April 2, 1943 Mr. Je F. Gilliland, Principal, Hutehinson High School, Hutchinson, Kansas. Dear ir. Gilliland: The antiseptic foot powder that we in the gymmasium is mde by the Cramer Chemical an of Gardner, Kansas. However, our Professor Boughton, Professor Mix and Professor Treece, of the University faculty, have been working on the formula for Cranors. Wie are using the powder in three large boxes, and the scientists say it is very fine. you are going to cet a lot of it I might ssid Noes thestadias Gan eee, a 2 anc aed aks na confidential if you would make your om. I think it isa not very expersive and it might not pay to try to make it yourself. Glad to know that your track team will be here the 17th. Sinserely yours, Director of Physical Education, FCAAH Varsity Basketball Coach. HUTCHINSON HIGH SCHOOL J. F. GILLILAND, PRINCIPAL HUTCHINSON, KANSAS March 23, 1943 Dr. Forrest 0, Alten Director of Athletics University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas My dear Dr. Sliens I have @ son, Charles, who is a junior in the University. He tells me that you have the best solution for preventing and curing athletes foot that he has ever seen. He thinks it is a preparation sompostded : by your own chemistry department. a gnOuld like to know if it is a commercial preparation. Will you please give me the name of it and the company manufacturing it. If it is of your own preparation, give me the ingredients and formula. fe areplanning on bringing our track team to your relays on April 19th. I may see you then. 10urs very truly, Marah 29, 1943. | Mr. Terry Gaskill, 1603 Massachusetts St., Lawrence, Kansas. Dear Terry: my although it is belated. Tt was necessary to find the originel “Oasey At The Bat” —— That took a little time. T had “Casey"s Revenge" printed in my text- book on Basketball, but it is necessary to read carefully “Casey At The Bat" first before you oan fully appreciate "Casey's Revenge”. I know that your grandson will enjoy.it, and I imow that you will enjoy it equally as well as he dees. It is a great philosophic poem by Grant Rice. With all good wishes, I am Sincerely yours, Director of Physical Education, PCA: AH Varsity Basketball Coach. a Wig Liat lis stds iy faa © Hey a : fi ie iy Hl oe i et - au s3cae zt ree ets oh it a ig et ay a ay aad ae a de dati nth a Very sincerely you's, Director of 4oal Education, POA:AH SPs dG 2 Young Mens Christian Assoriation | — BOARD OF DIRECTORS GUY A. COWDEN HOWARDC. POTTER JACK COOPER WM. J. HUNT ~ CLYDE 0. SPERRY ARTHUR K. GARDNER PRESIDENT VICE-PRESIDENT TREASURER RECORDING SEC’Y Ss. P. TRACY BOYS’ SEC.-PHY. DIR. W. M. BALDWIN A. L. DAWSON DR. ROY ELLIS’ A. L. FARNHAM a L. H. TURN DR. U. J. BUSIEK W. J. DYSART DON S. EVANS FRANK G. LISTER = WILEY F. SPENCER GENERAL SECRETARY February 22, 1943 Dr. Forest C. "Phog™ Allen University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas Dear sir:- I believe I am correct in the assumption that you mow as much, or more,about the game of basketball as any living man. With that in mind I am writing this to ask your opinion as to the proper course to pursue when an occasion: arises such as I am about to deseribe. The following incident took place here at the Springfield, Missouri Y.M.C.A. this month. It aroused considerable comment and evoked some pretty strong feeling among basketball players and fans, not only here in Springfield but in this entire area, - southwest Missouri. I shall be very grateful to you if you will send me your thoughts and reactions to the matter, for your words will carry great weight here. Here is what happened: - The "Y.M.C.A. Senior Independent Basketball League” for many years has had a split season schedule, The Constitution of the League provides that a two-out-of-three game series shall be played by the winning teams of each half in case the same team does not win both halves of the League. This means, of course, that the winner of the play-off is déclared the League Champion for the season. This year the Dr, Pepper Independent team won the first half of the league, and the Central Labor Union team won the second half of the league. There were six teams in the league. -- At the end of the first game of the phay-off series the official scorer had the runnin on his book thus: Dr. Pepper 32; C.L.U. 31. Thirty seconds before the game ended, at the request of the captain of Dr. Pepper's team the a referees came to the scorer and asked if the score-board on the wall—32-3l, was correct. The scorer did not check the box score to see if it corres ORS Se EOD the running score, but simply looked at the running score “and saw that it was 32 - 41, - favor of Dr. Pepper. Assuming that this funning score corresponded to