October 18, 1941 Mr. John Kline 20 E. lst St. Hutchinson, Kansas Dear John, Thank you very much for your very nice letter of October 16. It was fine ef you to write as you did. No boy who has ever come to the University has been more of a joy and a pleasure and as little trouble as you were, John. You were straightforward, aggressive, and dependable and when you spoke I always knew where you stood. You've had a fine bringing-up, John, and that's a great heritage for a boy. Yes, you will find that your four years at college will be the happiest of your life, and the memories will alweys be very dear to you I'm sure. You were a splendid student and a fine athlete . and a real gentleman. I do not know what more parents could want for their possession. 3 | I've been keeping pretty close tab on you and know that you have enlisted in the Naval Reserves. I know that you're to be at Northwestern on Jan. 22. We're to pley DePaul University on Jan, 31, and I hope that you can arrange for the evening a leave if possible. We would be indeed happy to have you as our guest. At the present time I do not know where we'll stay, but you'll find that out I'm sure. | I am sending you a copy of our basketball schedule hoping that you will be able to visit Lawrence before you go to Chicago and see some of our games. By the way, Jane is married as you doubtless know. Her husband is Elwood Mons and they're living at the Marshall Field Garden Apartments, 1423 Hudson Ave. Apte SA . Chicago. Her telephone number is Mohawk 7525. I know that she - would be glad to say, “hello” to you. ‘ We get letters from Bob and Eleanor quite often and they're extremely happy. They bought season tickets to the football games and they say that Pennsylvania has a real team. ~ They saw the Kansas-Temple game and enjoyed part of it. Ralph Miller's passing was superbe Bob's address is 44 Morris Hall, Philadelphia, and Bleanor's address is 415 Sergeant Hall, Uni- versity of Penn. , Philedelphia. Bleanor is delighted with her school and Bob works from 6 in the morning till 5 in the, evening without time out except for one hour for lunche He's very happy; but says that a date their costs a minimum of $5.00. Quite a difference from a show and coke date in Lawrence. Give my kindest regards to ‘your lovely family. With all good wishes for your continued success I am Sincerely yours, Pca/pe \ \ : 7 i | | { | { : WILL S. THOMPSON Will = Thompson- [line Pacieance Agency : INSORORS N. N. KLINE 20 East First HUTCHINSON, KANSAS October 16, 1941 Drs Fe C. £lien Kansas University Lawrence, Kansas Dear Dr. Allen, Since this is the middle of October I imagine that you and the boys are wéll started with basketball practice. It sure seems strange that I am not in school and practicing right with the rest of the boyse I know that you are going to have a fine year, and I wish that I could be back on the team, but I guess everyone has to grow up sometime. In writing this letter I want to thank you for all of the many things that you did for me while I was in school. I know that I couldn't have gone all the four years that I did without your fine md willing helpe I want you to know that I really appreciated all of your assistamce, and I hope that someday I may in part be able to repay some of the kindness and help that you gave to mee My four years in college were the greatedt of my life so far, and I will keep the memories of them forever. The trips, the comradeships, the exciting games, the practical experiences, and above all others your wise council will always stay with me. On the 13th of August I enlisted in the Naval Reserve, ard I am to report for an officer's training school at Northwestern U. on January 22, 1942. Right now I am working for my father in the insurance business during the daye Iam also filling in as temporary physical director at the local YMCA. Althgether I am putting in about 14 hours a day. It is quite interesting work «s well as profitable, but my spare time comes few and far between. Will you please give my regards<:to Mrs. Allen, all of your family, md to the boys on the team. Again I thank you for everything, and if at anytime I can help you, I would appreciate being able to do so. Sincerely yours, Che! fede 7 November 12, 1941 when Fred Kelly spoke to them. I made the notation on a slip of paper and put it in my pocket and I was very sure that I was going to take note of this and phone Professor OBrien, but Ifeiled to do it is why that doubtless you received a call. I am very sorry about it, but I want you te know that the reason you didn't hear about t was on my account of ny failure to follow throughe 4 é Sincerely, Director ¢ Physical Education and Recreation FcA/pg Varsity Basketball end Baseball Coach October 23, 1941 Mr. J. E. Kissell Portis, Kansas Dear Mr. Kissell, I'm sorry that I've failed to answer your good letter of the 15th instant. I've been so tied-up in drives, speech-making ete, that I've not been in my office long enough to complete any job ° ‘ I appreciate your writing regarding the All-Star basketball game in Chicago, Friday night Nov. 28. Of course, this is an advertising stunt just like the All-Star game, and the procedes are supposed to go to charity. I believe the Chicago Tribune's charity on football is the Milk Fund, but the wise ones tell me that the fund is “milked” of all the cream before charity sees {%. o Bob is in the medical school at Pennsylvania, Engleman is with Phillips, and Kline is with the Navy. They bring those boys to Chicago for two weeks training, but none of our boys are in | @ position to spend two weeks, taking the time from their edue cation or business. I'm on the board to help select these All-° Star college men, but I feel that it would be a reflection on a boy if he had two weeks to take out and do nothing but. prace tise and play. A boy would have to be out of work to be able te accept a proposition of this kind. Since I'm on the board I will vote for a group of men and then they're going to boil it down to 18 to be voted on again. I'm doing it just because they asked me to and not because I have much enthusiasm for ite If you need eny additional information I'll be glad to give ite This is the general remark I make about Kemper. If the postman stopped to kick at every dog that barked he'd never get his mail delivered. I quite agree