2
University Daily Kansan
Retiring Professor Built KU Band
Russell L.Wilev, KU's Music Man
Kansan Staff Photo
By JACK HAWKS
Kansas Staff Reporter
Not long ago, Jim Barnes, Hobart, Okla,
graduate student in music, stopped by a professor's office to apologize for not completing a promised project.
"Don't worry, Jim," the professor said,
"I'll take care of it."
For 40 years, Russell L. Wiley, professor of music, has been "taking care of it," and in so doing, he has built a reputation that has brought him recognition as one of America's foremost leaders in the college band field.
Wiley intends to "cut all strings" as of Aug. 1 and assume the role of professor emeritus, a title he thinks is largely honorary.
"THEY WONT NEED my shadow around anymore." Wiley says, "and I think it a good time for me to step down. I still want to be in music, but not here in the department."
A native Texan, Wiley arrived in Lawrence in the fall of 1934 with the expressed purpose of "building a band at KU." Apparently, this goal was fulfilled because Wiley, until his retirement from the band directorship in 1968, saw the KU
Marching Jayhawk Band grew from a 90-
member, newly all-male organization to its
current 125-member unit.
According to Wiley, the boys, in previous years, wanted a fraternal-type organization, but now they don't give it a thought.
"It should be that way." he says.
Another of Wiley's early endeavors was the Midwestern Music and Art Camp, started in 1936. The camp was the camp where Wiley had nurtured the children at KU.
"I NURSED A certain dream for a "i summer music program for high school students," Wiley wrote in a recent article, "and I was convinced that the beautiful campus at the University of Kansas would support it to establish a summer music camp."
KU was evidently the right setting because the camp has grown steadily since the first 30 students enrolled in 1936. The camp peaked with 2,400 students in 1967, and Wiley expects 1,000 students this summer.
In 1950, the camp was expanded to include the band, orchestra and choir elements, as well as the brass quartet.
which, according to Wiley, seemed to be a fitting part of the summer program.
The next couple of years brought further additions, which included speech, journalism, science, math and languages. The work that followed further divided into theatre and then ballet.
On top of all this, the Junior High School camp was established and, in 1973, there were 400 junior high students from 17 states enrolled.
BESIDES HIS innovations as director of the Midwestern Music and Art Camp and conductor of the KU bands and symphony orchestra, Wiley also started Band Day in 1993.
Although only 30 high school and college bands participated in that opening attempt, it too has grown; last fall, more than 7,000 young musicians from 92 Kansas and Missouri junior high, high school and college bands participated.
Although his educational and musical accomplishments have enriched the lives of thousands of people, it is the style and complexity of the man that are most impressive.
"He listens and he cares," says Jim barres, "and this, plus his experience."
Barnes also said Wiley was a "fabulous conductor" and a "fantastical organizer."
"HOWEVER," BARNES said, "it is his recruiting ability which has brought most of the success to KU. If the KU football team were to lose the game, it would be like the Green Bay Packers."
Wiley's recruiting ability has extended beyond just good high school musicians. It was Wiley who brought the present band to Robert E. Foster, to KU three years ago.
"Mr. Wiley was the determining factor in my coming to the University of Kansas," Foster said, "and I was he who established them." He attracted top-notch musicians to KU.
A HIGHLY RESPECTED director in his own right, Foster said that the present trends were a direct outgrowth of Wiley's work and that he started a band "when most Midwesterners had no conceptions of what a good band was."
"I've tried to perpetuate the foundations and ideals be established." Foster said.
Del Brinkman, associate dean of the Del Brinkman, associate dean of the journalism division of the Midwestern University and provided a real service to the University.
"He brought to the campus many fine students," brinkman said. "Wiley did for me."
Foster also acknowledged that appealing quality of Wiley, and said, "The things he left, money can't buy. Mr. Wiley has left a priceless heritage."
Tryouts for membership to the nationally famous KU Yell Leaders squad will be conducted Thursday, April 25, starting at 6:30 p.m. in Allen Field House. Eight positions will be chosen, six regulars and two alternates. Requirements for membership are the following: male student (either graduate or undergraduate) of the University of Kansas who is regularly enrolled and has a minimum 1.8 grade point average. He must demonstrate a sincere desire to further promote athletics at the University of Kansas.
TRYOUTS
1974-75 KU Yell Leaders
Clinics for yell leader tryouts will be conducted Wednesday (April 17) and Thursday (April 18) of this week on the front lawn of Allen Field House beginning at 7 p.m. Routines for tryouts will be taught and questions answered. A third clinic will be conducted Tuesday, April 23, also on the front lawn of Allen Field House beginning at 7 p.m.
KU YELL LEADER and BABY JAYHAWKER
Commission Stalled On Garage Location
Lawrence city commissioners yesterday deferred action on a proposed site for the city's largest development.
Announcing
By KENN LOUDEN
Kansan Staff Reporter
The KU Yell Leaders are governed and sponsored by the University of Kansas Athletic Department.
Because of the overwhelming response of KU students desiring to become the Baby Jayhawk for the coming school year, the KU Athletic Department is asking for information about the position come for interviews and tryouts.