the box score he answered the - referees that the score oh the board was correct and the game ended ar? with the crowd, both teams, both referees, and the scorers thinking /?” that Dr. Pepper had won and that C.L.U. had Lost the games Besides the official scorer there was another scorer, a representative of the C.L.U.e team. His running score corresponded with that of the official scorer, so the scoreboard on the wall, as well as the running score on both scorers books showed Dr. Pepper 32: C.L.U.31l. “LIFE GOES THE WAY YOUTH FINALLY TAKES” Dr. Forest C. Allen < ane £0 Lawrence, Kansas oe page # After the game the two score books were not checked while the two scorers were st4ll at the Y.M.C.A. After the crowdf}the teams, | had Left the building, I took the official score-book and began preparing the summary(as was my custom) preparitory to phoning in the results of the game to the Springfield Daily News. To my astonishment I discovered that the box score showed that the game was a tie with Central Labor Union making 32 points as did Dr. Pepper. I rechecked and"readded®™ until I had repeated the process five times. In order to check with the other scorer, I phoned him and had him read his box-score to me. To his amazement he found that his box-score was identical with mine and that his book showed 32-352 in the box-score, while his running-score showed 2-31. This could mean nothing except that identical errors had been made by the scorers. Now the questions: What should be done in a case like this? (lL). Should the game have been given to Dr. Pepper since the error was not discovered until after the game was over and the teams and spectators had left the "Y" building? ( The officials did not sign the score-book),. (2). Should the game have been declared a “eo (3). If it were declared a tie game, should an overtime period have been played at a later date, or should the game have been thrown out as™no-game", ana another one played in its stead? The rules committe of the League met and reached a decision, - together with the help of the two officials who refereed the game. It will be a great favor to us if you will tell us what, - according to rules - we should have done in this instance. If there is nothing in the rule book to cover such a situation, ean you, and will you tell us something out of your rich experience that will help guide us in the future if some similar tense situation arises? I found nothing in the Official Rules to help me in this case. The Committee ruled that the game should not be counted, and declared that it must be played over. Did we do right? Thank you very much for your attention to this. ardner P.S. I learned of your recent game with Camp Crowder. You™played them for your amusement, and they beat you to your a zement™ i! BOISE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL Boise, IDAHO i js hh Sehr. th /(e x oe anes Manne We Lean taclin Olle =) yy Buk 2 fn ae Oe i one ee 7 February 24, 19435. Ur. MN. J. Getto, Eldridge Hotel, Lawrence, Kansas.- Dear Mike: I have been intending to write you a letter for some few days to congratulate you upon your membership — in Rotary. I was sorry thet I wes out of town with the basketball team when you wore inducted, but I assure it is a great pleaswe to have you in Rotary with us. With all good wishes, = am Very sincerely yours, Director of Physical Education, FCA:AH | Varsity Basketball Coach. February 11, 1943. Tt was nice of you to say the things that you did end I appreciate them. With e21 good wishes for your continued success ani negyeneen,, tom Very sincerely yours, | Director of Physical Bducation, PCA: AH Varsity Basketball Coach. February ll, 1943. Hon. Ae He Gurley, Barnard, Kansas. My dear Buck: It was a pleasure for me to do what little I sould in aiding Margaret in getting her difficulties ironed out. I received a very nice letter from her thanking me for what little I did. She is a fine girl and it was a pleasure With all good wishes, I an. ~ Sincerely yours, Director of Physical Education, FOA: 4H Varsity Basketball Coach. STATE OF KANSAS COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS MEMBER JUDICIARY FORESTRY, FISH AND GAME MOTOR CARRIERS A. H. GURLEY REPRESENTATIVE EIGHTY-THIRD DISTRICT BARNARD, KANSAS TOPEKA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES January 29, 1943 Dr. Forrest C. Allen, Department of Physical Education, Kansas University, Lawrence, Kansas My dear Allen: I want to thank you for your assistance in getting my daughter's difficulties lined out. They were not serious, but meant a lot to her and I do not re how 1 would have gotten the job done without your help. I was happy to renew my acquaintance with you after about