March 29, 1942 ite He Ve Gowangs ; Superintendent of Schools Tulsa, Oklahoma : Dear Darry: | This will acknowledge receipt of your letter and confirw, the date of May 19 with your Kansas Alumie Will you kindly write me where the meeting is te be held, and I would also be pleased to mow if there is any slant on any sitwetion that you would desire stressed I imagine you want a message from the University of Kansas, and I assure you that we will endeavor tu bring you word regarding the faculty and student bodye I em sure it-will be pleasure for mo to renew old acquaintancese With all good wishes, I am, — Sincerely yours, Mirector of Phyeical Bducation and Recreation Varsity Basketball and faseball Coach — FeAsig TULSA PUBLIC SCHOOLS TULSA, OKLAHOMA Office of the Superintendent March 25, 1941 Dr. Forrest C. Allen The University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas Dear Phog: We shall expect you Monday evening, May 19, and are happy that you can come, While the Associstion has no money, we will pass the hat, and I am sure will be able to raise enough to pay the expenses. We had our first meeting at which about fifty were present, but I am sure that with you as the chief attraction, the number will be augmented greatly. We are looking forward with pleasure to your coming. Sincerely yours, Tpery H. W. Gowans Superintendent of Schools G:b March 21, 1942 Mre He We Gowans Superintendent of Schools Tulsa Public Schools Tulsa, Oklahoma Dear Harrys You may count on my being with you on May 19¢ There is one catch, however, the University Board of Regents passed an executive order that no expenses could be paid for speakers of any kind going out of the State of Kansase I wanted to be sure of my grounds, so I called ee ee a ae bout my being asked to Tulsa on May 19, and asked him if the Alumi Association could do anything about ite He said that they were in such bad financial plight that although he would iike very much to do it he could note I imagine your Alumni Association is as bad off as any of the rest that I have ever heard of, so I will Just have to swait your reply to see whether somebody can take care of the “po” boys's expensess . | I make @ good many of these speeches and of course never expest an honorarium such as the big boys talk about, but mturally my exchequer is in such shape that I am not in @ position to pay my own expensese My pleasure comes in meeting my old friends and renewing @cquaintancese Awaiting your reply and with all good wishes to you, I an, Sincerely yours, Director of Physical Education and Recreation Varsity Basketball and Baseball Coach MCAslg TULSA PUBLIC SCHOOLS TULSA, OKLAHOMA Office of the Superintendent March 19, 1941 Dr. Forrest C. Allen The University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas Dear Phog: Your not being able to come on May 20 will in no way disrupt our plans, particularly if you can come on May 19 instead of the twenty-first as you suggested in your letter. Our first get together will be Tuesday evening, and I shall appreciate your reply so that I may be able to announce it at that time. Sincerely yours, a H. W. Gowans Superintendent of Schools | G:b Mereh 18, 1941 I would have a break like thise Doggone it, Harry, on the very day that I wrote you, namely March 8, I received a letter from Brice Durbin, Superintendent of Schools, Burns, Kansas, me to take his commencement date on May 20 in the little tow of BurnSe They have been trying to get me out there for a number of years I wrote Supt. Durbin and accepted his date of May 20. and Since I have accepted this date, I see nothing else to do but go through with ite I am very sorrye I am writing you by return mail and sending you a list of the dates that I now havee I imagine the 2lst would not suit, would it? | Write me and let me lmow your desires, and I will try to hold the date that you wante : Sincerely yours, Director of Physical Education and Recreation Varsity Basketball and Raseball Coach TULSA PUBLIC SCHOOLS TULSA, OKLAHOMA Office of the Superintendent ™” : glue oo fo i a ea 5 a oor \ — i al 7 : March 15, 1941 NG e” ‘ 3 AX cp NS Dr. Forrest C. Allen The University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas Dear Phog: ' I wish to thank you for your generous response to my inquiry of March 6. I have discussed the meeting with the executive committee of the K. U. group and we have finally decided that if it meets with your approval, we should like to have you on Tuesday evening, May 20. We are planning to invite all of the K. U. alumni in Tulsa and surrounding territory. Sincerely