ie Bs Poctingeaiin Son emt a De ind Seewets hice with added Onan wt pide erat Santis of the Sist ; ahtine Rest assured that I an always happy to be in company with you end your fine groupe It is alwys very Yleasent and enJjoyatile I assure yous I think your conclusions are very practical and my only desire is to give you the best information that I possess at the times SN 0k SRS Se. SOR Be Pat padiae Geniciaes ceak wedetams aaa. meena the Porter Corporation will interview hime Personally, I believe ‘that you can get a men stronger than the Director of Physical Education at the Uhiversity of Kansat,e ‘T have said that several Sines Gad 2 ORISA meh Ste < eth elause: te teas We ts ht tated it ie and I want to assure you that I am at your service if and ¥ you desire ite With all good wishes far ois tare emits pent happiness, I amy 5 Stents wll Widens Stuniai en Recreation — FRED MEDART MANUFACTURING Co. POTOMAC AND DE KALB STREETS SAINT Louris, Mo. E. J. MEDART PRESIDENT July 31, 1940 Dr. Forrest C, Allen, Director Department of Physical Education University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas Dear Dr. Allens I want to let you know how much I appreciated your willingness to come to Chicago for our conference on a physical fitness program. I was requested to also state the appreciation of the other men in our industry. : We have come to the conclusion that our most practical procedure, at the moment, is to interest ourselves in promoting the Senate bill for the establishment of a national physical fitness insti- tute, Naturally, our industry would like to see the bill, as finally enacted, in form which would encourage systematized mass physical training, We are also interested in the type of direc- tor that may be selected to head up this institute. In view of your strong recommendation of Dr. Stafford, Mr. Wm, S. Miller of the J. E. Porter Corporation has been delegated to in- terview him at Champaign. Roy has spoken to me about the conditions under which you might be willing to take this position, I think the industry might be able to influence the appointment of a director and, naturally, we would like to know that any man we might concentrate on would be willing to accept the appointment; and we would, of course, like to know that this man's ideas would, more or less, coincide with ours in the matter of a program of physical training. We are going to keep in close touch with this situation and I will be glad to keep you informed of developments. In the meantime, you might be making some investigation as to what the new program will be and who might volunteer advice to the Senate Committee. Undoubtedly, the men selected for this work will be members of the Physical Education Association of which, I believe, Dean Rogers is President this term. STEEL LOCKERS___ STEEL WARDROBES____ STEEL SHELVING____GYMNASIUM APPARATUS.____GYM SEATS____BASKETBALL BACKSTOPS.___PLAYGROUND APPARATUS — FRED MEDART MANUFACTURING CO. Dr. Forrest C. Allen July 31, 19,0 Lawrence, Kansas Page No, 2 - One of the men in our industry, who knows Dean Rogers, is of the opinion that his thought runs more along the line of physical ex- aminations rather than physical training. With kind regards, I remain Sipterely, et 4 a Edw.JMedart :D , President ie i ARR AI IES Sg FRED MEDART MANUFACTURING Co. POTOMAC AND DE KALB STREETS SAINT Lours, Mo. R. E. WEINZETTEL SALES PROMOTION MANAGER August 8, 1940 Dr. Forrest C. Allen, Basketball Coach University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas Dear Dr. Alien: At the next meeting of the Basketball Coaches of the Big Six Con- ference, you will undoubtedly give some discussion to the new modified basketball backboard recently adopted as legal equipment by the National Basketball Rules Committee. We respectfully submit, for your consideration, the attached folder illustrating and describing the Medart one-piece steel backboard and the new goal required to be used with the backboard, and en- dorse this new product as being the finest piece of basketball equipment we have ever produced. Our board is ‘stamped out! of a single piece of steel with the side flanges being part of the front surface, and consequently,there are no raw, uneven edges at the junction of the flanges and the banking surface. . We believe you will note that our prices are very reasonable and are comparable to what you might expect to pay for a less satisfactory plywood board. Naturally we shall be very pleased indeed for an opportunity to sup- ply you with any additional information that may be wanted concern- ing this new product, and likewise a copy of our servige manual “Re- placing Your Basketball Backboards" is available to agg interested parties. Cordially yours, FRED MEDART MA . REW/AC STEEL LOCKERS___ STEEL WARDROBES____STEEL SHELVING___GYMNASIUM APPARATUS___-GYM SEATS____BASKETBALL