Se

in the two previous conference: races, end now, in, this third year, fate goon to
decree an \mcagenraae ——.

iO. — nine Be pasdaien Swodish. laid gna boy and father. of Bill, had
etinwed the hot ‘and: dusty ‘trail from, Iowa,to Oklahoma in 1889. to. homestoad much
tof the’ lond that he possessed at tho. time of his. ‘death. He. had, ot all tines,

~ evineed an intense pride -and | interest in Bill's. basketball achievements « On the

“day of his .death, a a. half-page picture of Bill was printed on the sports page of
‘his local papers. With justifiable pride he had commented ‘to Bill's seme, “1

hope Bill plays the game of his life, Saturday night.” .

This:significant. statement -proved.to be the real. iin in Bill's
' final’ decision! to try, to:get. back to.play., Close. frionds .of the. family had
gounseled'with’ his. mother. and had.urged that, if at all. possible for Bill te
reach Lawrence, he should play in this, his final game, and thus fulfill the
ans’ ween. of wna Patni

t Lnoit@y Os ("Gob") comin. alte ‘in Bill's. home. ig a fraternity
biethbe of Bill's and.a loyal, alumnus of Kansas, through, his intimate friendship
for the Johnson family, convinced Mrs. Johnson to send her boy by airplane to
: answer he oaka of Knamete

- efits anette the ebinltite and. tne a newspapers. othe announced that
“exseis would ‘play without her superstar, Bill, Johnsons, *. ;

During the day, many offers from businessmon and from university groups
to sponsor a/flight to, Oklahoma.to get Johnson,.came.to me. But all such propos-
als had: received a deaf ‘ear. . Strong head winds and. air, pockets aplenty made a
400-mile hop under: adverse weather conditions seem too, perilous to onsidor.

, i -However,'during-the afternoon, another fraternity brother of Bill's,
Mair ice: Ls Breidenthal .of Kansas City, Kans, and a most. loyal alumnus of Kansas,
telephoned to me that he and, Cob Burnside of, Oklahoma. City had. arranged for a
comhereial plane to attempt the flight. to bring. Bill Johnson_ fron Oklahoma City
in vane ie the que

wy

The possible: cea of By Sensel: landing or a. gratktug ‘precluded the wis-
dom of informing the Kansas team of this ‘contemplated air trip. The group re-
action: ree have ‘been most: dobstmertal. Shouad the Rian, mate failed.

The game, iateicds Pepa aaa. toute State . iianhattan, Kons, “was to be
called for 7:30 peme, the same time as was the Kansas-Oklahoma game to be called

» at Lawrence. After the,information.concerning Johnson was received, and since

. the home: ‘teams: are responsible. for.setting the: starting time | of the games, we
changed our starting time, to. GS Gisteletes Sivode od t% dea ct om bonedas)

hoo tvoo Immediately. bulletins,were published;in the. press and broadcast by
radio that. the. Kansas-Oklahoma.gane would be. called, at 8:00 Polley. instead, of
7:30 Dems, as usual, On account. of. the possible. effect upon. the ‘team, we were
forced to keep our primary reason for this change of time a secret, giving as a

» 5reason for the: postponenent: our desire: to have,Kansas followers disten in on the

first half of the important Missouri-Kansas State, game being played at, Manhattan.

. We, installed..loud-speakers in, the; Kansas, field,house for,these radio
_ reports. of the.first half. of the Missouri-Kansas. State Zanes. If Missouri, should
win. their game, then, the.winner,of.the Kansas-Oklahoma game would be tied with
Missouri for the title. But, if Missouri should lose and Kansas ‘should win,
Kansas would be the undisputed champicn of the Big Six Conference for the third
"; consecutive time...We were. hoping.that this, additional 30 minutes would land Bill