yours, Superintendent of Schools march 8, 1941 lie Hee Gowans Superintendent of Schools Tulsa Public Schools Tulsa, Oklahoma Dear Harrys Thank you for your good letter of March 6» I greatly appreciate the compliment paid me that the KeUe Alumi in Tulsa would ask me to speak at their wy meetings Nothing would give me more pleasures As you mow, Harry, I have agreed to take the baseball team after the basketball season is over, and I have quite a job cut out for me as we have only one returning veteran from last year and the team finished in sixth places I am sending you our baseball dates together with other speaking dates that I have agreed to at the present times You can check these over and if there is any possible wey for me to be with you at a convenient time nothing would delight me mores It would be a great pleasure to meet with you and the fine Kee group in Tulsa. Thank you for your congratulations regarding our teame We lost to Oklahom last night and that gives _ the championship to Iowa States | Sincerely yours, Director of Physical Education and Recreation | Varsity Basketball Coach TULSA PUBLIC SCHOOLS TULSA, OKLAHOMA Office of the Superintendent March 6, 1941 Dr. Forrest G. Allen The University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas Dear Phog: Our K. U. alumni association in Tulsa is coming to life in quite an encouraging way. At a meeting of several alumni last night the president and secretary reported that they had recently completed an up-to-date file of K. U. people in Tulsa which shows 236 members of the alumni with their addresses and telephone numbers. We are planning a meeting shortly in order to get together and renew acquaintances and then plan to have another meeting about the middle of May. We should like very much for you to be the principal speaker at the May meeting. If you find it possible to come, please tell me what evening would be most suitable for you and we will try to arrange our schedule to suit your con- venience. The committee and I personally, wovld appreciate it if you can accept this invitation. Congratulations on the success of your basketball team. Sincerely yours, H, W. Gowans Superintendent of Schools G3b TULSA PUBLIC SCHOOLS TULSA, OKLAHOMA Office of the Superintendent May 23, 1941 Dr. Forest C. Allen The University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas Dear Phog: I want to thank you again for coming to our Alumni Association meeting. We were all disappointed that more people did not get to hear you for all that I have talked with have been highly complimentary about your talk. You said that you would be interested to know how the election came out. Our side won by about a 1,400 majority. My friend Roeder Wild deserves a great deal of credit for the success of the election. I hove that I shall be able to get up for at least a day at commencement time, and if so, to have the pleasure of seeing you again. Sincerely yours, Fkorry H. W. Gowans Superintendent of Schools cee ATHLETIC COMMISSION EXECUTIVE SECRETARY TOPEKA : July 15, 1941 Dr. Forrest C, Allen ae University of Kansas 3 Lawrence, Kansas Dear Doctor Allen: Enclosed is your card again designating e you as one of our staff of representa- tives. | Cordially yours, Frank Gilleece Executive Secretar July 26th, 1941 ur. H. We Gowans Superintendent of Schools Tulsa, Oklehoma | - Dear Harry: , It is a long time between trips, I imagine, besause on May 23rd, you write me telling me you won 1400 end that your friend, Roeder Wild, deserves a great deal of credit for the success of the election. I expected to write you and con~ gratulate you upon your success but your letter coming just about ' Commencement time caused mo to defer for a few days and here has been a month already. Although this congratulation is belated, it's none the less genuine end I want you to imow I “bully” in your spunk. You gave them a great administration and this election shows that they be- lieve in youe Keep up the good work. By the way, I believe we are going to have your niece in | our office, when and if she whips the shorthand that is taking here from one of the Professor’s wifes on the Hill. Polly in to see me and we're now awaiting the time until she can b more proficient. She is a fine girl and I think will make an excellent secretary. ly son, Bob, and she were in some of their classes to- gether and both were Phi Beta Kappa'ts. So, I can reasonably assume that they are both pretty smart youngsters. With all good wishes, I am, Sincerely yours, i Director of Physical Education and Recreation-Varsity Basketball and Baseball Coach» FCA:re