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University Daily Kansan Thursday, Feb. 13, 1958
He Picked Up A Guitar-
Ballad-Singing Oldfather Began Career In Navy
By MARTHA FREDERICK (Qf the Daily Kansan Staff)
He picked up a guitar in the bunk of a buddy next to him and began to strum it. This was in 1942 on a Navy ship, and was the beginning of the ballad singing career of Charles H. Oldfather, Jr., associate professor of law.
He came from a singing family but never had learned to play the guitar because his father was the guitar player of the family, he said.
Mr. Oldfather is the guitar player of his own family now but he also entertains the public with such songs as "He's Gone Far Away" and "Abdul, the Bul Bul Ameer," his two favorite ballads. Most of his songs come from a nucleus his family sang, from books, records and from people who have taught him.
CHARLES H, OLDFATHER JR.
"I guess I've sung about every occasion where people like to have music on the program," Prof. Old-father said.
Tells History of Ballads
The programs have included service clubs in Lawrence and summer institutes sponsored by the University and KU alumni groups. He has studied ballads and their history and gives his audience the backgrounds of songs.
"I don't go out of town much—it takes too much time," he explained. "I go out of town only for friends, and on alumni trips for the University.
Last summer he did his own show in Assaria, Kan. He said 250 people were turned away at the door and the warehouse "theater" was packed.
"I don't feel embarrassed if I can't remember a word," he said. "I just la-ti-da or hum until I remember what comes next. This happens most on songs I know best because I'm not thinking about the words when I sing them."
"You don't need a voice for this sort of thing. You just have to be able to chord," he explained modestly.
His radio work includes a series of 13 25-minute tapes for KUOK and he also has given live shows at the station. He was a guest on a TV program in Madison, Wis.
"I felt self-conscious when I looked up and saw my head on the monitor in the station. I'm always nervous, but people thing I'm not," he said grinning.
Singing Quiets Children
Prof. Oldfather gets a workout on ballads at home when he sings for his children to quiet them down or get the younger ones out of a "tizy." He is the father of seven children ranging in age from $ 2 \frac{1}{2} $ months to 14 years.
None of his children have followed in his footsteps as far as guitar playing goes, but a son and daughter do play the piano. He describes himself as a "piano player of sorts," since he took lessons for seven years but confesses he can't play by ear.
Prof. Oldfather came to KU in 1950. He was graduated from The Harvard Law School and practiced law for three years in Milwaukee.
New KU Postal Clerk
Charles Hemphill, a veteran of 12 years postal service, has recently been assigned as a clerk at the KU Post Office. A former registration clerk in the downtown Post Office, Mr. Hemphill replaces Grant Eichhorn. Mr. Eichhorn is now a foreman at the main Post Office.
Detroit Edison Co.
ELECTRICAL POWER
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES Research and Development Plant and System Design Equipment Engineering Planning for Growth Purchasing Sales
in the exchange. The institutions are the University of Kiel and University of Mainz, Germany, University of Aberdeen, Scotland, and University of Exeter, England.
Electrical - Mechanical
Students may get application blanks at the department of German, 306 Fraser Hall. All applications must be submitted to the department by March 1.
ENGINEERS
Reserve your appointment time at placement office to see our representative for summer and full-time employment
Thursday, February 20
Make Application For K-Book Staff
Quill Club officers for the spring and fall semesters of 1958 were elected Wednesday.
Quill Club Elects 1958 Officers
Elected were: Mary Helen Clark, Kansas City, Mo. junior, editor and president; Bob Cross, Overland Park junior, vice-president; Elinor Hadley, Kansas City, Mo. sophomore, treasurer; Alice Forssberg, Logan sophomore, secretary, and Paula Sutton, Overland Park junior.
Four graduating seniors or graduate students will be chosen to attend four foreign universities in an official scholar exchange program.
Want To Study In Europe?
Joseph Henkle, lieutenant governor of Kansas, will talk about the Kansas legislative budget sessions at a joint meeting of the KU and Douglas County Young Democrats in the Kansas Union cafeteria at 8 onight, according to John Sullivan, president of KU Young Democrats.
Under the exchange program, effective for the 1958-59 school year, KU will receive a scholar from each of the four universities participating
To Talk In Dodge City
"Professional Objectives" will be the speech given tonight by George W. Bradshaw, professor of civil engineering, at a dinner for the southwest chapter of the Kansas Engineering Society in Dodge City.
Lt. Governor To Speak
Applications are being received today through Tuesday for business manager and editor of the K-Book date book and hand book. Applications can be submitted to Hugh Grant or the ASC office in the Kansas Union. Anyone desiring further information is asked to call Grant at VI 3-4811.
Look What We're Giving
Giving Away FREE
(the trophies, we mean)
3rd
Daily Kansan Photo Contest Closes February 28
- 3 DIVISIONS -
Black & White (5 fields) Color (slides or photos)
Jayhawker Publication, $10 (special subject-football)
All Students, Faculty and Administration are Eligible
Entry Blanks and Rules at Kansan Office 111 Flint Hall