The KANSAN Comments . . .
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN, LAWRENCE, KANSAS
Leon Flint on Mt. Oread
By HENRY J. HASKELL The Kansas City Times
It will be hard for Kansas University graduates, especially for graduates of the department of journalism, to think of the department without Prof. Leon Nelson Flint as its head. An unassuming, modest man, Leon Flint has impressed his personality on his students. With his keen sense of humor he has been accustomed to light up his teaching with witty comments and observations on the newspaper scene.
The photographs of famous editors that he has accumulated in the corner of the newsroom of the Daily Kansan, the student publication, he has made contribute to the instruction of his pupils. Passing through the room, he often would stop to comment or tell some illustrative anecdote about one of the editors.
THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 1941.
His books show his grasp of the fundments in the field and his high ideals of journalism as a profession—for to Leon Flint journalism always has been a profession and not a "game," as it so often is called. Because he honored his calling he has taken especial pride in his conferences of high school students whom he sought to interest in newspaper work.
Leon Flint has taken a genuine interest in all those who came under him. He always has been ready with sympathy and advice. At the depth of the depression when jobs were few, the possibility that graduates might not be able to place themselves caused him real anxiety. His proverbial honesty is exemplified in one of his letters of recommendation. "This man is no world beater," he wrote, "but few of us are."
It is pleasant to know that, while Professor Flint is to be relieved of the details of administrative work. he will go on with his teaching Fortunately for the undergraduates and the University the wholesome influence of Leon Flint is to continue on Mt. Oread.
'Daddv' Flint Retires
By William Dougherty,
The Kansas City Kansan.
"Daddy Flint's boys and girls" throughout the country, and there are a lot of them—1,222, by recent count—along with countless other newspaper folks and fellow educators who have been his associates, note with regret that the veteran chairman of the department of journalism at the University of Kansas is retiring from the administrative duties at the end of this term. They are glad to see that he is to continue teaching in the department.
The term "Daddy" Flint is used widely, respectfully and accurately, for the one thing that his former students remember about him above everything else is the personal interest that he took in them while in school and that he still takes as he follows their varying fortunes.
Relieved of administrative details now to go to some younger man, Professor Flint is due many more useful, fruitful years as a teacher in the department he has built.
Professor Flint has been teaching fledgling newspaper people at K.U. for 35 years, heading the department for 25 of those years. That makes him dean of American teachers of journalism. But his influence has not been confined to the classroom. Always in close contact with newspaper editors, especially those of the state, many of whom are his former students, he has a constant worker for building and maintaining professional standards.
'Dean' Flint
By Fred W. Brinkerhoff.
Pittsburg Sun-Headlight.
L. N. Flint is retiring at the end of the current year as head of the department of journalism at the University of Kansas. Mr. Flint is the dean of American teachers of Journalism Thirty-five years ago he became a member of the staff of the University's journalism department Twenty-five years ago he became head of the department. More than 1,200 students have completed their work under Dean Flint Many of them have risen to high places in newspaper and other journalism They are scattered not only over the country but over the world. The personnel of Kansas newspaperdom has scores of Flint's students.
In addition to his educational work, his administering of the affairs of the school of journalism including several sidelines such as the newspaper roundtables, the Kansas editors' hall of fame and the conference of high school editors and conference of teachers of journalism, Mr. Flint has written three or four books that are widely used as textbooks in journalism throughout the country.
There will be sincere regret on the part of graduates and former students of the journalism department at the University of Kansas, as well as on t.e part of Kansas newspaper folks generally, that retirement time for Dean Flint has arrived. But there will also be congratulations and best wishes for him on the completion of such a long period of service and for the enjoyment of his retirement. Kansas publishers may be missing his frequent letters seeking jobs for worthy young journalists at K.U. But it is probable that the dean will fill in part of his time by writing letters to publisher friends asking them to consider K.U students for jobs.
When we change our ideas we change our friends because our friends are only the embodiment of our ideas.—George Moore
A fool and his money are soon parted (and usually some smarter person is named as correspondent.)
UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Student Paper of
THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
Publisher ... Gray Dorsey
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ROCK CHALK TALK
Shern lamb Ray Eley, Sig Ep, owes his mowed down appearance to Jan Granger, Chi Omega. On a coke date last week she persuaded him that he needed a crew cut, took him right into the barber shop, and saw that his hair was clipped short before he had time to think the situation over.