July 31, 1941. Mr s Me J * Getto, Estes Park, Colorado. Dear Mike: I have just received a conmmication from the National Surety Corporation of New York asking for information for a surety bond. I gave you "A 100% plus”. iI hope they will let you handle a million dollars any time you went it. I trust that you and Virginie are having a good time at Sincerely yours, Se Director of Physical Education end Recreation FCA: AH Varsity Basketball Coach. UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENC ‘News From Page One CHANUTE MAN— and I feel this is one of those regrettable incidents. In view of this I respectfully give you my sincere apologies. with the hope that our long standing friend- ship will continue as in the past. Truly yours, Wm. M. (Bill) Gray. JAYHAWK COACH— nothing is malicious in my makeup, and while my state- mt ments have been mistaken at times, I do not wish anyone ill or harm. It will be good to see you, Bill, and-thank you for. your swell letter. Sincerely yours, Forrest C. Allen. es Gray Apologizes To "Phog” xk x wk * A Closed Matter--Allen Jayhawk Coach Accepts Apology Dr. F..C. Alien yesterday~ said |e he considered his verbal tiff | with William “Bill” Gray, Chanute, a closed incident, in acknowledging the latter’s letter of apology. | Allen further explained that if he had any public panning coming |concerning any part he might be accused of having taken in subsi- dized athletes he would be ready to take it. Doctor Allen’s jeter: Dear Bill: I acknowledge with gratitude your swell letter of December ao I will admit that the state- ment attributed to you in the Kansas City Star shocked me severely. Without going any further I made the move that I felt was justi‘ied in making be- cause I knew I had never subsi- _dized a basketball player. If there wes any erroneous conclusions gathered from any- thing I have done regarding regarding -Ralph Miller, I wanted to take full responsi- bility for it, and was willing to take a public panning for any athletic indiscretion that might have taken place. Yes, Bill, I have known you for some time and that was a ' shocking thing to me. I assure you I accept your statement 100 per cent and so far as you and I are concerned I have forgotten the matter entirely. The next time I see you, you will realize it “because I assure you that (continued to page eight) Wa.M.GRAY, PRESIDENT L.BAILEY GRAY, Vice Pres. A.F. LEVERENZ, Secy & TREA. R.T. BROWN, Factory Super. DISTRIBUTERS GENERAL OFFICES & FACTORY = = CHANUTE, KANSAS ~@CraNnuTeE, Kans. December 13, 1940 Mr. Forrest C. Allen, Director Physical Education, Lawrence, Kansas. My dear Phog: I am in receipt of your December 11th letter and first let me say that I am truly sorry that any remarks that I am quoted as having made, were such as to have caused you any grievance. Only a portion of a conversation that I nad with @ certain party was quoted, in an uncomplimentary manner and in such a way as to fail to express my true feelings with regard to you or your remarks. You, Phog, have known me for some time and should know that there is nothing malicious in my make up which would call for my making any statements intentionally, with the view of causing any one the least of harm, ill will, or hard feelings. Unfortunately the best of us are some times misunderstood and I feel this is one of those regrettable 5 a | OO Mr. Forrest C. Allen Page #2. incidents. In view of this I respectfully give you my sincere apologies with the hope that our long standing friendship will continue as in the past. MU GO be C. Cc. to C. E. McBride, Sports Editor, Kansas City Star, K. C., Mo. C. C. to Don Pierce, Sports Editor, Daily Kansan, Lawrence, Kansas. C, C. to Clarence Moody, Editor, Chanute Tribwe, Chanute, Kansas. WMG: ANG Chanute, Kansas Deceuber 15, 1940 portion of a conversation that I a cortain party wae octedy in tn uneonplinrtary santor and page or ee your VOnieits | 3 | Yotp Phog, have Imown me for sone time and should for my mking any statements intentionally, with the view of causing any one the least of harm, ill will, or hard feslin - ‘Ynfortunately the best of us are some times mise understood and 3 feel this is one of those regrettable inci dents, In view of this I respectfully give you my sincere apologies with ap Sak ee ee nes Satine Shonda ig) eontione Ue 1 the Truly yours, Wine Me (Bill) Gray Rditor, Mansas City Star, KeCs, Noe m Pleree ; Sports Editor, Daily Kansan, Lawrence, Kansas ; Clarence Moody, Editor, Chanute Tribune, Chanute, Kansas Paget he i . Bibi i ceeh sasha shee ite Wine Me Gray Sunshine Mentle Company Chanute, Kansas _ > Bills a setnedtutep with gratitude your swell letter ecember 13.6 - I will admit that the statement attributed to you en — Kansas City Star shocked me severely. Without going further I made the move that I felt I was justified in : making heenuse tT lmew I had never subsidized a basketball : we Sew were any erroneous | eonelusions exthered om anything I had done regarding Ralph Miller, I wanted to tale full nile for it, and. wes willing to take a. ie panning fo 7 — ion that mient | have ee ™, — £: aloe: mown you i. some ei — that aa a shocking thing to me. I assure you I accept your state= ‘100% and so far as you and I are concerned I have forgotten matter entirely. The next time I see you you will realize. @ I assure you that nothing is malicious in my makeup, while my statenents have been mistaken at times, I do not , wish anyone ill will or harms It will be good to | see you, , B21, and thank you for ~ ~—. letter. | 3 : Sineerely sii Director of Physical Education and Recreation oe Varsity Basketball Coach : FCAs1g — co; Cele MoBride -PA:lg ey Corr | COPY COPY December ll, 1940 Mre Wine Me Gray Sunshine Mantle Company Chanute, Kansas Dear Bills; I read with interest in Mre McBride's sport comment dated December 11, 1940, in which you say that "Phog Allen is a prevaricator when he says he never subsidized a basketball player. I happen to.be in @ position to know that he hase" With that statement from you I would appreciate it, yes, in fact I would insist that you write Mre McBride and tell him about all the knowledge that you have regarding any subsidizing that I dide I am per= fectly willing that Mr. McBride print every word that you write and I will exercise the same optione Doubtless you may refer to the case of Ralph Millere So that Mre McBride will have full information regarding this discussion I am send ing him a carbon copy of this letter I am writing youe If my memory serves me correctly, I recall that I was invited to your home for dinner one Summday eveninge At that dinner were a number of Chanute people who were desirous of seeing Ralph Miller attend the Universitye I attended that meeting and discussed with Ralph Miller the advantages of attending the Universitye This was in the presence of eight or ten of your friends whom you had asked ine At no time during any of my discussion | did I mention subsidation in any shape or forme There was no promise of a job by me nor was I consulted by you or any other individual regarding a . job or a subsidy for Miller, I learned later, indirectly, that there was a group of Chanute businessmen who desired to help him in collegee I was not a party to this knowingly or otherwise. There were no intermediariesse All I did was talk to him about the advantages of the University and I did it in an. open and frank way, making no promises and working with no ey not even you, toward an easy job or a subsidy for Miller. If you deny this fact then I withhold the inherent right to characterize your assertions in the same manner that you have characterized minée I still stand on my statement that I have never subsidized a basketj ball playere Very corfially yours, hysical Educgfion and Recreation Varsity Basketball Coa Dee. 12,1779 Mr, Bill Gray : Sunshine Mantel Co. ‘ Chanute, Kan, Dear Bill: I read with interest Mr. McBride's sport comment dated Dec. ll, 1940 , in which you say that "Phog" Allen is a prevaricator when he says he has never subsidized a basketball player. I happen to know that he has ." | With that statement from you I would appreciate it, yes, in fact I would insist, that you write Mr. McBride and tell him about all the Imowledge that you have régarding subsidizing that I did. I am perféctly willing that lir. McBride print every word that you write and I will excersize the same option . ; Doubtless you may refer to the case of Nalph Miller. So that Mr, McBride will have full information regarding this discussion 1 am sending Mie him a carbon copy of the letter I am writing to you. If my memory serves me correctly, I recall that I was invited to your home for dinner one Sunday evening. AT that dinner were a number of Chanute people whe were desirious of seeing Ralph Miller attend the University. I attended that meeting and discussed with Ralph Miller the adavantages of attending the Universit... This was in the presence of eight or ten of your friendswhom you had asked in. At no time during any of my discussion did I mention subsidization in any shape or form. There was no promise of a job by me nor was I consulted by you or any other individ- ual regarding a job or