Friday, October 14, 1977
11
Starr twinkled as 'Hawk
Bv SUSAN TRAINOR HALL
Staff Writer
By almost any standards, John W. Starr has always been a success.
Staff Photo by JOHN SHARKEY
Starr, 72, is a 1927 University of Kansas graduate and retired chairman of the board of R. B. Jones Inc., a Kansas City, Mo., insurance company.
In 1970, Starr received the Kansas University Distinguished Service Citation.
"I don't know what success in," Starr said.
"I don't think it matters. It all, it is because of what I do for other people."
Getting involved with other people is what Starr does best; he has been working at it for more than 50 years, since being an excellent student and athlete at KU.
STARR BECAME a halfback as a
teamman and kept that position for four years.
People called Wilbur or Twinkle during his college days. Wilbur, his middle name was used to help distinguish him from his father and grandfather, both named John, and his brothers. Twinkle "twinkle," Twinkle Little Star," and "because of the way I played football."
In 1924, during a game against Washington University, Starr broke the college record for the longest run from scrimmage by running 96 yards.
Memories
"We were in punt formation," he said. "I actually ran 104 yards."
John W. Starr, a 1927 graduate of the University of Kansas, has vivid memories of his days spent as a star football player, top student and semi-professional singer around the world.
Starr's scrimmage record was not broken until 1963 when Gale Sayers ran 59 yards.
Starr said he loved football because planks commanded a great deal of respect.
"In the first place, football is a great game to teach individuals to team play and quick judgment," he said. "And secondly, it is a great educational process."
Starr, an honor student, was president of his senior class. He was a member of the KU Quartet, the handball team, student government, the YMCA, and the men's glee club, which performed at the class' 50th reunion last May.
FOR FUN, students went to picture shows and went hiking on Sundays, he said.
"I didn't go to dances" Starr said. "My father was a stunner Presbyterian, and if you were a Presbyterian, you didn't go to dances or play cards in those days."
Marr lived at the Phi Kappa Pi fraternity, then situated at 1100 Indiana St.,
during his four years at KU. He was
the fraternity at his junior and
senior years.
During the summer of 1927, Starr and a musical quartet he belonged to went "professional for a while." They played mainly in the Main Street area of downtown Kansas City, Mo., but travelled as far north as Chicago.
WHEN SUMMER ended, Starr was hired by the Phillips Petroleum Co.
Starr supervised Phillips service stations
trust in St. Louis and later in Kansas City, MN.
In 1984, he joined R. B. Jones Inc., as a senior vice president and director. He worked there until his retirement as chairman of the board in 1972.
--the 'Hawks ripped through the Missouri line for two TD'S.
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--the 'Hawks ripped through the Missouri line for two TD'S.
Athletic
The team was coached by former Olympic middleweight Guy Lookabaugh. The squad ended the season with a 4-1 mark including a victory over the Kansas State Aggies.
From page eight
The KU baseball team, coached by John Bunn, lost the final game of the year, and the league title, to the Oklahoma Sooners. The team finished in a 34- record and second place in the league.
Bad luck also followed the Jawhayk swimming team. The squad was hit with
While spring varsity sports were being conducted, intramural activities were also
Pi Beta Phi won the women's intramural swimming meet and Delta Tau Delta took the men's division. Chi Omega sorrow won the volleyball championship for the second time, thanks to capturing the women's athletic cup for most points scored in intramural athletics.
SIGMA CHI placed first in the men's wrestling championships and SIGMA Nawo won a bronze medal.
Swimming, basketball, baseball, softball,
vollleyball, hockey, tennis and track were
Charlie Black was head basketball coach at Nebraska when his team defeated the Jayhawks. One of the greatest players ever to wear a Kansas uniform, Adrian Lindsey, was appointed head football coach at Oklahoma.
Former KU athletes were making news in 1927.
Kansas football during the Caupon years, 1926-7, was marked with disturbing rumors of intrasquared strife, outside meddling with the team and its coaches and mistunderstandings between coaches and the administration.
Repairs were not uncommon of Lawrence businessmen creating easy jobs for athletes. Fraternities reportedly gave athletes free room and board. There was also a special student loan fund to provide athletes with cash on the easiest possible terms.
THE RESIGNATION OF Capon and his staff came on the beaks of a stunning 14-7 upset victory over Homecoming opponent Missouri.
A crowd of 27,000 packed Memorial Stadium to witness what one spectator of the day called "the battle of the century." The crowd was rattled by the play, but then it was all Kansas as
"It was the Cappy Copper's last game and we were supposed to lose that game against Missouri" by 20 points. We fooled the Missouri team by using a T-formation."
Hauser recalled the Missouri contest.
The win over the Tigers ended a dismal 3-4-1 season and gave KU a 5th place finish in the final chapter of the old Missouri Valley Conference.
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