"We need have no more fears for the government," beamed one star student. "Taggart has the reins"
When J. H. Taggart, professor of economics, left for Washington, D.C., for his new job with the Department of Commerce, students rejoiced.
Those in the botany class of Worthie Horr, associate professor, have been kicking themselves ever since they took their final last week.
He gave them a line, "The questions you ask indicate your knowledge of the course;" then had them ask questions. Catch was that each student had to answer his own question, hard and long, for the final.
Hollywood hotshot Ted North's Phi Psi brothers called him collect at 3 o'clock Wednesday morning. A month before Ralph Miller had threatened that if he did not hear from North in a month, he would call and reverse charges.
Tribute To Flint In Kistler's Speech
North accepted the call, and proudly told the boys that he is going to marry Mary Beth Hughes, voluptuous blonde star whom you may remember for her charming of the "Cisco Kid" or her work with Don Amchee in "Four Sons."
EDITER'S NOTE: The following speech was made by Jack Kistler in 1937 when he presented Mr. Flint a watch and radio as gifts of alumni Mr. Flint delivered the alumni achievement address at the 1937 Commencement.
Back in 1897, when the teaching of journalism in colleges was looked upon somewhat askance by the mass of newspaper workers, the first courses in journalism were organized at this University under the director of E. M. Hopkins, professor of English.
These courses proved to be not only popular, but valuable as well, so that by 1906 the University felt called upon to draft as a lecturer in journalism a
These courses proved to as well, so that by 1906 the Uni as a lecturer in journalism at young man who then was the alumni secretary.
Dean of Journalism Schools
Shortly thereafter, this man became a permanent member of the faculty of the University, and for more than 30 years he has devoted his life to the teaching of journalism. His rise was not meteoric, but steady and merited, so that by 1916 his interest and enthusiasm were rewarded when he was made chairman of the department. He still holds this position, and along with it he has the distinction of being the dean of all journalism heads in the United States in years of service.
He is the author of three published books, "Newspaper Writing in High Schools," "The Editorial," and "The Conscience of the Newspaper," all of which are widely used as texts.
Holds Respect of All
He has seen more than a thousand young men and women come to this University for instruction in journalism, and to each of them he gave something, out of his store of knowledge and kindly interest, which has had a large part in shaping their careers. Many of these students have risen high in the ranks of the profession, and today there are probably more renowned journalists in the East—the center of the Fourth Estate—who came under the influence of this man than of any other one person.
Prof. Leon Nelson Flint is to Kansas journalism what Walter Williams was to Missouri, and what Willard Grosvenor Bleyer meant to Wisconsin. He is known and beloved by every Kansas editor, and he holds the respect and admiration of teachers of journalism throughout the United States.
To his former students he is known as "Daddy" Flint, a title not
lightly bestowed, but one well-deserved and well-worn.
Mr. Flint is extremely modest and would no doubt disclaim any credit for the successes of his former students. But the list of those who are prominent is large, as we have noticed from his own account of their achievements, and he may well take pride in their record.
Tributes From Students
I want to read only two tributes out of the many which have been paid to him. Ralph Ellis, formerly managing editor of the Kansas City Journal Post, and at present with Foreign Language Newspaper Service Corporation, Chicago, writes as follows: "I think there is no one on the Hill who has worked harder or done more for the youngsters under his supervision than Professor Flint."
John M. Henry, for many years a successful newspaper publisher, and at present general manager of the Central States Broadcasting System, says: "L. N. F. was so modest that it was not until we were several years away from him that we began to appreciate him."
A short time ago a spontaneous movement began among Mr. Flint's former students to raise a fund by which we might show, in some measure, our appreciation to the man we all love and respect. And so I am here today, Mr. Flint, representing the more than a thousand former students of yours to present you with a small token of our esteem and affection. It is engraved quite simply with these words: "To Leon Nelson Flint From His For Students, June 7, 1937." While this inscription is quite inadequate to express our real feelings, we trust that you will accept it with our best wishes for many more fruitful years as head of the department of journalism at the University of Kansas. In addition, you will receive, also, a radio, which you are to select yourself.