thirty five years and to see that you have retained your youthfulness and faith in the younger generation. Again thanking you and wishing you lots of suecess in your work there, which I trust may continue for a long time, and with very best regards, I am, fon. A. H. Gurley \ February 15, 1943. Mr. Merlin R, Garey, Farmers & Merchants Bank, Edison, Nebraska. Dear Mr. Garey: I em very happy to send you material describing ny text, “Better Basketball", in response to your in- quiry of the llth instant. This book is on sale at most sporting goods firms. The price is $4.00. If you should desire an autograpl.d copy I will be happy to send it to you postpaid on receipt of your check or money order for 34.00. - } Very sincerely yours, Direotor of Physical Education, — PCA:AH , Varsity Basketball Coach. February 11, 1943 t uy A Prof. Phoog Allen, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. Dear Sir: Have you published any books or phamplets covering the playing of basketball? I have reference particularly to the technique of passing, shooting, ete., in the game. If you have none of your own, please give me names of some good one you know and let me know where I ean get them. Yours truly, Merlin R. in LONG BEACH PUBLIC SCHOOLS LONG BEACH JUNIOR COLLEGE LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA January 20,1944 55 Roycroft Ave. Long Beach,Cakif. Dear Dr.Allen: Some time ago I asked you to write two letters of recommendation, one to the Marine Corns and one to the Navy. On January 13th I was sworn in as a First Lieutenant in the U.S.Marine Corps Res. (AVS). The clippings I am enclosing will tell you something about it. I thought you might like to read what the local papers had to say about my work since I have been here. I think it tells you better than 1 can,so I am enclosing the clippings. I wish to thank you again for the help you gave me in securing my commission. I will do the best I can to make a aes officer so Four confidence in me will be justified. I have enjoyed my work here at L.B.J.C. Since I am to receive a military leave of absence ,my job will be here when the war is over. There is a lot of satisfaction in being able to go and to know my job is here when I get back. Bert C.Smith has been a very fine person to work with and he is one of the best friends I have ever had. When I was ill three years ago,he took my work and did my coaching without 4 murmur. His advise has always been good and I hate benefited much by being in his department the last 13 years. He is’well liked by all the physical education men in Southern California. You can be proud of him as a Kansas U. man. I will be quite busy from now on,but will try to keep in touch with you and let you know where I am from time to time. I get to finish the first semester,but some time after the first ¢ of February I will be assigned to active Guty. I took my physical examination last Tuesday and it was marked active duty,so I am all set as soon as the orders come from Washington. Virginia and I send best regards to Mrs. Allen. When this is over we will come back to Kansas and have a good drink of ginger ale with her. If I remember,that is her favorite drink. Thank you again for everything Doctor Allen. Sincerely yours, fff { LONG BEACH PRESS-TELEGRAM, FRIDAY, JANUARY 15, 1943 Miel Griff_im, Jaysee Coach, in Marines — Seven Athletic: — Coaches Now in Service Mel Griffin, coach of Long Beach Junior College basketball who received statewide recogni- tion for his ‘cage combinations through 1940 and 1942, yesterday became the seventh member of the city’s coaching staffs to join the armed services of the United States when he was sworn in to the Marine Corps Reserves as a first lieutenant, aviation volun- teer specialist. Griffin took his oath Wednesday in Los Angeles. ‘It had been known for some ‘time that Griffin had applied for a commission in the Marine Re- serve and the announcement of his plans was held up pending his appointment. ‘SIX OTHERS The popular Long Beach jaysee coach follows six other local coaches into the service—Lieu- tenant Orian M. Landreth, for- mer dean of men at jaysee and football coach at Poly High, in the Navy; Charles Church, bas- ketball coach at Poly, now a cap- tain in the Marines and Walter W. Bell. also of Poly, now a cap- tain in the Army; Lieutenant Jess Hill, formerly at the Jaysee, now with the Navy preflight school at Del Monte; Lieutenant Vincent Reel of Wilson High, with ~ training school in Idaho, an Mike Dimas, St. Anthony’s foot- ball coach, now in the Army at Florida. Griffin will leave in a short while for a special officers’ train- ing course at San Diego or Quan- tico, Va., after which he will be assigned to active duty