University Daily Kansan, November 30, 1981
Page 5
von Ende
From page one
means people aren't always going to like me."
Von Ende stepped in last month to negotiate contracts with physicians at the Med Center.
"The chancellor said, 'You're in charge of the negotiating team. Get the contracts developed and signed.' It required me to be at the Med Center a lot and do what the Regents and the chancellor and the Legislature want," von Ende said.
"It's a matter of having to bump heads when you don't want to."
Budid and von Ende don't seem to bump
him around. And even though they have
different personalities,
The ride down the turnip on the way to the governor's budget hearing recently gave them time to plan the rest of their day. Budig double-checks the time and place of his speaking engagement that evening with von Kittel, who has been virtually all of his trips. Von Ende keeps him organized. That night Budig was to address the Friends of the Library in Kansas City.
"We complement each other," Von Ende says, covering more of the ground we need to cover.
BUDIG LIKES TO BE surrounded by different people, each knowledgeable in a special area, and von Ende is one of those people.
His areas of expertise are the Kansas Legislature and the Med Center. Budg often depends on von Ende to handle questions for the Board. Budg also visits the other day at the Board of Regents meeting.
"At lunch Chancellor Budig he wanted me to be sure to be there at the meeting at
1:30, even though it was just going to be a routine meeting, in case there were any Med Center questions," von Ende said. "He wanted me to handle them."
Von Ende admits he probably works too hard.
"I'm a compulsive worker," he said.
"I'm a workaholic. I don't have much down time."
His wife, Kathryn, said he definitely was a workaholic.
"He's always been a hard worker," she said, "and is just that inner drive, the wish to be excellent."
THE DAY OF THE KU-Missouri football
schedule has a good example of his busy
schedule.
He had to drop off football tickets by 8:30 a.m. at a window for some alumni to pick up, then go to his office so others could pick up their tickets there.
At 9:30 a.m. he went to the Kansas Union to prepare for and monitor Joe Engle's press conference. At 11:00 a.m. he went to the chancellor's residence for a pre-game luncheon, where he played the football game, where he bad to make sure some alumni and legislators were in the right seats.
After the game he had to go to an alumni reception and dinner for Earle.
Von Ender ended his day with a speech at a past-session banquet for the rugby football
As executive secretary, von Ende also oversees the University Relations offices in Lawrence, Kansas City and Wichita; he is KU's resident expert on the Med Center, doing such things as seeking benefits for nurses and negotiating contracts with physician corporations. He is secretary of the University of Kansas Athletic Corporation
But of all his duties, he is probably best-known as KU's legislative liaison. He spends several days each month in Topeka, attending a conference where the sure KU is not forgotten in the Liaigurale.
and he deals with alumni, involving them in University life.
IN AUGUST OF 1972, Chancellor Raymond Nichols asked von Ende to take over as executive secretary on a temporary basis, largely because of von Ende's success in student government while he was a graduate student here.
"I was ecstatic," von Ende said. "I had thought to myself that all of the jobs at the University I'd like that one, but I didn't think it at it since it (Nichols) had had it since 1929.
"I was so ecstatic that I did not ask what the halo was, when the offence would be or what the punishment would be."
Von Ende makes $41,000 a year as executive secretary.
Nichols and von Ende served on University council together when von Ende was a grantor.
"He was excellent," Nichols said. "He was active in student government and he was known as an excellent student. I think he had A's in every course he took here."
Von Ende's belief that everyone has an obligation to make society a little bit better is the reason he got involved in student government in the late '60s, he said.
"I was asked to be on the all-student
board, but later I found
myself chairman of the council."
THE CAMPUS erupted with student unrest and the students complained about their lack of voice in activities. He worked to change this situation. In one year the student
"I knew where the money was and who was controlling it," he said. "I told them we wanted to control some of it instead of the administration."
government budget jumped from $8,000 to $40,000, partly because of von Ende.
Von Ende started working with the Legislature in 1975. That year he replaced John Conard, an assistant to the chancellor and the legislative liaison, who was recruited by Gov. Robert Bennett to be his assistant. He then resigned, and so von Ende said he handled a couple of legislative items that session, then took over the job completely.
Von Ende has built quite a rapport with the lawmakers legislators over the years, but he had to do it at a cost. "The cost of
"I tried to answer every question they had as completely as possible. When I started as legislative liaison I didn't know anybody but three legislators."
BUT HE DOWNPLAYS this laison role, saying he just likes the job and the people.
"If I have friendships and good will built up, it's because I like them," he said. "Some are close personal friends, maybe as close as if I could always have drink or dinner with somebody.
