m™ aN January 30, 1941 Mre HePe Johnson 6680 Ohio Street Omaha, Nebraska. Dear Mre Johnson: Thank you for your good letter of the 27th instante I was happy to hear from you and I will be happy to have you as my guest when you come to Lawrences The schedule for next year has been tentatively arranged as followss e Septe 26 «= Temple University at Philadelphia (night game) Octe 4 = Washington University (St. Louis) at Lawrence Octe 1l = Nebrasia at Lincoln Octe 25 «= Towa State at Lawrence Nove 1 - Oklahom at Norman — Nove 8 = West Virginia at Morgantown Nove 15 = Konsas State at Lawrence Nove 22 or 27 = Missouri at Lawrence Personally, I am not so wll acquainted with the activities of the Century Club, only having heard of its organization and many of the contri butorse 3 The Reélay Club has had Glenn Charlton, Lawrence Business mang Burt Ober, Lawrence clothing mang and ire Hele Kirkpatrick, Physician, Topekag as past presidents. I believe that this Relay Club membership of $10.00 entitles the bearer to two football games and the Relays, the rest of the money, I understand, goes to the benefit of football. I want to thank you for your very nice letter and assure you it would be @ pleasure to see you when you come to Lawrence, 111 you please write me ahead of time so that I may be sure to be available to entertain youe | Director of Physical Education and Recreation PUA slg Varsity Basketball Coach “6680. unio Street, omaha, Nebraska, January 27,1941. Mr. F. C. Allen, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. My Dear Mr. Allen: I was very pleased to receive your long and most interesting letter of sometime ago. In replying to same, 1 will endeavor to make it clear that it was newspaper accounts of your statement that led me to write to you, and that your fine letter has caused me tO have an entirely different opinion of you and your athletic connections at Kansas University. Really Mr. Allen, I wish to make some kind of an apoOlegy for some of my statements and to thank you for your great efforts to gain fame for the University of Kansas. Your kind suggestion that I visit you on my next trip to Lawrence, is an event that I will be looking forward to, with great pleasure during the coming year. I am planning to attend either the Iowa State or perferably the Missouri game, providing that kame is held Saturday the 22 of November. Inasmuch as your letter has out- lined in detail, your long and active career in K.U. athletics, I will enjoy very much to have a talk with you about the old days when the Jayhawker was “tops” in Midwest football circles. I have never known that you formerly were so active in football, and I will be very anxious to see that picture of Tommy Johnson, that you spoke of. I was just a boy on a farm up in Washington County at the time when he andthe great Jayhawker team were making football history, but I was a keen reader of the Sports Department of the K.C. Star even in those days. I think Kennedy and Mosse were the coaches. Well so muc} for the past, I have read about your recent tour of the east and’ you and your fine basketball team is giving Hansas a lot of publicity to offset the football failures. I hope that they can get football in the limelight in the same manner that basketball is. With Engleman and another Allen besides yourself, I predict another Big Six title. Whats the football outlook down there for this fall, heard that they had an unusual fine Band of freshman, but later reports are that some of the most promising did not return from their holiday vacations. That Century Club ought to get some results. How long has it been organized. Any information received will be kept in utmost secrecy. I regret to say that I will have to forego membership in that club for the present, but the Relays Club is a different matter On the ten dollar membership, are the two tickets for $4.50 for the Relays Races or are they for football games. Tickets for the Relays would be of no value for Football games are the only athletic events that I would attend at Lawrence. However I would be pleased to assist some young football player with the $5.50. I am submitting a plan that I am sure will get results in regard to better football. 1 An intensive campaign among all former K.U. men who are financially able to join the Century Club. 2 Have all former K.U. men in contact with the University and act as scouts for all promising football players in all high schools in the surrounding states, such as they do here in Nebraska. 3 Endeavor to place such a man in every town that has a fair sized high school in Kansas. 