with the Fleet Marine Force in the Eleventh Naval District, probably at San Diego. Griffin has been connected with the local school system: for 13 years. Graduating from the Uni- versity of Kansas in 1924, Mel coached for awhile in the mid- west before coming to Long Beach. SEVEN WINNERS As basketball coach at jaysee, he produced four championship teams in that sport. and three baseball championships. As Vike football coach in 1935, his team finished second in the Metro- politan Conference. Griffin’s 1942 basketball team was the best ne, ever had at ane TELS) " TLOXT So pOpey eee —yustary “Mv oe L|‘uostute “MM JeuTo “UIQ © vise doa ‘T apATD ‘uosuyO ‘College team that season—a team that won 25 of 27 games and swept the Southern Califor- nia and Metropolitan Conference championships. : BOYS MAKE A PLEDGE After the defeat in the Mo- desto tournament the boys who would return next season, made a pledge to Coach Mel Griffin: | “We'll be back next year and we'll show ’em. more basketball than they ever saw before.” It’s January 1942, and: Modesto again. The state junior college jchampionship tournament is over land Long Beach has won. It has jset a new one-game scoring rec- lord of 82 points and a tourna- iment total-game scoring record. | Fans and coaches are still talk- ing with awe and - admiration ‘about the greatest display of in- dividual and team play that the tourney has ever seen. The Vikes had won more fancy cups than used to be displayed in an old barber shop mug case. Bob Howard, Don Cecil and Grant ‘Denmark were unanimous choices for all-state and Denmark was declared the tournament’s most ‘valuable player. Some coaches on the committee to select the lall-state team, said: “Just name jthe whole Long Beach team.” |ALL FINE SPORTSMEN There’s another tale untold labout this basketball team of modest American lads = Dick West, Dave Cohee, Denmark, Cecil and Captain Howard. Southern California jaysee champions and now state champs, the time came for the Modesto sportsmanship award. Another team received the award, not be- jcause the Vikes didn’t deserve jit, but because the coaches ‘laughingly decided that Long Beach ‘had taken enough tro- phies for one tournament al- though they were unanimous in their acclaim of the Vikes’ sports- |manship. . Many little incidents could be |told about this team, but some |stand out more than others. It was on the way back from Santa Monica. The Vikes had just scored 69 points with a typi- jcal display of power for them. |They had already won the state |junior college championship. |They had outclassed all opposi- |tion in the Southern California |Junior college tournament and ‘were well on their way to a de- |cisive triumph in the Metropoli- tan Conference with the loss of only one game. COACHES BECOME IRKED The coaches who sent teams against the Vikes got pretty irked at. Mel sometimes. The ones, at least, who thought Mel was trying to “turn it on.” Mel couldn’t help it unless he jerked them: all off the floor. « There wasn’t a game that one, two or even three of the boys didn’t hit baskets with the per- sistency of an adding machine and even when Mel put in Ed) Gillian, his No. 1 reserve, big, lumbering but speedy Ed could do a spectacular job of scoring. As Mel remarked time after time: “It’s the boys’ game. I’ve got no right to take away their glories by putting in reserves who might lose for them.” It was the last game of the) season. With Santa Monica again. The Vikes had cleaned up ev- erything—the Southern Califor- nia, the state and the conferende championship. The little Poly gym was packed, not because the fans ex- pected to see a close game, but because they came to see a great team perform. When Mel was reluctant to play the first team the entire game the fans yelled protests so the Vike coach turned them loose and they scored 82 points again in a great display of shot- making and teamwork to climax | the greatest season of basketball | Long Beach ever has seen. SCHOOL RECORDS GO Four of the five members of that team broke school scoring records. They shattered the game scoring mark of the school three times, hitting 82 points twice in one season. In 57 consecutive games, starting in 1941, the club averaged 52 points a game and they broke the Metropolitan Con- ference scoring record by hitting 713 points in 12 games for an average of 59 points per game. Needless to say,’*the man who coached that team in 1941-42 will never forget it. Mel Griffin bids good-bye to Long Beach basketball in a little while until after the war. He’s now a lieutenant in the Marine, Corps Reserves after coaching for 13 years at jaysee. oe | ‘He refuses to name his five greatest players because “it wouldn’t be fair to