"We're working for the same things—to make the quality of life in Kansas good with the resources available. Higher education is a valuable resource."
He preferred to talk about the legislators rather than his job.
"I'm not sure many people realize the sacrifices they make to serve in the Legislature," he said. "To serve requires a commitment from January to April.
"I appreciate what they do and I enjoy associating with them."
And the legislators say they enjoy
associating with von Ende. Rep. Fred Weaver, D-Baxter Springs, House minority leader, said he admired von Ende's warehouse of information.
"Rick's job is Mr. Information Man," he any legislator
Von Ende crosses his hands in front of his body and he draws himself in straight.
Weaver said von Ende understood the legislators.
"He's also Mr. Computer a time or two.
He'll be sitting on the Ways and Means Committee in the back of the room. They'll be discussing a subject not interesting to KU and then they'll ask Rick a question. He stands up. He has this mannerism."
"He clears his threat and it's like somebody punches a button. He just spews the information out. He has a capacity and he can draw it right out of his head."
"Rick is very smooth. I don't think they (KU) could find a better ambassador."
AFTER SPENDING the day answering questions and making presentations, von Ende often likes to relax at Johnny's Tavern with several of his rugby teammates, usually on the court. He can be found blinding in with the club at the tavern, holding a glass of beer.
He is usually tapping his cowboy boots and singing along with the band. A couple of weeks ago there was some discussion among the rugby players of von Ende drinking a "yard," a yard-tall beer glass. When a rugby player's name is called over the microphone, he must drink the yard of beer non-stop or face the ridicule of his teammates.
Von Ende managed to talk his way out of it, pleading an early morning meeting and promising to tackle the yard the following Saturday after the rucky game.
THE RE-STUFFED PIG
WE'VE CLEANED UP OUR STY!
WAITED TABLES
-INTIMATE ATMOSPHERE
-LIVE MUSIC ON WEEKENDS
-COMPETE DINNER MENU
ANY HOUSE
$1 OFF
SPECIALTY
GO. FIGHT WIN JAYHAWKS GO. FIGHT WIN JAYHAWKS
GO. FIGHT. WIN. JAYHAWKS
JOIN US AT THE HALL OF FAME BOWL
Birmingham, Alabama
THURSDAY, DEC. 31st
WHEN THE JAYHAWKS DEFEAT THE MISSISSippi STATE BUILDLOGS
AIR TOUR
**AIR TOUR** Includes, Game Tickets, Deluxe Hotel Motocarbon
Transfers to and from the Airport and Game. You'll be a Guest To
A Prime Rim Dinner and Cocktails. A New Year's A celebration Beginning in
and Continuing 30,000 feet Above The World on your Return
Flight.
CHARTERED MOTORCOACH Includes 5 Game Tickets
2 Nights, Hotel, Transfers for only $158 per person—Double occupancy
Individuals and Groups Welcome.
Call Us Today! Dendrilline Man... Nov. 30th
Call Us Today! Deadline Mon., Nov. 30th
- GO, FIGHT, WIN, JAYHAWKS - GO, FIGHT, WIN, JAYHAWKS
travel service
TRAVEL CENTER
Maupintour
or
841-7117
443-1211
GO.FIGHT.WIN.JAYHAWKS—GO.FIGHT.WIN.JAYHAWK
843-1211
Calvin Klein
Authentic Straight Leg Blue Jeans Reg. Price $42^{00}$ plus tax
NOW $2500
★ Available in Misses & Mens Sizes
★ Authentic Calvin Klein
★A great Christmas Gift
★Satisfaction Guaranteed
★ 5% discount for 4 pairs or more
★ Add *3⁽ᵈ⁾ if COD
(shipping & handling)
Note: To insure delivery before Christmas break, your order must be placed on or before Dec. 4, 1981
CALL NOW TOLL-FREE 1-800-325-9907
operators standing by
Distributed by Wholesale Jeans, Inc.
St. Louis, Mo. 63111
Don't Miss Out—Call Now!
Offer Good Till Dec. 4, 1981
Place a want ad in the Kansan
DIANE VON FURSTENBERG
ZIPATONE SALE
HALF SHEET DRY TRANSFER LETTERS
75° OFF WITH COUPON
Reg. $2.60
SALE $1.85
coupon expires 12/5/81
main union level 2 satellite shop
kansas
union bookstores main union level 2 satellite shop
COUPON
ZIPATONE SALE
Half Shoot Dry Transfer
ROG. '2.60
75' off with coupon coupon expires 12/5/81
1 coupon per $ \frac{1}{2} $ sheet