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University Daily Kansan Fridav. Nov. 22.1957
—(Daily Kansan photo)
THINGS LOOK ROSY—Dutch Lonborg and Earl Falkenstien talk over the ticket situation.
Success Is Byword For A. C. Lonborg
No athletic regime in Kansas history has been more successful than that under Dutch Lonborg, KU athletic director since 1950.
Lonborg started his athletic career in 1917 at KU playing football, basketball, and baseball. Lonborg is one of only 32 Jayhawker athletes to earn letters in 3 sports and only one of a handful rated first team all-conference berths in football and basketball.
"Football is beginning to look like it did in my days with power being stressed more and more," said Lonborg.
"Of course, we didn't have two or three teams to run in each half like they do now so we had to play the entire game," he said.
Lonborg explained that in his senior year, KU only had 13 football lettermen so it would have been rather hard to have a winning combination by changing teams.
"We faced all single wing teams during my years in college but we still had to protect against that running pass which was as big a weapon then as it is now," he said.
Lonborg not only starred m football but gained all-America AAU acclaim with the old KCAC five. He was a 3-year letterman at third base in baseball.
"I didn't have very much money at the time, so when I was offered some quick money to accept a coaching position, I decided to try my hand at it," Lonborg said.
The Horton native graduated from the KU Law School in 1921 but never practiced a day.
"I always had enjoyed sports and I found this was just the job for me."
Lonborg's basketball successes over an extended period earned him selection to the National Basketball Hall of Fame.
Coached At McPherson
His first job was at McPherson college, as the Bulldogs' first full-time coach. He coached all sports there was most successful in basketball, guiding his teams to 23 victories in 27 starts. This earned him promotion to Washburn where he spent four years leading the Topeka school.
His 1925 team won the National AAU in Kansas City, the last collegiate undergraduate unit to win that title.
"Probably, the best two boys I ever coached were Otto Graham and Joe Reiff," he said.
Lonborg then moved to the Big Ten where he served under Tug Wilson at Northwestern University. There he remained for 23 years, posting an over-all 237-198 record.
Since 1950 when Lonborg came to KU as Athletic Director, a total of 21 conference championships have been won.
Equally important the physical plant has been expanded considerably. The main item was the building of the 17,000-capacity Allen Field House, with its multiple facilities for basketball, indoor track and baseball.
Lonborg has worked constantly toward improving the facilities at KU as well as the athletic teams.
Falkenstien's Job Varies
One of the hardest working men at the University is E. L. Falkenstien, athletic business manager who celebrates his 26th year at KU this fall.
His main job consists of taking charge of ticket sales for all athletic events at KU, the Big Eight indoor track meet and the pre-session basketball tournament in Kansas City, Mo. Besides handling the ticket sales, he is responsible for getting the tickets printed, sending out publicity material on the tickets and keeping the books balanced.
One of the more pleasant of Falkenstien's jobs is to attend all the away football games. And he hasn't passed up this chance since 1937. Of course, he has to make all accommodations for the team on the trip so it's not all play.
Falkenstien's work keeps him busy six days a week and often at night during the football season. He supervises an office staff which moved into Allen Field House where the ticket office facilities have been enlarged. This new office represents quite an improvement from the old headquarters in Robinson Gymnasium.
He likes his work because "there is always something changing and the job never falls into a routine. About the time you get some procedure memorized, a new and better way is found so you start all over again.
"The job has become more time consuming since we moved into Allen Field House," he said. "It used to be that once the football season was over, most of our work was done but now it doesn't slack off until the end of basketball season." Falkenstien commented that other things have changed besides his job since the building of the field house.
"When we were playing basketball in old Hoch Auditorium, we had to discourage people from coming to the basketball games but now with the new field house, we are urging the KU fans to fill up the spacious plant," he said.
"Last year, we filled up the field house quite a few times with Chamberlain being the big attraction. This year with Wilt back, crowds again should flock to see the Jayhawkers play."
Reflecting on the difference in ticket prices since he has been on the job, Falkenstien said that the base price on the ticket has stayed just about the same but the state and federal taxes have gone way up.
KU Swimmers Open Season Dec.7 At Southern Illinois
The KU swimming team is working out six days a week preparing for its first meet with Southern Illinois at Carbondale Dec. 7. Coach Jay Markley will be building this year's team from seven varsity swimmers.
According to Markley, any student who is eligible for varsity athletics is eligible for swimming. This year he will have, in addition to the seven varsity men, 17 others with which to build for the next few years Among these are several freshmer who Markley feels will be a definite help next year.
Captain of this year's team is Jon Poort, who lettered in 1955 but was unavailable for competition in 1956 because of an appendectomy. According to Markley he is a strong middle distance man and above average in other events.
Other men Markley will be counting on include:
Steve Hill—Letterman from last year, spring man, has shown great improvement from last year.
Bill Matthews—Two year letterman, Diver. Markley expects him to be a standout this year.
Jared Piety—A strong distance man.
John Jeffrey--Entered in the butterfly and breaststroke events.
Markley said "this year we will start building a swimming squad that will be stronger than ever before." He said the strong team may not be developed this year but with the material out this year that will be eligible next year he felt the swimming picture for KU was rosy.
Members of the varsity squad include: John Adams, Lloyd Ferrell, Hal Krehbiel, Donald Morris, Wayne Nyberg, Edward Poort and John Pritchard.