BACKSTOPS___-_PLAYGROUND APPARATUS 1 FRED MEDART MANUFACTURING Co. POTOMAC AND DE KALB STREETS SAINT Lours, Mo. RE. WEINZETTEL SALES PROMOTION MANAGER August 13 ’ 1940 Dr. Forrest C. Allen University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas Dear Phog: I am enclosing copy of Senator Walsh's bill which you read in Chicago, and also a copy of a paper prepared by Dr. Stafford of the University of Illinois, which I understand will be introduced in Congress before the Sub-Committee that is considering Walsh's bill. I believe you will agree that Dr. Stafford goes beyond the one step suggested by Senator Walsh, i.e., that tests be made to determine the physical fitness of young Americans. Beyond the tests per- iod there is obviously need for action to correct the find- ings of the tests. Thought you would be interested in seeing what has been done to date. If you have any thoughts on this, of course let us hear from you. Kindest regards. Cordially yours, FRED MEDART MANUFACTURING CO. Sal! Prom yen Manager REW/AC STEEL LOCKERS___ STEEL WARDROBES____ STEEL SHELVING____GYMNASIUM APPARATUS____GYM SEATS____BASKETBALL BACKSTOPS____PLAYGROUND APPARATUS MEMBERS OF COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION & LABOR CHAIRMAN — Thomas, Utah MEMBERS : Walsh - Mass. Murray — Montana Vic Donahey - Ohio Holt ~ West Virginia Pepper - Florida Ellender - Louisiana Lee -— Oklahoma Hill — Alabama LaFollett - Wisconsin Davis - Pennsylvania Taft ~— Ohio Bridges - New Hampshire 76th CONGRESS 3rd Session S. 4179. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES July 3 (legislative day, JULY 1), 1940 Mr, Walsh introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Education and Labor. A BILL TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL PHYSICAL FITNESS INSTITUTE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTA- 2 TIVES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, 3 That this Act may be cited as the National Physical Fitness 4 Institute Act. 5 SEC. 2. (a) There is hereby created in the Federal 6 Security Agency an institute to be known as the National 7 Physical Fitness Institute (hereinafter referred to as the 8 Institute), 9 (b) The Institute shall be headed by a Director, who 10 shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice NO wm > WwW oe «= LO a 12 i 14 15 16 17 18 ag 20 21 22 a3 24 25 and consent of the Senate. The Director shall receive for his services compensation at the rate of $ per annum, together with actual and necessary traveling and subsistence expenses while engaged in the exercise of his powers and duties outside of the District of cokunbus., (c) The Director shall appoint such officers and em- ployees as he deems necessary to earry out his powers and duties. All such officers and employees shall be appointed, and shall have tenure of office or employment, in accordance with the provisions of the civil service laws and regulations; except that (1) the appointment of any person as a physical- fitness specialist shall be made only after such person has passed an examination prepared by the Director and admin- istered by the Civil Service Commission and shall be proba- tionary until such time as such person, after having com- pleted a training course to be given by the Institute, passes a physical, technical, and cultural examination prepared by the director and administered by the Civil Service Commis- sion, and (2) the tenure of office of any such physical-fitness specialist shall be conditioned upon his passing periodically, at intervals of time to be fixed by the Director, a physical, technical, and cultural examination prepared by the Director and administered by the Civil Service Commission, (d) The Director is authorized and directed to prescribe, subject to the approval of the Federal Security Administra- Oy RA a Ra CO «| 10 li ae 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 rad 22 23 24 25 tor, such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out his powers and duties. (e) Appropriations for the Institute shall be available for expenditure, among other purposes, for personal services and rent in the District of Columbia and elsewhere, equipment for testing, research and instruction, expenses for travel and subsistence, lawbooks, books of reference, magazines, periodi- cals, newspapers, library services, and the holding and attend- ing of conferences in the District of Columbia and elsewhere. (f) The Director may, with the consent of the depart- ment or agency affected, utilize the services of any depart- ment or agency of the Government to the extent necessary to carry out his powers and duties. SEC. 3. The Institute shall -- (1) Select, prepare, and conduct research with respect to tests and testing instruments for the purpose of testing physical fitness. (2) Select, prepare, and conduct research with respect to