with you that when poor games are officiated, Kemper will officiate them. Pe en I believe we were all disappointed in the Nebraska and Marquette games. We'll see what we can do against Iowa State and I'm hoping that Kansas will come out of the slump and play a bang-up game. We need it for the morale of the team and the morale of the students. There is a feeling on the part of some that Kansas will do just that. I hope it clears up so that we will have a good daye A good day means a good crowd and a good crowd means money which the ‘Athletic Association could use very handily. Now, I want to tell you a few things about Max. Max is a most im- proved basketball player -- the most improved of all the boys back ale from last year. He's a dandy! and his passing is wonderful. His fundamentals are fine and he can hit. So, I'm expecting some things from that boy this year. He's going to be diffie cult. to keep off the pleying squad. If he continues to go as he's going and if he continues to improve he'll be right in with the first string. I'm happy indeed to see him make such strides ané I kmow you and Mrs. Kissell will be happy. We hope that both of you can come up for some of our gamese Yes, Mrse Allen and I have missed our children, but it's the lew ef life for these youngsters to get on their own and we're happy that they are able to do it. Being away from home is a fine thing for every youngster and we believe they'll make the adjustment away from home and be better for it. We received word that Beb was elected president of his medical class. There were 120 members of the freshman elass, so we feel happy that Bob has made his place. And by the way, this past week Milton was elected president of the senicr law claes so of course the father is happy, but the mother is very very pleased. I didn't know that either one of my youngsters were politicians, but if either of them are, Bob would be the one that would be the last to ask for an office. — Ce Give my kindest regards to Mrs. Kissell and tell her that we'll be looking for both of you to come, up to some of the games. With ald good wishes to you and to her I an : Sincerely, : Lat , Director of Physical Education and Recreation FCA/pg hve Varsity Basketball end Baseball Coach November 21, 1941. Mre Je EB. Kisseil, Portis, Kansas. Dear Hr. Kissell; Thank you very much for your very good letter of the 17th; also for the clipping enclosed. It is very interesting. : I will not write you e lengthy letter, but I do went — to tell you that I enjoy your letters very much and I hope to see you here Saturday for the Missouri game. I cofild not see how Kensas State could lose, but in reviewing the case in my mind I can see how, as you Shy, Kansas State was “just right” for what happened. It was interesting about the way they boomed Jack Gardner for a field house, wasn't it? But if we hadn't been as luck as the mischief and as torrid as hot tar they would have licked us. < The last two years that we played Gardner out there at Menhattan our boys have done the impossible - almost. So some day if they catch us off our stride they are liable to lick us. : We should have a fairly good year in basketball. I ‘am not rounding the boys any too rapidly, waiting for the coming of the men from the football squad before we co all out and in dead earnest this year. All of our boys are improved over lest year, and I believe that Sollenberger is going to be a dandy. Of course, Evans | and Miller will strengthen the squad perceptibly, and these other boys are coming along in good shape. Charlie Walker, Jolm Buescher, Vance Hall, 7. P. Hunter - all are improved over last year. And our freshmen of last year are coming along in good shepe. Max is improv- ing, comparatively speaking, although he is not up with some of last year’s gang. But he is flashy, intelligent, aggressive, and he is an A No. 1 fighter. He gets a little over-anxious on certein play situations, but when he is out and on the court driving and fighting for that ball he is just as versatile as most any of them. He will make a great player for Kansas before he finishes. I will make that prediction to you. | I was interested in reading about the time you with Kansas Wesleyan. That must have been in 1909 or 1910, was it not? : , tes FRE PCA:AH freshmen and Poiana te I em hoping that you will get up for the game between and the varsity. I know that you will enjoy it because the game and it has been a little while since you him play. ‘With all good wishes to Mrs. Kissell and yourself, I Sincerely yours, Director of Physical Education and Recreation, Varsity Basketball end Baseball Coach. Portis, Kansas, November Seventeenth, Nineteen Forty-One. Dr. F. Cs Allen, Lawrence, Kansas. Dear Doctor Allens: I have your letter returning the letter from Chicago as regards the Kansas boys. Thanks for same tho it was not very necessary;to re- turn it. I was glad they recognized the merits @f the three Kansas mene I agree with you that I think the 'milk fund! is run thru the cream separator before the 'netf profit is arrived at, I had been intending to drop you a line and send the enclosed clipping from an Arizona paper, We sent some representatives from Portis to Phoenix lately to a Water meeting and in the papers they brot back I ran onto this article by McGovern on football, or rather it is comment by the editor on what McG.:said. It is very good and thot din case you have not seen it) that you might like to read it. Football will always be a problem as regards the injuries and that is the thing that worries me. I like a good football game and I think most anyone does but I think it should be controlled and the rules taken care of to avoid all possible serious injury. And the commercialism should be removed entirely if possible from all school, college and amateur sports, I shuddered Saturday when I heard that "Evans is hurt" and so on. I feared that a fine career might be stopped or handicapped by a twisted knee or back or arm injury. By the way, the KU--Aggie game was as much of a thriller as I have heard in a long timee I was’here at Portis and got it off and on,via radio and I was first up, then down until the man finally said %t is over and KU wins 20/16, Tt was a fine tonic for the school and I was glad for all of you and Gyn Henry and all of them, I wish more games could be