subsidization for Miller, ~ I learned later,indirectly, that there was a group of Chanute business men who desired to help him in college. I was not a party to this ,knowingly or otherwise. There were no intermediaries and all I did was talk to him about the davantages of the University and I did it in an opens and frank way, making no promises and working with no one, not even youp If you deny this fact then I withhold the in- herent right to characterize your assertions in the same manner that you have charac- terized mine . | : I still stand on my statement that I have never subsidized a basketball player. Very cordially yours; Forrest C. Alien Wna.M.GRAY, PRESIDENT L.BAILEY GRAY, Vice Pres. — A.F. LEVERENZ, Secy & TREA. ae R.T. BROWN, Factory Surv. WHOLESALERS. GENERAL OFFICES & FACTORY CHAN UTE, KANSAS CAANUTE, KANsS. December 18, 1940 7 Mr. Forrest C. Allen, Director of Physical Education, Lawrence, Sansas. iy dear Phog: Your letter of December 14th made me very happy and is further evidence that you are both a scholar and a gentlemen. Such a mess as 1 was unwittingly drawn into you of course can appreciate could not have been other than distasteful to me and it certainly is gratifying to me-- Since such an incident did occur--that the other party con- cerned was big enough to appreciate my position and gentleman enough to forgive and forget the entire matter without Causing rupture between friends as you so clearly Stated in next to last paragraph of your December 14th letter. If I fail to see you sooner, 1 certainly want to be in Lawrence,January 16th to see your team trim Missouri but in any event, you may rest assured that I will make it a special point to see you the very first time I am in Lawrence. Incidentally, for your personal information, since Mir. Sidney S. Linscott of Erie, Kansas, very apparently wrote me a letter dated December 13th for your benefit, I would like for you to know that the envelope carrying me this December 13th dated letter shows Erie postmark of 6:00 P. M. December 16th. 'Nuf said. Wishing you and your family a most enjoyable Christmas season, I ask to remain Sincerely yours, WMG: ANG THE SUNSHINE MANTLE COMPANY Chanute, Kansas December 18, 1940 "Mrs Forrest Cs Allen Director of Physical Education lawrence, Kansas My dear Phog: Your letter of December 14th made me very happy and is further evidence that you are both a scholar and a gentlemane Such a mess as I was wwittingly drawn into you of course can appreciate could not have been other than distasteful to me and it cer-— tainly is gratifying to mes-since such an incident did occur-sthat the other party concerned was big enough te appreciate my position and gehtleman enough to forgive and forget the entire matter without causing rupture between friends as you so clearly stated in next to last paragraph of your December 14th letters | _ _ IfTI fail to see you sooner, I certainly want to be in Lawrence, January 16th to see your team trim Missouri but in any event, you may rest assured that I will make it a special point to see you the very first time I am in Lawrence, | : a i a Incidentally, for your personal informtion, since Mr. Sidney Se Linscott of Erie, Kansas, very apparently wrote me a letter dated December 15th for your benefit, I would like for you to kmow that the envelope carrying me this December 13th dated letter shows Erie postmark of 6:00 P.M. December 16th, ‘auf said, _ Wishing you and your family a most enjoyable Christmas season, I ask to remain Sincerely yours, _ (signed) Wing M, (Bill) Gray WiG:ANG ‘ I never did like the Betas. I contributed $15.00 per mo for three 9 MOe periods, 05.00. Never even asked Bill what he did with ite Wonder if Ralph got it all? I understood he got $40 per mo’ for 8 yearse _ _. Sidney Se Linseott, President | - @arl V. Rice, Vice President WOMB STATE BANK _ LeTe Linscott, Cashier =e COPY - Decenber 13, 1940 My dear “T have been reading the newspaper reports of your controversy with Phog, Allen with great chagrine “Phe e ins done so much for Kee and you have done so little that it 412 behooves you to stir up dirte cS ee @ pinnacle of publicity, to became a marked man, and had he been permitted to have quietly gone and fought his way from the bottom up, in place of from the top down, he personally and KeUe generally would have written a different storys Now why perseoute Ralph further? It would seem this would have been @ wonderful time for you to have pondered over the old adage that “Silence is Golden.