Before the meeting, Barkley Clark, city commissioner, said the area north of the Lawrence water plant was probably not subjected to the commission's expected the commission to agree on the site.
the mans aids said sufficient-size tracts authorized to secure proposals for an architectural firm to design the site and the architecture and to secure appraisals on the property.
ADVANTAGES OF THE AREA north of the water plant include location, cost and availability of land. The staff said the area is suitable for a range of site for centralization of all maintenance activities. The city water and park departments already are in this area, and transition to inventory control and related processes would be easier than it would at the other locations.
Other possible sites are the area north of 12th Street and east of Haskell Avenue; the southwest corner of 19th Street and Haskell Street and industrial ground in North Lawrence.
The city public works and planning staffs last week evaluated four sites and recommended the water plant site as the best.
The saftiffs also said sufficient-size tracts of land were available for the facility, and site preparation would be the least expensive at this location.
Both the Baby Jayhawker and Jayhawker are governed and sponsored by the University of Kansas Athletic Department. There will be no tryouts for the Jayhawkers, since both of students who occupied the position this year.
Interviews and tryouts will be conducted in Allen Field House Wednesday, April 24, beginning at 7 p.m. Announcement of the Baby Jayhawker and alternate will be made the day following.
Dennis Kallen, assistant city manager, said the main disadvantage would be the lack of available parking in adjacent residential areas, primarily Indiana and Mississippi streets. The increase was estimated at 600-700 vehicle trips each working day by the public works and emergency services.
1974-75 Baby Jayhawker
DISTANCE FROM THE REST of the city was the main disadvantage of the site, the staffs said, but this disadvantage is shared by all the proposed locations. They said they had investigated the possibility of a more locally located site but they couldn't find one.
A petition of 100 signatures was presented to the commission by Roxanne Enwart of 304 Indiana St. against building the garage north of the water plant.
SHE SAID THE land proposed wasn't any better than the site at 19th Street and Haskell Avenue. She said part of the water plant area was subject to flooding as was the other site. Also the water plant site wasn't any more centralized.
Enyerayt said the riverfront park would be built in the water plant area and this would necessitate screening the garage, thus increasing the cost.
George Allen of 309 Indiana St. said the area at 19th Street and Haskell Avenue already was owned by the city. He estimated the cost of the land at the water plant site at more than $100,000 if the city planned to buy it.
DENNIS A. KALSEN, assistant city manager, suggested that the southwest corner of 19th Street and Haskell Avenue be rezoned and sold for industrial purposes.
Mayor Jack Rose asked Kallsen to provide more information on the traffic management system. Rose also noted that there was a difference between the food level in the 19th Street and Haskell site and the water plant. Mayor Jack Rose suggested more information on it in three weeks.
In other business the city commission deferred a request of the Yellow Cab Company and Union Cab Company for an increase in taxi fares.
Work in an alternative education program in K.C. as a VISTA Volunteer. Other education programs may be offered via Interview. Placement Office, April 18.
GRADUATING TEACHERS
you've got a friend
full time FM stereo 106
KLWN
Lawrence
A high-style comedy about one young man and the three secrets of his success with women...
FOR OLD TIMES SAKE A MIDNIGHT SPECIAL
FRI. & SAT. NIGHT, 12:15 at Hillcrest
Robert Redford & Mia Farrow
'THE GREAT GATSBY'
NO PASSES
Fus 7:30 10:00 Sat Sun Mat. 2
Hillcrest
PAUL
NEWMAN
ROBERT PG
REDFORD
Two Men with Nothing in Common But a Will to Live . . . and a Place to Die!
This Time They Might Get
Away With It
Eve 7:15 : 9:40 Sat, Sun Mat 2:
THESTING
Hillcrest
THOSE "TRINITY"
BOYS ARE BACK-flying higher than ever.
Eve at 7:30 & 9:30
Sat.-Sun. Mat. at 2:30
of "BLAZING SADDLES"
at 11:30
COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON INTERVIEWS Thursday, April 18 at or Contact the SUA Office in for Interview Times - 864-344
Free University
Publicity Catalogue Teacher Recruiting Enrollment
Public Relations
j
Assistant PR Advertising Artists Orientation Week Receptions
Travel
The Hillcrest
TRAVEL FAIR
SUMMER FLIGHTS
PUBLICITY
TRIPS
Hawaii—January '75
Padre Island—March '75
Northwest Tour—August '74
Northeast Tour—
Christmas Break '74
Eureka Springs—
Bluegrass Festival
Indoor Recreation
CHESS CLUB BRIDGE CLUB QUARTERBACK CLUB BOWLING CLUB BILLIARDS CLUB TABLE TENNIS HANDBALL AND RACKET CLUB BOWLING LEAGUES
Outdoor Recreation
SKI CLUB CANOE MOUNTAINEERING AND BACKPACKING WILDERNESS DISCOVERY AND EQUIPMENT RENTAL
Forums
DEBATE PROGRAMS
MAJOR SPEAKERS
CONTEMPORARY ISSUES
SYMPOSIUM
MISCELLANEOUS
Fine Arts
PHOTOGRAPHY
FILM SERIES
GALLERY
PICTURE-LENDING
LIBRARY
POETRY HOUR
FILM SERIES