like that and I was proud that it was all a Kansas affair and that likely nowhere in the nation was there a better show that day. I think maybe KU had some luck but at that the decisions as I could pick them up, seemed to go against Kansas, that is at crucial moments. And there near the end of the game when we thot there was but one play left and Kansas passed to aman in end zone and announcer first said, It looks goods; then he said, No it fell out of his hands, I think it was a pass to the : Swede Lindquist. My heart sank then as I thot it over and some fellows standing arouyg (for KU) cussed. But then that final run by the little boy and we sat stone blind, deaf and dumb until the announcer had re- peated it several times. I had anticipated it in a way. Do you know those Kansas State people are the most gullible in the world. They can lose all and then win a game and they come out of it and you would think they would never lose again. I think the stage was just right for what happened. I recall they got Jack Gardner there for basketball and won a game and started boom for a million dollar field house and then they fell flat and did not get the house and lost a lot of boys and also a lot of games. But I guess it is no bad habit to be that way, thom this time I think they let over-confidence hurt them some. Pee = —-—~-- Sr ee eae ESTs z - F. C. Allen, page two, Nov. 17th, '4l. When I get started on’the typewriter, Doc, I breathe heavily and will finish what I have in mind, and I might say that this is not to bother you for answer as I know you are busy about eight days a week. I just saw in paper you have lot of engagements and so on right away now. I can't figure what you will do in basketball. I feel that to lose three men like Allen, Engleman and Kline would be a blow that you could not offset this season. I can't see anyone who will score like Engleman tho you might have two forwards who would score as much as bhe two last year, that is two high mene And you might be as strong at guard with Sollenberger having another year of experience, but granting you can replace Kline then I can't see how you can replace Allen at center. You might have a strorpl\el1~around team this year than last, but I hardly can see it now, tho of course I am guess- ing largely on just the names of mene I think when all of those new men get going say by next year, if they all stay, that you ought to go pretty good. For this year I will be satisfied if you can finish well up in the Six, that is third or secondf I have not yet figured out who will be first or maybe second. In a letter sometime back I noted what you said about Max and of course was glad and hope that he can make some sort of creditable record there. I know that he was a fine hi player but sometimes in college a’boy does not go so well. I have been in basketball a long time, I guess about nearly B5 years in hi school, college and then the Dynamos for now 27 years. It would make a nice ending to basketball for if Max could make a good average record there. Of corse I will go”liking basketball after he leaves there and as long as I can I spose. Say, I played with Ks. Wesleyan against KU in the old Oakdale fair exhibition room in Salina when Tommy Johnson played. Tom made 18 that night and KWU also made 18 but other KU “mne made 12 more so it was 30 to 18 for KU. Can't recall other Kansas,players now and it seems maybe a fellow named Hamilton was coah or was in charge of them, I know we thot Johnson was a whiz. Kindest regards and again let me say that this is not written to expect a reply and I may owe you apology for taking time even to run over this rambling. Hope you go great in basketball and I will watch it close and may get down some time, tho it is aglong trip. I had tickets for game there last Saturday but felt could not get awaye Regards to Mrs. Allen and all and again best wishese Sincerely, Hovember 14, 1941 Mr. J. B. Kissell ; Portis, Kansas Dear Mr. Kissell, I am returning the letter which you so kindly lent me.~ I, of course, was quite interested in what Mr. Wilson had to say about the boys. I will be expecting to see you the next time you come to Lawrence. Drop by the office. Thank you. With all good wishes for you and Mrs. Kissell 1 am Sincerely, Director of Physical Education and Recreation FCA/pg Varsity Basketball and Baseball Coach PUBLISHED EVERY THURSDAY THE PORTIS INDEPENDENT J.E.KISSELL, EDITOR, OWNER AND PUBLISHER PORTIS, OSBORN Co., KANSAS October the Fifteenth, Nineteen Hundred Forty-one. DR. F. G. ALLEN, Lawrence, Kansas. Dear Sir and Friend: iI frequently feel called upon to write you about one thing or a- néther but generally get too busy to get a letter off. Right now I have in mind the all=star basketball game in Chi- cago the night of Friday, November 28th3 the contestants being an allestar group of 1941 college senhors and the champion, or so-= called cmampion Detroit Eagles, I guess you know about it as I see by paper you are on some advisory committee in connection with it. Are the KU senhor boys, that is Bob Allen and Engleman, eligi- ble foythis game and if so, do they care ye take part, so far as you know, if they were chosen--either of them, I r@ad the Chicago papers and see a good deal in them about the game and thot that if the Kansas boys were eligible and cared to take part, that some move might be made in their favor. . I know a number of fellows there that I could at least suggest names to. If you can give me some information on this, I will be glad. I see that Gene Kemper devoted a columm the other day to you and football and I was amused. at some of the conclusions he drew. He ev- idently wants to make a big noise that sounds good to him but which will back-fire with some of his readers. You ought to have Kemper referee all of your basketball games and then maybe he could give you a boost????? You understand of course that I am joking on that be- cause, though I have seem worse referees of basketball than Kemper, right now I can't recall where it was. I was of course disappointed “aturday in the KU--NU game. From this rather long range, I wonder if maybe KU is not putting too mech dependence in Miller's passing. I noticed a wise crack in.some paper that Kansas had only Miller and a prayer and that Miller forgot part of the prayere The Kans. running attack was not