® Ag I recall you were the original man of the campaign to send Ralph ~- Miller to KeUs, and you told me you were sitting by the phone when I wags . solicited to contribute to such a fund. Phog Allen had nothing to do with it, nor did the Universitye I made my checks payable to you personally, and they were so endorsed and no other endorser exeept the collecting banks. As near ag I can figure I contributed about 35% of the fund. Further, being the only Democrat in the “association”, it devolved upon me to fight, bleed and die with my political friends to get him, © Republican family, a job with the Highway to offset his offers with Chicago, Louisiana and California, I sacrificed several political — friendships but got the job done, on the theory that I wes loyal to my Alma Maters = Yow for you to start something that is so umecessary, and can accone -plish no good plus lots of muck, seems to me to be a base betrayal of the friends that helped you at that time, helped you with their time, their energy and their | The dinner party at your house, to which you were kind enough to invite me, and which I enjoyed, seemed to me to be rather a rushing party than one under ‘the auspices of the Athletic Department of the University of Kansas. Every adult present, except yourself, was a member of the one fraternity, and later Ralph joined that fraternitye : 3 | , Really it seems to me that the very nice thing for you to do, out of -vespeot for the friends who stood by you when you wanted them to, would be to just | Phog Allen is the outstanding Basket Ball Coach in the country and KeU. is very fortunate to keep hime of the University, and is entitled to the support of every alumnus and alumna, If Coach Henry can get the support of the alumni as he has the student body, he may yet build a football team, but if they all chaff at him, it will be unsung and wa SaaS ho Gebhenand Siu Gibte be ond tues undo & boiiilant records CES cca chek anek G0 date tor fous tho tates be shanks marked him, and his team mates were inclined to envy, classing him as teachers favorites. Imay be wrong, but if he had had just a common chance, he would have had a brilld aa ee I trumt you will think this over and try to do ronething Ber your eS af dest regards, T amy Very truly yours, | (signed) Sidney Se Linscott Copy to Fels Allens 1a catasihsmnmnnd ints ta ‘I mower did like the Betas. I contributed $15.00 rmo for three 9 moe periods, 54 Never even asked Bill what he | did with ite Wonder if Ralph got it ali? 1 understood he got $40 per mo for 8 yearte September 25, 1940 Director of Physical Education and Recreation Varsity Basketball Coach FCAsig Ene DEPARTMENT OF ATHLETICS KANSAS STATE COLLEGE MANHATTAN, KANSAS September 24, 1940 Mr. Louis Menze Mr. George Edwards Mr. W. H. Browne Mr. Bruce Drake Dr. Forrest C. Allen Gentlemen: After extensive study and experimenting with the fan-shaped backboard I am convinced that its adoption with the present proposed dimensions would be a backward step in the game's progress. Anything that tends to reduce scoring hurts the game, and my findings have proved beyond a doubt that such would be the case should the new board be adopted. My decision is based on the following findings: 1. The new board is a poor target. When shooting from an angle the black ring is hard to see since the white background is eliminated. Medium-long and long angle shots become as difficult to convert as corner shots. 2. The new board does not have the necessary banking space for angle shots, and therefore, tends to discourage players from making such attempts. 3. The small board increases the number of out-of-bounds, therefore, there is more whistle blowing and too many unnecessary inter- ruptions which the spectators do not like. 4. The small backboard cuts down the number of rebound attempts which are thrilling to watch and an aid to scoring. 5. I have yet to find the player who likes the new board. To me the above points out-weigh the advantages the fan- shaped board would give to the spectators' visibility. Should the new board be adopted, resulting in decreased scoring, I doubt if we would need to worry much about filling the end seats. I am heartily in favor of removing the one-foot space below the basket and would be inaccord with thé modified board, but simply feel that our Rules Committee has done a little too much whittling for the good of the game. The new board's proponents have _ misrepresented it by claiming it to be a better target, thus promoting greater accuracy. Until a more suitable, modified board is presented this corner will cast a negative vote regarding its adoption. Sincerely 7 4 ack Gardner Head Coach of Basketball + JGsLR