follow-up procedures, forms of reports, and methods of cooperating with agencies engaged in medical and health work, for the purpose of conserving and increasing the phy- Sical fitness of the American people. (3) Conduct research for the purpose of determining the most efficient and practical methods of conserving and increasing physical fitness. GO So. a eS NS LO ad ps ae (4) Train specialists in the work of conserving and increasing physical fitness. (5) Prepare reports and bulletins with respect to the conservation and increase of physical fitness for use by organ- izations and the general public. (6) Upon request, investigate the needs of organiza- tions and industries for, and, to the extent possible with its personnel, cooperate with such organizations and industries in providing physical-fitness services for their members and employees. (7) Cooperate with departments and other agencies of the Government in programs designed to conserve and increase the physical fitness of their officers and employees. Memorandum Concerning the Bill to Provide for the Establishment of a National Physical Fitness Institute, and for other purposes. Considering the type of director necessary for this position I feel that he should be one who is qualified not only from the academic point of view but qualified in the light of experience and in the light of a sound philosophy of physical education. The sound philosophy which I have in mind would be based upon his’ knowledge and understanding of the scope of this movement. The procedure for promoting physical fitness would naturally start with some form of an accept- able health examination, the content of which would be Saterniand ibe Ameri- can Medical Association. The material contained in Form B, enclosed, might be used as a guide, The Surgeon General in conference with the army medical authorities could no doubt arrive at a satisfactory health examination pro- cedure. This would be necessary in light of the first draft experience wherein there wasn't much standardization of procedure for examinations, There is the need for some classification by the medical examiners wherein, with definite criteria agreed upon, a certain number could be passed as being fit for Class A, or vigorous army life. This no doubt would have to be a slight modification of the now existent aviation setup. Another group would be composed of those who would be acceptable for lighter forms of army occu- pations. No doubt another group or groups would be classified for even less arduous tasks, Four groups would be sufficient. Here we need something in the way of a physical fitness test which would really show the individual's physical condition in the light of his being able to pass certain skills involving, for example, fundamental activ- ities such as running, climbing, throwing, aquatic activities, skill on gyn- nastic apparatus, etc. I do not think there would be much difficulty in se- curing a valid physical fitness test with such men as Larson of Springfield «Ze College, Cozens of Los Angeles, and Brace of Texas who have already done con- siderable research along this line. As I see it, the big part of the work of the Institute would be the actual program for conditioning and improving the physical fitness of those who pass the original health examination. Obviously those who are rated as Class A would need some training to develop their highest potentialities along the line of physical fitness, Many of our football players, for example, would need training in the more skillful use of the body such as could be se- cured by other forms of games, aquatic activities, apparatus work in the gym- nasium, etc. The group whom we might call Class B, or those not able to pass the more vigorous activities, would definitely need a program of physical educa- tion of an all-round type. The findings of their health or medical examina- tions and their physical fitness score would determine their program of ac- tivities. This group would need to be taught some of the more rugged types of game activities which were within their capacities and at the same time given work to improve their bodily skills. A definite biological improvement and with it the development of an appreciation for physical fitness, which comes only to those who have the physique and skills necessary for the per- formance of some of the more vigorous activities found in a good program of physical education, would be the goal for Group B. Obviously those in groups below C and D need detiathe coevestive work in an attempt to raise their status of physical fitness just as we would attempt to raise the status of physical fitness of Group B to that of Group A. In Group C would be found those who are not too well nourished and those who are too well nourished, as well as those with postural defects which might be amenable to correction