very strong and it seems to me thay ought to develop a little more in the way or reserves with as many men as they have out. Of course I am just second guessing and at long range, and this is just confidential. Fine fall weather here and flowers still pretty. Some volunteer wheat and bardBy has headed and if stays warm, might be cut, that is with mature grain, by last of month. ie Clipping enclosed from Chicago paper and any suggestion you have will be appreciated. Have been wondering if you and Mrs. Allen are not r with the children all gone. Kindest regards, * . CHICAGO -HERALD-AMERICAN, ANDOVER 1234 —Chicago’s Most Widely Read Evenin, agers | to Play 0 _CORK TIPS , -By Jimmy ‘Corcoran ‘Grid Greats of Today | Pupil Who Realizes | Recall. Heroic. Feats | Dreams of Master Of Other Campaigns Produces 1941 Style 1 os ‘TUESDAY, OCTOBER 44, 1941 “ awk ty - REAM FIV 10 FACE PROS BY LEO FISCHER. ..Did you ever see an All-Ameri- can team of any kind’ actually in action? Once again The Herald-Amerti- can is going to present that oppor- tunity to. some 22,000 spectators Star basketball classic at the Chi- cago Stadium. meets the world’s champion De- troit Eagles will be an All-Ameri- can team in the flesh becomes more and more apparent as one looks over the poll for places. The initial standing, announced yes- terday, shows that the leaders are easily the answer to a basketball coach’s prayer. DREAM QUINTET. How would you like, for si stance, to have a team on which .|Joe Stampf of Chicago, Gene Englund of Wisconsin, George Glamack of North Carolina, Bob Richmond of Illinois and Frank Baumholtz of Ohio U. were in the starting lineup? And when you needed. replacements you could call on Elmer Gainer of De Paul, ~ |Ossie Schectman of Long Island, ae Ed Riska. of Notre Dame, Gus Broberg of Dartmouth, or a dozen others of equal ability? It isn’t certain, of course, that all of these boys will be on the squad—but at least, it gives you an idea of what sort of basketball team will be in- action against the world’s: champs before: a crowd which should set a new record for basketball atendance. — COVER. ENTITY rH nares on the night of November 28 when| it stages its second annual All-| % That the college squad which| | 1-Star Team Leahy Rates / Grid Teams" _ BY FRANK LEARY, : Theorie of Athletics, University of Leonard Ss Benders Notre Dame, oue, 1941, King Features Syndicate, Ties Humble Coals, 1 1-8 ‘NOTRE DAME. Ind. Oct. 12 - Marc trail is pij ce! ce: fe: pit WE cir = mi grt eni a: tot Tan The eighteen men who will make up the collegiate delegation |. are being» chosen by a board of sports writers and coaches who cover évery séction of the coun-|) try: The initial standings in the poll are based on a point system in which 12 is awarded for first choice and the remainder are graded down to one for tenth po- sition. The list is now going back to the members of the board, for _ja second tabulation, in which eacn member will select his first and second teams. In .the meantime—a word | of |warning. ‘Tickets are going at an amazing rate, despite the fact that -loop box. offices will not be opened until some time this week. Mail orders are being accepted and are being filled in the order of receipt. Accompanied by check or money order, they should be sent NOW to Ticket Manager, All-Star Basket- ball Game, 326 W. Madison st., Chicago. Don’t wait feo long! That’s a és se ment tip. January 23, 1942. Ure Je By Kissell, Portis, Kansas. Dear Mr. Kissell: ae i i ailil 6 if fl cH iu 4 5 gee fh ig aii ing Hn pat 8 ie ali apge 3 4OR Air His ay4gt oa Hn un ail faga unt Beads 3 Wai story and I will not bother but confidentially I am eenker, the athletic dir~ will give you most of the ector, and my inside dope. | “Thenke for your good wishes. have a chance to get together end discuss some of the confidential I an hoping that we will Sincerely yours, x With all good wishes, T am things real soon. Director of Physical Education and Recreation, Varsity Basketball and Baseball Coach. POCA: AH Portis, Kansas, January 22nd, 1942. Dr. F. C. Allen, Lawrence, Kansas, Dear Sir and Friend: Been intending to write you long ago and advance some of my ideas on the basketball season, your team, the Tucker af- fair and so on, but just failed to get or 'take' the time, The last day or two I have been getting mad over the ree ports of the actions of the Iowa State people and the kid stuff they pulled up there (according to reports I hear and read) and today I read in KC Star about some angle on Sollenberger that I had not yet heard and do not understand. However, it seems they are all after Kansas and I feel we may yet beat the field tho at the present time my crystal ball would be ga tie maybe between any two of KU = OU and Iowa or even a triple tie between the three, Of course I fear now the game at OU next month as that will likely be a game ‘of the ages' so to speak from the various angles chiefly the Tucker affair. I feel it will be almost impos- sible for Kansas to win it as they will win THAT game at all costs and any hazards, I hope that Iowa and OU will split and I will figure Kansas to win from Iowa at KU. That would make it a triple tie unless some lower team upsets which they may. I think KState may upset Iowa at Manhattan and also that Nebraska might win a gamo from either OU or iowa, Some way, too, I feel that KState may take us (KU) one game this year due to the law of averages and then it is an alle state game and they will be primed against Kansas as they always are. And don't take them lighty there on the Hill this week end. They have all to gain and nothing to lose and will go ‘all Out.’ It is some race and I am getting more enthused daily and almost pray nights of games till I get a score. Something must have been wrong at Iowa. I have hoped Max would write me a little of the side gossip on the game but so far he has not written since then. I guess Max thinks he has gotten into some pretty fast basket- ball and I don't know whether he will ever be able to imitate a good player. I hope he still tries hard as that is all I preach to him. Tucker deal: I appreciate your stand, absolutely and I still think, Doc, that it has not been settled correctly. They handled it like a hot potato and tossed it around and finally KState said okay as far as they are concerned. However, Tucker actually did appear in game for OU the first semester and he and OU both certainly knew he was not eligible, Here is what I wonder: What is there to prevent some other big Six club protesting after whilé Doctor Allen--page two. or even next year or even in his senior year that he per- formed as an ineligible for OU in first semester of 1941 and then have another wrangle come up and have all facts dug up and him eventually declared entirely ineligible? That is an angle I was thinking of. I do not feel badly at him personally, thot he is somehwat big-feeling regards one - Tucker. But he is so good that we all want to see him play. And then too, a boy is a boy, and we mst overlook his kiddish acts. He was wrongly informed. And too I'll guess you that somebody is putting something on the line and I think they had promised to do so at State, State lost him beaause the students there razzed him for being a little swell- headed and too much for Tucker. And he got sore and left. I am sure that I kmow enough about it to say that to you con- fidentially. Gardner tried every means to keep him, Then too his uncle who is somewhat friendly told me most of the story and it sonded rather monetary. Then I had a letter from Gerald hime self which I had intended to show you but I do not know where it ever got to. That letter was merely wanting me to have Max go to KState as he (Tucker) thot it was greatest place in world to go to college. Nothing wrong with the laéter except it indicated that Tucker is rather changeable, I think Gardner may have had Tucker do it. I am going soon to Osborne to the annual ‘frying of the fish' and think will be some there from your Hill. You recall I asked you once to come and sometime wish you could as it is a fine event but know you are too distant and too busy to do so, I willt eat an extra trout or two for youe Guy Keeler will be there with some choice stories ~ spose. Say, I said this would be short and see it is now too long. I guess I am a poor judge of distance, I guess you heard what our Gretta Garbo said to Hitler when she was in Germany a few years ago, namely: "I tank aye vill go home now." Well, that is what Hitler has just said to Joe Stalin. Don't mention it. I think your team this year will be a fine one and I feel though that you lack a powerful scoring gumrd. As I get it, Sollb. is not a scorer, but good on defense, I never saw him play, I have been little disappointed in Evans but judge from what I read and hear that he will come along okay and be plenty good. I was amused about Ettinger and wondpged if he were on the pay-roll as a coach. He is just another big kid with wrong ideas. At times on the campus I rather like him, but he is a problem. Must close with kindest regards and hope you have great luc k from here out. For a while I had visions of the KC -~ NCAA and still think it not impossible. Wish now we (KU) d win all remaining big six games. Creighton and Ok.-<-A. ; Very truly, February 25, 1942. Mr. J. EB. Kissell, Portis, fansas.: Dear Mr. Kissell: ; ‘I am sending you a copy of a letter in confidence that I have written to Max. He is staying up very late at, night in these bull sessions at the Phi Psi house. He does not wear a hat, and catehes cold easily. He is not taking as geod care of himself as he should. | | _ In other words, he is not putting all of himself in the two main things that should occupy most of his time -- his seheol work and if he has any time left, his basketball. \ The fact that he must work also takes some time away from his studies. Therefore, it behooves him to not dissipate hie time a@ energy in tull sessions, which are needless. I say they are needless at this stage of the game because he needs the time for other more important things. Please do not reveal to him the fact that I have sent you this letter. He is not improving as rapidly in basketball because he is spending his time and energy doing . other things. Maybe he is a little bit discouraged because he hasn't gotten into some of the games more, but if he would bend every energy that he has toward the vital and necessary things he would break into a game more often. Jack 5ellard was highly discouraged and really very unhappy because he was not getting to play. I held out no more promise to him even with his exceptional height then I have Max. Yet he was one of the deciding factors in our Oklahoma Aggie game, and his getting into the ; to him as it was to any of the spectators or his teammates there at the game. But he was in when he got the call. That : in. Now dontt misunderstand me and think that I am displeased with Max. I am not. a work to date because he can do better. I want to assure you of my constant vigil in aking tid ‘eniy: tee’ What I dims Dak yon Wey as well un te other boys on my squad. ith all good wishes, I am Sincerely yours, Director of Physical Edueation and Recreation, Varsity Basketball end Baseball Coach. February 23, 1942. | You cannot fly with the eagles in the day time and habitet with the owls at night and still have your equi- poise physically, mentally and emotionally. : You are doing a swell job, Mex, but now comes the tine to crit rather than to commend. You remember that you had trouble last yoar with you stuiies. You are out for basket- Director of Physica). Education end Recreation, Varsity Basketball end Baseball Coach. g 5 Portis, Kansas, February the 26th, nineteen hundred forty-two, DR ® F, Cy ALLEN, Lawrence, Kansas. University Kansas: a : # a 4 F 2 1 DEAR DOCTOR ALLEN: Your letter of a few days ago together with the copy of the letter to Max, came yesterday and it was read by me with considerable interest, and also a lot of sorrow, I guess the sad part of it to me was, that you had been forced to write to Max that way, and the sadder part was that to me it signalled his demise from the basketball stage and erased from view any dreams I might have had (and did have) as to him being a ‘sometime clever basketball player, ani cei a Sets I had seen the handewriting on the wall, though, for some time, even as far back as last year, when I felt he did not do much in Freshmen basketball, but of course I managed to try to think that he would some time hit a atride that would equal what I thought he might be able to do. Then after a visit there on the Hill recently and seeing Max on the court for the