group, I would deeply appreciate your res in forwarding to me the enclosed desired informatio SO ESTE REE STITH ION A ISI yi realize the imposition of such a request, and Hove een e deen ety limited my questions to six. L trust you will return the desired information at your earliest convenience, and if I can ever be of any assistance to you in a similar Way, do not hesitate to Seas me. ne jae ae | Sincerely, W. C. Eberhardt Director of Physical Educa WCE:ab- i pe March 15, 1946 Mr. Gustave Eisemann 3757 Paseo Kansas City, Missouri Dear Mr. Eisemann: As you have learned by our wire which was sent yesterday, we have absolutely no tickets for sale. Dr. Allen regrets very much that he was unable to help you in this matter, but the tickets have been sold out for a wate Dre ais not claim your money order from Western Union and advises you to go back through the Western Union in Kansas City and get a refund. Sincerely, Secretary to Dr. Allen <\;2 re Received 3 WESTERN UNION March 14, 1946 Dr. Allen: Money order at $4.00 for Dr. Allen. from Gustave Eisemann. “ - Messages How about 2 tickets for a Kansas ted oat student. esti Eisemann <6 1 BIST Baeee. Kansas City, Missouri / I sent hima wire tothis effect: : | | Dr. Allen out of town. Very sorry no tickets available. Secretary to Dr. Allen _ eee Wl eanie TO pole paar gees Le ere. Get Ctrl oe car paler gO os March 7, 1946 Mre Paul Endacott Vice President and Assistant to the President Phillips Petroleum Company Bartlesville, Oklahoma eee Bay cue ‘Dear Pauls It was splendid of you to write me as you dids Coming from you this congratulation is a real honor. | I am catching the one o'clock streamliner here in Lewrence today. Hank Iba and his boys are on that train and I hope to sell them a bill of goods for the Kansas City, Missouri, locations More people can witness this spectacle in this larger auditorium and that is the reason that I am pulling for Kensas City. Sincerely yours, Director of Physical Education, FCA: MF . Varsity Basketball Coach,. Poitiers PerTroL.eom Company Bart.esviLee, OnLanoma PAUL ENDACOTT VICE PRESIDENT AND March 4s 1946 ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT Dr. F. C. Allen University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas Dear Doc: I wish to send you my sincere congratulations on the wonderful basketball season you have had and for winning the Big Six Championship in ever victorious style. My ambition now is to see your boys do a © real job of taking the Oklahoma Aggies into camp as I note in the morning papers that you probably ¥ play them soon. Give my best regards to Mrs. Allen. CLASS OF SERVICE \ \ } E; S E RN 4201 SYMBOLS This is a full-rate , DL=Day Letter Telegram or Cable- : NL=Night Letter grame- unless its de- ferred character is in- LC=Deferred Cable dicated by a suitable symbol above or pre- a NLT =Cable Night Letter ceding the address. A. N. WILLIAMS ( 7 ¥ } ~ Ship Radiogram 7 The filing time shown in the date line on telegrams and dav letters ig STANDARD TIME at noint of oricin. Time of receipt i is STAN DARD TIME at ies of destination KAZ35 9=WUX TDVT WRIGHT FIELD OHIO 5 GAGMMAS mM 10 19 : g2¢ DR F C ALLENS ae ee UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS ROBINSON GYM. CONGRATULATION JUST HEARD YOU WON BIG SIX. EVER VICTORIOUS= ENS: THE COMPANY WILL APPRECIATE SUGGESTIONS FROM ITS PATRONS CONCERNING ITS SFRVICE