or at least improvement by prescribed exercises. This would be somewhat in the line of the work which we did in the Reconstruction aie Department during the last war. Group D would be composed of those with un- correctable conditions which would still allow them to do restricted work. Beyond this I think the other important part of the Bill would be the establishment within the schools throughout the country of a program of physical education patterned after, in certain respects, that which has proved so effective for the German youth of today. Here would be the opportunity to develop a more rugged type of youngster who would reach the age of 18 ina physical condition which would enable hiia to pass a vigorous army medical ex- amination and actually be fit to lead the life of a soldier should circun- stances necessitate it. The programs of physical education in many of our in- stitutions today, especially the elementary school are hardly worthy of the name. There is not enough of the more viguew type of activities. Due to financial conditions, apparatus and other pieces of equipment have been elin-~ inated, and with the enthusiasm for sports, has come an emphasis on all forms of sport activities which has not resulted in general physical development. This same condition exists in many of the high schools where the only ones who receive any appreciable amount of attention from the physical education point of view are the small percentege of athletes. Obviously some federal grants would be necessary for the improvenent of facilities for teaching a more desirable program of physical education in the elementary school and in the high schools, These grants would be depen- dent naturally upon the schools' offering a program of physical education which would develop physically strong, mentally awake, and morally sound youths. Such content would be determined by specialists in the field of phys- ical education rather than left to the whims of the school principal or super- intendent. The Bill also should make provision for a higher standard of teachers of physical education in the schools. Many teachers of physical education in sith the schools today are poorly trained, in many instances only having had an op- portunity to play on some varsity team and having no sound philosophy of phys- ical education to guide then, This move for improvement of our National Physical Fitness, if pro- perly administered should raise the physical fitness status of the people of the country as a whole and should dso develop a sound appreciation of the necessity for physical fitness, not only as a war time defense mechanism but for the improvement of all phases of general living. Such a program is neces- sary today as the present health examination figures of high schools and col- leges show a physical condition which is not in any respect an inmprovenent of the figures given by Love and Davenport concerning the draft for the last war. Here it should be emphasized that the authentic figures of the last draft re- veal the fact that over 50% were rejected for full-time army service and the figures of 33-1/3% are for those who were so unfit that they were practically useless for any form of any activity. It occurs to me that representatives from the Anerican Medical As- sociation; the Association for Health, Physical Education and Recreation; the Surgeon General; the U. S. Navy and the U. S. Public Health Services could de- visé a procedure for raising our national physical fitness and should be in- vited to confer on the above proposal. The above data was submitted by DR. GEORGE T. STAFFORD of University of Illinois. August 16, 1940 ta ae te’ Sh ermentte of Texas, le expects to be there until tomorrow, the 1vth, for a short vasketball ceaching clinies Next week he in Topekn for the Kansas High School Coaching School, As soon as Dr, Allen returns te the office your letter will be brought to his immediate i g Sincerely yours, Seoretary to. Tre Me Ce Allen FRED MEDART MANUFACTURING Co. POTOMAC AND DE KALB STREETS SAINT Loutrs, Mo. R. E. WEINZETTEL SALES PROMOTION MANAGER August 14, 1940 Dr. Forrest C. Allen University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas Dear Phog: Y I have not heard a word from you regarding the, bas— ketball scoreboardfthat was covered in the letter by Ray Higgins a week or so ago. As you know, our prices have advanced as of August 1 and while we are going to protect you on the basis of the old price set-up, per Higgins' letter, we cannot do this indefinitely. I wish you would lend your effort toward getting the order through as early as possible so we can assure your getting the price that was in effect previously. Kindest regards. Cordially yours, REW/AC STEEL LOCKERS___ STEEL WARDROBES____STEEL SHELVING____GYMNASIUM APPARATUS____GYM SEATS____ BASKETBALL BACKSTOPS____PLAYGROUND APPARATUS oak