the players,” but he doesn’t hesitate to say that his combination of West, Cohee, Denmark, Cecil and How- ard was his greatest. _ Most of these games saw them literally pouring in points, turn- ing the heat on when it was necessary, taking it easy until the time came to pour it on, as true champions do. They over- whelmed their opposition, not be- has turned out three champion- | ship baseball teams and five that KANSAS GRADUATE | Mel graduated from the Uni- | versity of Kansas in 1924 where he was better known as a foot-| ball and track man. He was all- Western and all-Missouri Valley end in his senior year on an un- beaten team whose goal line was uncrossed. He’s regarded as greatest quarter-miler and _ still holds two records at that dis- tance, one as a member of the mile relay team that has stood for 19 years. After graduation he coached first at McPherson High and at Lawrence High in Kansas where | he produced championship teams | in football, baseball and track. In 1935 he came to Long Beach and took over the football team at jaysee, finishing second in the conference. In addition to pro- ducing four championship _bas- ketball teams at Long Beach, he were runnersup. Mel Griffin leaves Long Beach with a fond memory and Long Beach waves farewell to Mel with nostalgic remembrances of a great basketball team whose | records will stand, no doubt, for. y Kansas’ |many years to come. Ons. Wy, Lous. Long Beach Junior College Viking Mel Griffin Joins U.S. Marine Corps — Melvin 'F, Griffin, Viking bas- ketball and baseball coach for the 13 years, was sworn in January 13 in Los Angeles as a first lieutenant in the United States Marine Corp Reserve. He will be an aviation volunteer specialist. The Viking casaba coach will finish the present semester and will be called up for active duty ‘Sometime after February 1. Kansas graduate Griffin was graduated from the University of Kansas in 1924 where he won his freshman num- erals and three varsity letters in both football and track, In his senior year Kansas finished the season unbeaten and unscored upon. Griffin was picked on the All- Western team for an end post in his last year. He is a member of the relay team that holds the record for the mile relay in the Kansas Invitational Indoor track meet and shares the record for the 440. Before coming to Vikingville coached for three years at Mc- Pherson high school and three years at Lawrence high school. At both Kansas schdols he was director of athletics. At Lawrence his football teams suffered only one defeat in three years. Comes to Long Beach Since coming to Long Beach Junior College the Viking mentor has won championships in base- "To the Shores-- Si Melvin F. Griffin ball in 1936 and 1940. In 1936 the Norse hosehiders also copped the Southern California title. League basketball crowns were won in 1933, 1937, 1941 and 1942. All but the ’33 team won the Southern California _title. His 1942 team carried off the state championship while the 1941 squad came back with runnerup honors. _ SUN PHONE 699-11 ? Jaysee Mentor — _ Enters Marines F irst Lieutenant’s Rank Is Given Mel Griffin Long Beach lost another of its leading athletic coaches to the armed forces yesterday when it was announced that Mel Griffin, veteran Long Beach J, C. mentor, was sworn into the United States Marine Corps Reserve as a first lieutenant, Aviation Volunteer Specialist, Wednesday in Los An- geles. Griffin expects to leave within _ three or four weeks. He’ll attend a special officers’ training course either at San Diego or Quantico, 'Va, before being assigned to ‘active duty with the Fleet Marine Force in the Eleventh Naval Dis- trict, probably at San Diego. Griffin is the fourth prominent ‘local coach to receive a commis- sion in the armed forces and the second to enter the Marines. The others are Captain Charles R. Church of the Marines; Captain Walter W. Bell of the Army, and Lieutenant Orian M. Landreth of the Navy. The junior college basketball and baseball coach is enthused over his appointment, stating it / was. just the line of duty he had hoped for. “Griff” graduated from the University of Kansas in 1924 _ and, after coaching a few years in the midwest, came to Long Beach. This is his thirteenth year in the city school system. Incidentally, the number 13 fig- urés prominently in the Grif- _ fin family, Mel having been sworn in on the thirteenth, his wife’s birthday falling on Feb- ruary 13 and his mother-in-law’s | birthday on January 13. | In his stay at Long Beach J. C. Griffin has had four champion- ship basketball teams and three championship baseball clubs. He coached the Viking football team for one season, in 1935, and the Norse finished second in the con- ference