Correspondence between Phog Allen and high schooler Bob Dole, 1938-1939. Photograph of the 1943 KU basketball team. Bob Dole is third from the left, in the top row. January 5, 1958. 2 dn Gating yee b Dov ot ow beset cttw lmow when we are playing. ‘With every good wish to you for a very successful New Year, I Sincerely yours, Varsity ~ Director Sp ene hepa I ES Jemnuary 28, 1958. B F 2 : E g | & B purpose | and to serve the public the best way possiblee We all hope that you will continue to go forward, end froa what Mit says we ere very - sure that you wille 3 ‘ You and Mit must be real buddies. You tell him thet the my you wrote I believe he has en office in Dawson's Drug Store every evetlings - Or is that just the basketball players’ rendevous? Or should I say the oil men*s, because Mit is supposed to be am oi] man instead of a basket= ball players | 7 I tell all wy boys before they graduate from college that the fm in basketball playing should be in high school and in collegee After that a fellow should give up basketbell playing as a main attraction and center all his energies end enthusiasm on his life's work. I imow that the boss who is paying a fellow's salary for the main work that he is expected to do would much rather see him put his energies in his bread anid butter jobe ‘Yes, Bob, we had hoard of the addition to the Allen household, of | , Mit ealled his mother right aay, and of course we were all happy Not one of us thought anything about it because the arrival was We have just finished our examinations and the boys feel pretty grogey. Maybe wo cau snap out of it by next Wednesdays At any rate, we are hoping soe Nebrasla is going to be double toughe Please do not feel that you have to enswer this letter, You are basy, and so am 7, and I just wanted to let you Imow how well pleased wo were with your ambitions in life. All of us will stop in and say "nello" to you whim we come to Russells In closing, just a bit of advice to you and Mite Keep your money in your pocket and don't bet on the ball games, and buy bacon with 1% so you won't have to bring home so much batons I have always found that it is 2 bed idea to bet very much money because I heard a fellow say once “If you can't afford to lose, don't play". In all the tino I was raising my fanily i never had enough money free to just toss it~ out and bet on it. It is e very uncertain wy to accumulate much cashes Don't consider this preaching, but it is just one of those habite that a fellow gets into, that he holds money lightly rather than a very definite exchangs for his intelligence end his lebore When a man works as many hours as the ordinary individual does for money then he can feel that he is just betting thet many hours of hard work against something he is not sure of. Won't you agree with this? There are so many certain willenots that a fellow has to taid on to his habits to insure his BUCCOSS And from all Mit has told me, you are definitely pleming going some wheres 7 With all good wishes, I em Very sincerely yours, Director of Physical Education, FOALAH Varsity Basketball Coache Russell High School Ruscell, Ransax PRINCIPAL IRVIN L. LUTHI November 7, 1939 Mr. #. GC. Alien University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas Dear Dr. Allens I am a student here at Russell high school and since I have written to you perhaps you remember me. I am a member of our basketball team and I am taking a course in speech. In this course we are required to pre- pare an original oration and I have selected to prepare an eulogy of you and your work. I would appreciate information you might think valuable concerning your life's work. Also could you send me the names and addresses of some of the better known boys who have par- ticipated in athletics under your coaching? Thank you for your kind consideration. Respectfully hate Bob Dole ILL RM November 15, 1939. , Pardon me for not answering your good letter of Novenber 7th sooner. Yes, indeed, I renenber you, You are a dandy young chap and I am counting on you to go a long wys in your preperation for lifes : I am glad to lmow that you are a member of the basketball team and that you are interested in doing the best you can in your job of public spealcinge I am afraid that you chose a very poor subject to deliver a eulogy on, but enyhow executive view president of the Phillips Petroleum Company at Oklehanie Waldo Bowmen, of Lewrence, is now : associate editor of the Engineering News Record for loGrewHill Conpeny, lew York, and he also played on the 1925 tonm, Or. Paul Harrington, of Kansas City, Yansas, played — p teons, Rquitable Life of tiew Yorks i oe oe worerful jobe . 2 cam meme humireds of other boys who have proven as highly successful as these boys. My main aim in coaching a basket- ball team is to develop in them a high quality of initiative, resourcefulness, confidence, aggressiveness and determination to ¢ . ame oe aes Ot Oe vitty They must train, and say tion before they can say once This is 23rd year as coach of the Kensas varsi teams. i em send~ Toe yes a Vanesa Gk tran "den Wn in haat Sports", so that you can take what you want out of ite I trust this will give you the desired informations i iNs tenpta= 5 g i S 8 tines & ee 4 i “a SE e Vth best wishes for your continued success, I am Very sincerely yours, Director of hailed’ Bineation and Recreation, FCAsAH Varsity Basketball Coache Ts «