4 Stop at nothing to get these players and lastly k a Kansas colleges. py y keep Kansas boys in In closing I wish you amp very successful season and hope to See this fall, Yours sincerely 4/ my se vive and other athletes os sae ies ng high school football = fella eu at «tM ~seaned 10 yilaetevialv -eeenek ,sometwed peda sti te9 YM anitsetetal teom bae gnol ayoy svieser oc beereiq yiev sew I os sovsebmo iitw | ,emme Of guigiget ai .ogs emitesoe to teiiel tnomsteta toy to etnuoces teqeqewean e@w ti tedt aeelo ti eAsm heauso end tettel emtt ioy ted? bas ,woy ot etitw of em Bel tedt — olfteldte rwoy bas woy To molmiqo tmetetTIb ylerltiae ae evad oF om eiam ot deiw i ,mella sau ylisenh .yiletevinU asensi te eno ki oennos poy daed? ot bas etaemeteta yx to omoa tot ygeloge as to biaiad emoe . -@peney to yFietevial any 10% emet alsa of atiotte tsety swoy 107 ot qiti txem yo m0 voy sietv I tent notiacague bain awoY taemg dilw ,of Dbiswtot giitool ed Ifilw I tect tasve as at ,¢ometwad edt todtle bao tte ot gninasiq ms I .teey 5 ghario part gibiwb éiveselq al emag ted? gatbivorq ,emeg ItvoeeiM ed? yldatetteq 10 steie awol -tuo asi tottel tyoy 22. doumesnI .tedmevoll to SS eat ysbiuisee bied J ,aetteidte .U.4 al te0eteo evitos bas gaol «avoy ,ftsted at benil g@yeb blo ed? tyuods woy dtiw Ale? s eved of dou yrev yotae Litw | eve I .eelorio {iedtoot taewbiM at “eqot”. asw toxwedyel edt cedw fitw I bag ,lisdsoot ai eyitos of etew ylirem10t woy fed? awogd teven ae poy tadt ,noantiol yamof to siufolq ted? eo Of auolxis ‘ytev ed edt te ytawod a0fgaidesW\at qu mist a eS t .%o eaoge 3 er ee ter meet tedwedyst tee etmbas of nodw emit edd to tnemitsqed afroqe oft to tebeet neei 8 gew I tud ,ytoteald EE OE SE AE: AANA ANTAL 5 INE ARORA STR STE 25% > got taecet 1w0Y tuods beet even I ,fesq edt tO} goum oa low esenel goivia et meet liedteiesd enti twoy bas voy bas tese ent 10 yout tend eqoi I .eetvlie? 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I tad? yse oF terget I .yooitsee Wettem tnetettibd s at duiD eyeleA ent tud ,taesetq edd tot dulo sedi edt 10t 06.83 tot etedolt ows edt ors ,qidetedmem telioh net edt 20 -- eyeket edt 10% atexot? .cemey Lisdtoot 102 yedt exe to seceh ayslef eatusve olteldte yiao edt ets aemeg [isdtoof tot eulev on to ed Hivow — teleas of beaseiq od Siuow I tevewoH .eonetwal te baette blyow { fadi py, .08.8% ect dtiw teyelq iledfoot gavoy smoc. Sisact at eiiveot teg iltw ese me I tect asiq © goitiindue us fT i ‘gem .U.2 temrot iis gnomes agteqmec eviesetnl aa f Lisdtoot seited of gemrot Lis eveH & .dwld yrutmed edt alot of elds yiisionsait ets Ofw - "Efe ot efuooe ae toe bas ytietevia edd. dilw forztnoo ai sem .U.A an bbawortwe eff ot eloodee dgtd Iie ot eareyelq iiedtoot galelmorg @ dove eoslg ot toveebal ¢ .siesidell ai ested yr. es dove ,Betste . . Le October 3, 1940 Mr» Earl Jones, Manager AeGe Spalding & Brose Dive Spalding Sales Corporation 1012 Grand Avenue Kansas City, Missouri Dear Mire Jones: This is to confirm Miss Gerstenbergor 'a telephone conversation with you yesterday afternoon concerning your coming to the University next Mondays I shall be happy te see you on Monday, October 7, at 93:30 Aci. Sincerely yours, Director of Physical Equcation and Recreation Varsity Basketball Coach = a; «, . Ir, -Allent Mr. Jones stated he has to be “in Denver on Friday, but he roid be glad ‘to come next Monday at 9:30. I told him T thought that would allright with yous F é fi DIVISION OF SPALDING SALES CORPORATION ATHLETIC OUP ttre s 1012 GRAND AVENUE, KANSAS CITY, MO. September 20, 1940. Dr. Forrest Ce Allen University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas \ Dear Dre Allen: I enjoyed my visit with you very much the other evening, and really I have been contemplating coming over to see you on my hip ailment. I have done practically every- thing which has been suggested to me, besides following carefully the instruction of several good doctors. The only embarrassing thing about my coming to you is that I would have such a limited way in acknowledging any help you might be able to give to me, but I would con- sider it a personal favor if, at your convenience, you would call me collect. I could come next week during Monday, Tuesday, or Wed- nesday, but after that, I would have to delay for approx- imately one week. Assuring you of my sincere appreciation, and with best wishes, I am Yours very truly, {\, ets 1”, A. G. SPALDING & BROS. DIV. SPALDING SALES CORPORATION Cal EJ smw Manager Dict. 9/19/40 ‘77 P.S- My phone number is Victor 7470. Tesember 12, 1940 Dear Mr. Johnson: I beg to acknowledge receipt of your favor of the 10th instant and 1 em glad to hear from youe You are mistaken if you are of the opinion that I attack football beeause I do note : ' ‘Twas asked down by the High-Twelve Club of the Masonic Order in Kansas City, Kansas. They hadas their guests 16 of the allestar high school | | some remarks to these boys such as this; You have won splendid honers on the foote ball field and I congratulate you for the successes You played these games for the sheer fun of playings Now I would not want you to take the thing that you for sheer fun and endeavor to make it a marketable commodityo - I stated further to the boys that they should pick out their own versity with an idea toward getting an