race. Mel is best known for his great 1941 and 1942 hoop teams. The 742 club of Grant Denmark, Dick West, Dave Co- hee, Ed Gillean, Bob Howard and Don Cecil captured all jaysee honors, winning the Western Conference, Southern California and state titles. February 11, 1945. Mr. Koss Clover, C. Spe, . ; 27th Regiment, U. 3. Naval Training Station, Great Lekes, Illinois. Dear Mr. Clover: Your postcard addressed to the Department of Physical Education and Athletics has been received by me. ‘I have a text on basketball, entitled “Better Basket- ball", published by the MoGraw-Hill Book Company of New York. I am sending you a pahphlet describing the same. — I do not quite lmow what you desire. Will you be more specific regarding the type of publications on physical education and coaching methods that you desire? Most all sporting goods houses handle these texts on the coaching of different sports. A. S. Barnes and Company, New York, pub- lish a great number of very fine books in their dollar libvary. Perhaps you should write then. Sincerely yours, _ Director of Physical Education, FCA: AH Varsity Basketball Coach. £ L 220 Le JAN SE - 3 <\03cAM ~~} woe Oy 49 437 (THIS SIDE OF CARD IS FOR ADDRESS |] February 10, 1943. Mrs. William Greene, Smith Center, Kansas. Dear Mrs. Greene: _ 2 thank you very much for sending Bill's letter on to mea. I enjoyed it very much and am happy to lmow that his application was accepted and that Grand Rapids will soon be his destination for training. when you write him give him my kindest regards and tell him that what Frank Pattee told him about our offense being changed is not true. It may look so to him, but of course we change our plays according to the strength of our team, 3 fell Bill that I will be happy to hear from him when and if he has time, but I doubt if he will have much time. With all good wishes to you and Bill, I an Sincerely yours, _ Director of Physical Education, FCA:AH - Varsity Basketball Coach. Imith Center Public Schools VAUGHN E. McCOLEY, Superintendent Soese SMITH CENTER, KANSAS January 26, 1943 Dr. Forrest C. Allen Varsity Basketball Coach Director of Physical Education University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas Dear Doctor Allens: Basketball season at kK. Us. is always an occasion for rejoicing with me after three months of razzing about the football team. Some of the men here thought they had me this year before Christmas. Now I'm laugh- ing for I told them not to pass judgment on early season results. Frank Pattee, a freshman at K. U. from Smith Center, says you are using a different type of offense this year. I certainly hope I can get down for a game. I am coach of all athletics this year at Smith Genter and like coach- ing more as | go along. I don't care so much for teaching science, however. t believe I'd like teaching physical education and coaching much better. My football team this year was undefeated and we placed one man on the All- State Team, and one an honorable mention. This year's basketball season is going very poorly. We've lost five out of six ball games and may lose more. Last year's outfit that went to the State, after winning the Class A Regional, is sone. The entire start- ing line-up graduated and I have one boy who has had first team experience. The team is coming along, and the last two sames have been outstandirg defensively, but the boys cannot hit. Game averares from the field run about 15% or less. I am almost at wits end to know what to do about ite ft have tried various drill without a great deal of success--yet, some improvement may be forthcoming. If you could sugsest any particular drills for such weaknesses, I would appreciate them. One of the chief reasons for writing you at this time is to ask another recommendation from youe You have give me such splendid ones in the past-- I was hired here on the strength of your letter, and I want you to know how deeply I appreciate it. IT have made application to enlist in the Air Corps Army Reserve Corps as a Meteorological Aviation Cadet. My appearance before the examining board is immenent aid I need three letters of recommendation, concerning my ability to instruct ard handle men, I would azain be deeply indebted to you if you could oblige me with such a letter. IYnith Center Public Schools VAUGHN E. McCOLEY, Superintendent —S>oe2 SMITH CENTER, KANSAS Page <= I am supposed to hold the letters here until I am called for, and therefore, you could send it to me in a sealed envelope, if you find it convenient to write. I expect to be called up momentarily ard would appreciate any assistance you might lend, Best wishes for another Championship. Very sincerely, 3a OA = ) aud Sapte te fie anny » —