first time in about two years, I realized that he just did not have the stuff to play with your team or to ever make a player of Big Six caliber, The last picture I had in my mind of Max in connection with the gamewas that of a driving, feinbing, fighting player who could get his hands right up around the goal to lay and cut them in there, and he seldom ever missed them more than a hair when he missed, It did not seem to me that it was the same fellow, though I'll admit I likely expected too much. I did not think he was fence post out on the floor, but he was not getting any of the results which he did out here the last two years in school, I know, too, that you will say-4That was high school out there and no competition; down here it is different.! SS A alia eae an asi I was glad for your letter and also glad that you had written Max, and I hoped that you had also collared him personally on the subject, though I spose you have that sort of thing figured out the best way. I was greatly surprised, though, at the portion of the letters which referred to his neglie gence and lack of interest and lagwk of condition, and I JUST CAN'T figure it out. I never did go in for that sort of thing. I do not know what you mean by 'bulksessions! but take it to be 'a gathering of male animals,.' If it is for tom-f6o0lery, hell-raising, tobacco, beer or any of that stuff that goes with it, I am opposed to the whole thing. And I always thought that Max was too. Out here he was a good trainer and radiated all sorts of enthusiasm on the floor, There I thought he was rather slow and lagging and it seemed to me he never did raise himself off the floor. Also in tak- ing the ball (3 men) across the floor, his passes were poor, and instead of hitting the waisteline, the other fellow had to reach for them, up, down,back or something. He seemed to be fumbling, while out here I thot he gathered them in like an octopus. On one of the nights, in the pre-game warm-up when your men would go under the goal for shots, they made I think over a hundred straight, except that Max missed some 7 or 8 of his in a row, He was letting loose of the ball low and I don't think he ever got up there and laid it with one hand as I have seen him do here regularly. Once he even splattered the ball up thru the nets from below. e might have been nervous or it might have been an off-night and I wished I might have seen a scrimmage ~ session and I might have formed a different idea, Out here in pre-game werm-up he would at times go thru without a single miss of any type of shot. And we thought he could pass and his eye for the goal was almost errorless, if such a thing can be said, without exaggeration. Page two to F. C. A. «=< Feb. 26th, I guess the differenee is being at the head of the class in a small town and in a poor, ill-lighted, small, narrow, etc. court and at the foot of the class in a big University. I remember now what Gene Johnson (Salina) told me and as it turns out, he was exactly right in the case of Max, though H thot he was bluffing then, and still do, and it just happens that he hit it. I can't recall his words, but it was about this: "Max is a smell-fry boy from a smell town and he won't ever be able to do a good job of warming the bench at Kanses U, The spectators there pay to see their favorite sons play, and the spectators come from the cities," Then he went on to tell me what he could do for Max and offered him three jobs and said he would not have to wopk at any of them. ‘So you can see what I thot of him, Itil say this, Allen, that when I wrote to you I really and honestly thot he could play ball and I was sincere in it and felt he could anywhere and play a good grade of ball with any college team. I now feel ashamed that fhat I talked too early and failed to consider the future, It is peculiar how a fellow can let himself be affected by some such thing as that. I got the letter at noon and read it and tried to foget it that afternoon, That night was a wierd, stormy one, and my people were all away and I went home and tried to reason a little with myself, but could not and I spent a waking night of horror, First I regretted that Max had become careless with his time and himself, but that was not the worst. The horror was that it was a night in which hope died within me that Max might make a record as a basketball player that would be reputable; but by morhing I gave up and knew I had as well forget it. I wondered wherein I had been at fault as I am enough of a Fatalist to feel that maybe the Lord might be punishing me in some way. If the Lord is, I wish he would make it known to me, About that timefit was early morning, and I tumped the radio to get the result of yow game at Stillwater. I heard it right away and that made me feel no betéer, though I had felt that KU might lose that one. But at that, the loss of game meant very little to me in comparison to the loss of a cherished hope, On the Hill there, a While back, many of the boys would talk to me aq bout Max and most of them would brag on him and two of the leading players confided to me that 'he was good enough to be playing.! It made me mad at . them and I have not liked them so well since, for I was sure they were not . telling the truth, and I wondered if they thot that I had no idea of what a . good player looked like, I went on to make a little inguiry from three parties close to the team and asked them, ~~ if Max showed any promise in the 'Bt games he had played in. ere is about what they said: That he did not -= that he was hardly good enough for the B team -= and one said that he would never get any place there because he was very mediocre — and likely on a given night there would not be a spectator in the crowd that ) would care, or be there to see him play. I felt they were sincere in what | they said. Possibly theye were wrong and while I thot they had a little nerve to tell me that, yet I had ‘tasked for it' and so maybe they complied. And right along the same line, in the Kansan of the same date I noticed a little item which might have meant nothing to anyone else. It was ree# gerding the reserve men and what they meant to the strength of the team, In mentioning them, I think all were named with the exception of Max, and I won—- dered if he was so far down the line that he was not worth mentioning and I ) could