KFKU - Dec. 9, 19435

Hello, radio friends and sport fans:

May I acquaint you with the personnel of this year's
1943-44 basketball squad at the University of Kansas. Our teqm is made
up of civiliens, V-12 Naval Unit boys, and V-5 Naval flyers. Undoubtedly
this is the youngest team that has evertyreported at the University of
Kansas. Only Harold “Sparky” McSpadden, fornerly of El Derado, Kansas,
and now a chemical engineer, and George Dick, the honor captain of the
football team, are the returning members of last year's varsity basketball
team. Sparky was a substitute until Armand Dixon was called for his
induction, and George Dick, of McLouth, got into but a few games. Sixteen
men were recommended for last year's varsity award. The starting five of
last year were John Buescher, Charlie Black, Ray Evans, Otto Schnellbacher
and Armand Dixon. These boys carried the load in the majority of games.
When Charlie Slack was taken ill with pneumonia Sparky MeSpadden got a :
partetime assignment, and when Armand Dixon left Sparky became a regular.
George Dick played in very few of the regular games.

; The line up for this year has been varied. No boy on the.
squad has played a full game, but Sparky has played longer than any of the
other boys. He is more nearly a regular than anyone else.

Don Barrington, of Kenesn City, Kansas, one of our V-12 boys,
is a standout. Don played fullback on the varsity football team, and is a
fine rebounder in basketball. )

Dean Corder, of Welda, Kansas, is by far the lightest and the
smallest man physically, on the squad. He plays quarterback, and calls the
plays on the offense. Some of his admirers think of him as active TNT.

His father is superintendent of schools at Welda, Kansas. Dean is a civilian

but is in the naval reserve.