education and use the sport not as a Uni business but as a recreative : I said that somebody had done something to footballs they had not it and nurtured it beeause teams like & business instead of & sport. I voiced a fear that if certain individua succeeded in their endeavor to big-time basketball they would kill baskethall — the same as they are killing football. Sy gee | | . a BP go ptrssciparay parle ac tyen Pg igh caaanllvanryge ng Jayhawkers in 1920 when we tied Nebrasim 20 to 20. We were outweighed exotly 27 pounds to the man, and Nebraska had rm over us 20 to Oe This little band of Kansans came back and tied the score 20 to 20 and missed their kick for an extra points The following Monday morning, here in the University Gymmasiu, dents of the University met and pledged $160,000 as their part toward this beautiful stadiua that we haves I promoted the building of the. stadiun and the completion thereof. I founded the Kansas Relays here in 1923. had 3 I am not mentioning these things to you to boast, but to show you that | hoped that we would earn enough money from football that we could have play facilities or students for the entire University from these earningse As head of the Department of Physical Education here at the University, I have been in & position to see a great many things that affect.the young life of students, and I want to assure you that a man who comes to college to get an education is benefit by playing football, but a bey who comes to college to play football is certainly not benefited thereby. This boy is putting the emphasis on the wrong activity. : PP “ Mre HePe Johnson Ge Page 2 Dece 12, 1940 I have been pretty well acquainted with Kansas athleties because my brother, Cole HeBe Allen, who is now Commandant of ReQeTsC. at Stanford - University, was a tackel back here in the early 1900's. He played with Hicks, Pooler, Brummge, Donald Jenkinson, Bruner, Michaelson, and so forth. I entered the University of Kansas in 1905 and played all three sports; in fact, I played with Tommy Johnson. I coached basketball here in 1908 and 1909 and we won the Missouri Valley Championship both yearse a _. 1 assure you, Mrs Johnson, that no one is endeavoring to promote basketball here at the University over footballe There is no competition between _ the two. Personally, I very much desire an athlete who is a student who plays on the football team to play basketball than I do one who does not play football. Football has become so basketballized and basketball has become so footballized that they are first cousins to each others Generally the agsressive, versatile football player is a great basketball player, and vice versie os > Yes, I am well acquainted with the traditions tack of the femous Rock Chalk yelis I am sending you a brochure of the origin of the most famous ‘college yell in America. Years ago, when I was Director of Athletics, I had these printed to keep alive this fine traditions ae 3 _ Myre Johnson, I want you to kmow that there is not a single member of the basketbal] team receiving any subsidy whatsoever no soft jobs, no board, room or tuition. The most that anyone of them ¢ for work is 35¢ an hour and cat | are paid only when they work, But we -do,jine in very responsible positions: Paul Endacott and Waldo Bowman of 1928 are two such peoplee Bndacott is Executive Vice-President of the Phillips Petroleum Company, and Bowman is Editor of the Engineering News Record of MeGraweliili and Company, New York Citys Charles Black, who was Kansas greatest living athlete, is an executive of the Ohio Glass Company of Toledoe Tuston Ackerman is one of the executives of the Equitable Life in Chicagos John Bunn of the 1920 team, is Dean of Men at Stanford University, and was their basketball coach. He made three letters each in football, basketball and baseball at the University of Kansase Arthur "Dutch" Lonborg is Varsity Basketball Coach at Northwestern University and is assistant to Linn taldorf, and so it goess I sould mention nearly 100 boys that have graduated under mde. None of them have been fed subsidies and have been made to feel that because they competed in athletics the world owes then a living. a. I have six children of my own and four grandchildren, and none of them were adopted, so you can see that I know something about raising children, and I do not believe that you can take any athlete today and make as good a man out of him as when he is foreed to work and pay for what he gets. | 3 3 - I am very glad that you are interested in Kansas football. In fact, I learn that there is a Century Club organized here in Lawrence among the businesse . men in and out of the State who desire to help with the fortunes of the Varsity Football Teams This Century Club derives its name from the fact that each man who wants to see Kansas have a better football team contributes $100.00. Mre Armond Woestemeyer of the People's State Bank of Lewrence is their treasurer, I