UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

DEPARTMENT OF
PHYSICAL EDUCATION FOR MEN
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA October 22, 1940.

Doctor Forrest C. Allen
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansase

Dear 'Doc!;:

I'm ashamed of myself for not writing to you sooner than this.

But I have been pretty busy here since I first arrived in this sun-=
ny (77) clime, and have just been putting off writing to you. My
conscience finally prodded me so much that 1 thought I had better
write you or I would never get any rest. But I can assure you that
I had good.intentions 'Doc', and TI will write more regularly in the
future.

Of course, by now, you have reasoned out that I accepted the assist-
ant-ship here at U. C. Le Ae I have been here since August 27th,
and I certainly am in love with the place. This is wonderful coun-
try out here,

The Physical Education Department here surely is a keen lay-out.

The school has plenty of money and the Phys. Ed. dept. has certain-

ly received their share. The men and women have separate buildings

and they face each other across 4 huge expanse of the greenest lawn

I have ever seen. But then all of the lawns here are perfect. They
all have the hidden sprinkler system, and they sure use the water in
an effort to keep the grass looking nice--and they succeed.

The Phys. Ed. buildings are both huge affairs. Each one has a large
swimming pool attached ( which measures 100' X 60! and having two
one-meter adjustable diving boards and one three-meter adjustable
board. The pools are finished in green tile and they are both out-
door, being surrounded by a high wall. The mens pool is where the
polo matches and swimming meets are held, and consequently they have
a lerge bleacher section erected next to the pool walk.

And 'Doc! you should see this gym here} It is really something.

The faoor is one of those 'soft' king--it feels like you're playing
on firm velvet, if you can imagine such a thing. I can't understand
why they don't turn out champion-ship teams all the time. Wilbur
Johns is the basket-ball coach here. And of course you know that
Bill Spaulding is Director of Athletics.

I am teaching two classes in swimming, one in basket-ball and one in
track and field. These boys are surely getting a thorough going-over
sn fundementals. I think I will even allow some of the boys from

Use Se Ce come over and audit the course!

Well, 'Doc', I'm afraid I will have to quit for now, but I promise (or
threaten!) to write to you more frequently in the future. Please let
me hear from you--whenever you can find a spare moment, which is real-
ly rare for you, I know.

Gene Billups.