imagine that maybe he was just a hanger-on. I look the Kansan over — | and so far as I recall since the season opened, 1 nave never seem his name | mentioned, and I Awshed that some day he would make a lot of fouls in practice so they could refer to him in some way, if only as a ruffian or something. | 2 wil iil Page three to F. C. A. February 26th: I believe, Dr. Allen, that you can see what that all ads up to, to me, You will think I am a pessimist, maybe, but I am not, normally, though possibly am now, And I wanted to get it all off my mind at one time. I felt that you sent me the letter because you wanted me to read be-= tween the lines, I hope that Max will finish out this year and try to do his best in practtite, scrimmage or whatever you set him ate I write him frequently and always tell him to try hard and do what he is told to do and to con- serve his time and get sleep, and so on and 60 on. I doubt if any boy's father writes the son more than I do him, and I don't think they give any better advice, unless I do not know what that is. If you feel he continues to be indolent and does not try to train, I guess you had as well dismiss him @rom the group. Am sure I do not need tell you what to do in a case of that kind, I hope greatly that you win at Norman tomorrow night as I feel if you do that you might get the call to KC for the NeaA. Or I guess you could lose and still get it, but I would like to see us beat those rebels down south, Sorry this got so long and I hope it does not burden you. I'll again make some sort of apology for writing to you that Max could pa&ay ball as I do not want you to feel that I can't even recognize a player. Thanks again for the letter and kindest rekards to all, Sincerely, / : June 27, 1942. Mre Wax Kissell, 1409 Eden Court, Topeka, Kansas. 7 Dear Max: . jf i Ses Giivasieteils (eas tes sates Wiaiesci Miller came in this morning telling me that you had been stricken with pneumonia end that they had moved you to Topelite jet © Altes « wAE Macias teu poet camanie oes & wh $00 oc tn. The completion of your education is, I am sure, your prinal cbhjective. 4nd here's hoping that you effect @ , speedy recoverye With all good wishes, I am Fraternally yours, Director of Physical Education, PCA:AE . Varsity Basketball Coach. August 26, 1942. f ee i vaca Portis, Kansas. * fone We Rees I beg to acknowledge your very good letter of August 8th. The reason this has remained unanswered for some time is that my . secretary has bea out on vacation and I have been playing a lot more golf than I should have for prompt.correspondence.. However, I never apologize for those things because a fellow doesn't get.too, much in... _ is Tile ene tel SF ie dace" eds, dno at dna on, cea alen. will do it for him. So I have been keeping in pretty good physical condition for the gagmuas eres education Lee is haere Upe + . < wha Unt you are extremly busy. with your rationing Sienild ‘will Sein. Sia duties. I can appreciate how much criticism _. you get. gongyse ~ctlanagialne ic utedlgpeea eam nscuaics ment weaves - things are not going to suit hin. ; a a ee sity of Kansas. I think it will serve as the right sort of a tonic for hin. Mex is a fine boy and I believe that ho will show his wares this fall. John Buescher has been drafted, but I do not believe that he will pass the physical. However, with the great demand for men he may be put ina limited service classification. They need mm so bedly ‘that I believe they may use him at something, but he has spots on his luhgs that will not permit him to do ‘the heavy duty work of a soldier. | While these patches are incapsulated ani are not active, yet strenuous ee Mex has got a good shot at that quarterback job this year end I am hoping that he Tills the bill. I think he got a little dis- couraged last year, but he should not have. Ne was learning a lot of basketball, but pleying on anybody's second team, of course, is no joy ride for a spirited, enbitious youngster. eS ae ay er doing a good job. — : | le ghd ae gas iceo a oni ee sae to tell you something that transpired last year during spring practice. it mel fine insight into Max's character. Well, I believe I will teil it to you now, but I would not want you to say anything to Max about it because these little delicacies that take place between a coach @2e and player many times are better off never repeated. But you have worried about Max a lot and I believe this will give in his stability. it was during spring practice. We only had nine practice sessions and le hadn't been out too often although he was as diligent and as responsibe as the other boys. I told everyone of the Pellows that if they were behind in their studies I would not want them to come out. It was only the fellows who were up in their studies that as I wented to report. So Max did his full share as much as any of the ether boys. —_ : | ait & . Max has a lot of character, and I believe that he Go a good job this year. He is a fino boy, has a good physique, and will fight, and too, he is very intelligent. So military coordinator for the University. Woodruff is a fine gentleman. He nt, and I think we are especially fortunate to have @ mm such as Woodruff in the Registrar's Office advising young men. He played center on the varsity football team along in 1923-24 and '25, so he is a two~fisted, red-blooded gentleman, and I know he will advise Max correctly, — | ? team because Jack Ballard, Ray Evens and Charlie Black have enlisted in _ the various services, and we will have Sclnellbacher, possibly Bill Brill, not sure about Armand Dixon ~ he may or may not return - doubtful about | - Nance Hall and Sollenberger, but we will have Paul Turner, George Dick, Sparky MoSpadden, formerly of ElDorado, Kenny Thompson and Bob Dole, Bill Forsyth from Medicine Ledge, and others we are not sure of but I ; believe we will have a nice team. 5 | Sparky McSpadden, Kenny Thompson and Max look to be my I em writing the boys a team letter and I will send you cnn hom T Nee it completed within the next week. 2 You mntion Warren Zimmerman. Yee, 1 know his son ant 2 know of him only indirectly, but I am told that he does not pay very high wages. I think e man who paid that much to the government would pay his help a little more. I would rather give part of it to the in- dividuals and part of it to the