understands I know that they would be very happy,if you feel like it, if you would Mre HePe Johnson Fuge 8 a Dee 12, 1940 _ send them a check for $100.00 so that they might have a better football team and I feel that since you want a better football team and are loyal to the _ State and the University that you would like to make a contributions You will understand that I am not asking you for a contributions in fact, I have only a Century Clube None of this money of the Century Club goes to . There is also a Kansas Rela Club here in lewrence in whicha mn ean contribute $10.00 and receives two tickets per man for the years The tickets are $4.50, and the other $5.50 goes to help the football players So if you do not want to join the Century Club I kmow that they would be glad to have you _ Join the Relaya Clube | I have a feeling that you would get a much greater wallop out of coming to Lawrence if you would feel that you were making a definite contribution to the upebuilding of the football teams | When you come to Lawrence I would be very happy to have you as my guest _ @t any one of the games that you desire to attends It would be a pleasure to meet you and tell you of my struggles and desires to build up a great athletic plant here a at the Universitys | I coached football ten years and I want to tell you that I would much rather coach football than basketball. It is much easier coached, but I would not want my players to be played wiless the University and the people connected with it would openly give a certain stipend or scholarship, the same as they give & scholarship for dramatics or voices ‘This would not be detrimental to our promotional life as it now is where there is so much hypocrisy and up\andeup professionalism, it is the professionalism that is killing the cameo ©. ‘My notion is that you can look at the roster of the professional teams of America and trace them back to their Alma later, and you will see where the most professionalism exists and where proselyting is donee ‘These boys who are proselyted make more money than they can eam when they graduate, with the exception of their playing professional football. That is why they turn to pro-football because they have not mstered their academic subjects sufficiently to give them courage to face a cold world where increases come slowly and only when the worker has proved himself, After a few years of proefootball they may get into business, but too many of them are disillusioned and lack the courage to begin at the bottan in my office, as I dictate this letter to you, I am looking into a life-sized photograph of Tom We "Tommy" Johnson, Kansas’ Greatest Athlete. We were very close friends and I thought he was one of the grandest characters that I have ever lmovme He died two years from the day he was injured in the Missourie Kansas game at the Bell Memorial Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas. Richt up to the last he stated that he had had a swell time all of his life and that he was not whining when fate turned against hime ee Mre HePe Johnson , | Fage 4 Deco 12, 1940 I think you misunderstand the statement that I made, Mre Johnsons 11 of my three sons played football at Lawrence Memorial High School and when they came to the University they studied law and medicine and had less times would much rather that they pursue a course that wili assure them sone urable satisfactions and pleasures than a temporary one that is not always © reassurings 3 ? Very cordially yours, > Oo fh Direetor of Physical Education and Recreation Varsity Basketball Coach FeAslg Ene 6680 Ohio-Strect, omaha, Nebraska, December 10,1940. we gua , Mr. F. CG. Allen, Lawrence, Kansas. My Dear Sir: ~ Your recént attack against c6liege f6otball has been of great interest to me beGause it has given me~the Iong awaited opportunity to write to you personally and to state somie of my reasons for the poor showing of K.U. fodtball teams for the past scasons. ~ The writer,~a former resident of the state of Kansas is an ardent football enthusiast, especially for all of the teams in tie Big Six. HOwever being now a resident of the great football-minded state of Nebraska, I must confess that I am somawhat of a booster for~the CGornhush-rs now that they are riding the grest of a great wave of popularity~on account of what will go down in history as one oftheir graatest seasons. However, normally I always root ‘for the Jayhawker's against Nebraska because I Still™have a lot of loyalty for my native state and that K.U. is the urider dog. ~ ss I wish to -pfot-st vigorously against your recent statement in regard to college football and~I am sure that you will find many football fans in actord with me, including th4~vast majority of tho leading sports writers. The past season Has been 4 very humiliating one for Kansas football enthUsiasts, especially for thos* K.U. —~ supporters that “have imigrated to the surrounding states whos- team have so consistently wallop-d the Jayhawkers very Saturday. Kansas with a half million mor- population than Nebraska, sfiould be able to do much better than during th- past fow years. Lets go~back to the turn of the~c4ntury and we will se* great ~ Jayhawker football t-ams that-were on a par with any team-in the middle west. And then &@ few years later in 1907-8 with tH- great Tommy Johnson. Then the total of wifis and losses with ths Huskers wefe even. And in the past thirty yoars, K.U. haS won on- gam. The Largest staditm in the Big Six thers at Lawrente is practically empty at your games, and only a few miles from a metropolitan area witha po6pulation of over a Malf million afid twico™that of Lineolnt where tiey have an attendafics ateon- of their lesser games of more than the total for all’games at K.U. fee 23 oD And here Mr. Allen, you~hav- a complote picture of how the "soft sissy. Sufiday school gafie”, of basket-ball~is killing the . onte much respect4d and feared Jayhawker gridster of yosterday. The t4rm "“Jayhawker™ is an old tradition in the Midlands football circles and” tas numsrous~football fans in the gréat State of —~ Kansas and clsewhére have a right to ask for a mew deal for their™ game at KU. ;~one that will put gootball before the "sissy" basket ball. Under th- present sct-up, K.U. is becoming nationally known as a haven for~the parlor and Sunday school boys whom play baskst ball; while the~football playcrs~go to other schools outside the State. The writer lovas to journey down to Lawrence at least once every fall and seo the delightful surfoundings and~se- a good ~ game~but I would'nt go across the street to see the "sissy game of pasket-ball. Mrz Allen,~I hope your~blast will prove a boomerang — that will create a state=wide interest in K.U. football so that tha Jayhawker will again com- to life as in the days of the great Tommy Johnson. | —_ Octe 24, 1940 Journalism Press University of Kansas Dear Sirss isin wis wp btn Gulia wes Ne US, as per the enclosed sample, mmbered fron 1 through 199, oe The Sout dhould be dhatigh’ bo the Department of Physical Educatione We should like to have these by Friday, — October 25, if at all possible. Thank yous Sincerely yours, Director of Physical Education and Recreation Varsity Basketball Coach Ince Ostober 26, 2940 Director of Physical Education and Reoreation - Varsity Basketball Coach —- a October 25, 1940 lire Lawrence Johnson 1329 Vernont Lawrence, Kansas Dear Larrys I would like to suggest that you apply to iiss Velma Wilson, Executive Secretary, NeYele office, 4 Prank Strong Hell for NeYeie work for the second senester.s ; ? During the winter months the work at the stadium rums @ little low,and if you could seoure NeYole enployment, that would help you take care of your expensese Of sourse, we will be glad to keep you on et the stadium, but it may not be onoughe Sincerely yours, Director of Physical Education and Recreation Varsity Basketball Coach POAsig October 31, 1940 Mre Earl Jones Manager he Ge Spalding & bros. Dive Spelding Seles Corporation 1012 Grand Avenue Kansas City, Mees Deer Earls | I acknowledge receipt of your good letter of the 26st instant and I em also ac’mowledging receipt of those golf balls guaranteed to go straight, not to cut, rip, revel, or run dow at the heels. Thot is, if we hit them properly. Well, you mow I heave got a lot of nerve to hit some of ny friends for some things, so why shouldn't I hit o golf ball for a run or a hole in one or whatever anne be done with a golf valle | I can't gusrantee my treatment to make you tell better yarns to the sports writers then whet you have been telling, but I — to: ‘Pix up thet hip if ™ drop around here. : Thanking you for your contribution, I am, Sincerely yours, i Director of Physical Education and Recreation Varsity Basketball Coech FCA: lg:min Ae Ai tlidive +Ouce DIVISION OF SPALDING SALES CORPORATION ATAHLSE Tic OVIFIF TER S 1012 GRAND AVENUE, KANSAS CITY, MO, October 26, 1940. Dr. Forrest ©. Allen Dir. Phys. Education University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas Dear Dr. Allen: Was glad to receive your letter of October 25th, and I have been intending to come back to see you but have been gone so much that it was just impossible, Your treatment unquestionably did me a lot of good, but I believe regular treatment would have me really on my feet in a short time if it were possible for me to take Shem from you. I had not forgotten the golf balls, but was going to bring them with me on my next trip. However, even now I have no idea when it will be possible to re- turn, so I am sending you a dozen of our very best under separate cover. These balls are guaranteed to go straight, not to cut, rip, ravel, or run down at the heelé -- that is, if you hit them properly. I did enjoy my visit as well as the treatment, and I will come back at the earliest convenience, Until then, thanks a lot and best wishes, EJ/m Bart Jones, Mgr. \