government. We would have a finer ; citizenry and a better government if it worked out that way. I would like to see your tomatoes - in fact, I would like to got inte your pateh for about twenty minutes, and especially if -:you camnot sell then. a a re somewhat. Regarding the Colorado gana, it ws just ono of those things. Bad John Buescher shot instead of back passing to Sollenberger who should have been expecting it and was not, the game would have gone the right wey anyhow. I never cry much over spilt milk, but I believe most shay Uda Ux Ua Wek sD qed chome Gene way goo segs Sa shel te sald Gece bee On. We will heve our chance when we meet Om een Ie A | ct aid Mind whddinn to. yan vel lire, Rinenll, sek ening you that I have confidence in Max, I am Very cordially yours, | 2 Director of Physical Education, -POAAH Varsity Basketball Coach. yor < Portis, Kansas, August the Eighth, Nineteen Forty = Two. DR. F. C. ALLEN, Lawrence, Kansas. Dear Doctor Allen: Have been intending for some time to write you about various situations, but as usual, have been delayed by work 6r . folks wanting tires or ladies wanting sugar rationed to them if you have never been on a ration board, you have missed somethinge It represents the acme of criticisme been in and thru Lawrence a few times since I lastsaw you, but either did not find you or else did not have time to wait long enough to connect with you. I guess maybe it was at the end of basketball season in March that I last saw you, though maybe I saw you one day at the end of the college year, Also have thought I would see ‘you > gees and have Aside from wanting to discuss the war and politics and golf and minor activities, I wanted to thank you for the’basketball letter that Max was granted from KU athletic association, and also to thank you for being instrumental in getting him employment out at the Ordnance Works east of Lawrence. So far as I know Wx is getting along well out there and the work ought to keep him in good physical trim, as it is open-air d quite strenuous, I think he knows whent he day is done that he has been somewhere. last I heard he was classified as some sort of compressed tool operator, I am not very eager about the Union angle but guess that is the only way that a chap like’ him can get into that sort of work. I feel that organized labor, if allowed to assume too great control, will be s menace after the war is over; or as a matter of fact, it is already a problem. As regards the basketball letter, I was some surprised as I was not aware of demands by the department in order that a boy be granted a letter and had not thot Max was in action enough to warrant such, But guess he might have been more active than I assumed,and so am glad as I have always felt that a letter from KU in basketball really’meant something to a boy. I once had the desire to go there myself, but could not as my father died when I was a little fellow and so I had to work a good deal and I was fortunate in being able to go to Kansas Wesleyane Later I played lots of kasketball here with the Portis Dynamos in their early days of 1914 ‘oa about the time Max was born in 1922. I think it is a great game and am proud to have a son that could even hold the water jug at Kansas University, and sorry that he was not able to do more towards helping the team in general. | Page two -- Dr, Allen, August 8th: I do not know just now what Max plans to do in the way of enlistment in service. 4e is not twenty yet but will be soon and it will be necessary to decide. I hardly know what is best as I am not familiar with those various brancheg but he talked of the Marines -- Candidates! Class and he might get in that or in some of the V- branches. If you have any suggestions, I would be glad for them, that is you could make them to him direct as is still there at Eleven Hundred Indiana, except when working. Some have told me that boys should finish school, that isy that some of them ought to, as they will be needed badly in other fields a little later. Have been noticing lately that you are lining up games for the coming season andthat you will play various service teams. Soon as a schedule is available, I would like to have it and also like to know what you will have for a club the coming season. Have noted from time to time that this boy and that one would be missing until I wondered if you will have a creditable starting line-up. A man from your town, Warren Zimmerman, who once lived here, was here recently and is now writing a story flor me to print about his visit and early day Portis recollections. | He is quite a character. He said he was required to pay $65.000, ineome tax last year on his Color Press there at Lawrence and that the government is getting so critical wt of his various endeavors and needs that he will likely be forced to quit. That is confidential. You may not have net him. I think the same will’apply to me here as the little business is being puhed out of the waye It is a battle to keep the bank here going as government demands make it impossible to make any money from the business. I have fine tomatoes this year and also fine’potatoes but now that we have a good many of them, we cannot sell them, that is for any kind of price. Am chairman of the UsO drive here and we are now finishing it up and also am on a Bond selling committee that has the joh of , selling Three=--Fourths Million Dollars in War Bondg by end of the yeare In case You want the whole amount, just let me know and we can dismkss the committee. I had some talk with some fellows in Kansas City, and they said they were sorry that Kansas and Colorado were not kept apart in that play-off in March, in the hope that both would have won the first nightfand then met the last night. I fully believe that would have been best and that it would have gotten a good deal more money and also that Kansas would have beaten Colorado on any other night. But the game is over so must look forward to the coming season. I will not start on the war and politics as I have only a dozen or so sheets of paper left, and that would not be wnoughe I can hardly keep tab of your family people, but regards to them wherever they are, and same to yourself, and all, and I will see you some of these times, maybe. Always glad to,\hear from you when you have a moment's time. Sieeesere2iy s S, Kans aS