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University Daily Kansan
Tuesday, May 21, 1963
Ellsworth Retires With Fond Memories
This will be Fred Ellsworth's last graduation.
For 39 years he, as Alumni Secretary, has watched seniors graduating in June.
This June, however, will bring not only another graduation, but his retirement on the 30th.
As secretary of the Alumni Association, Ellsworth and his staff have endeavored to keep memories of KU and the Jayhawk alive for thousands of students who are graduated from the University each year.
"WE HAVE TREED consciously to develop class spirit," Ellsworth said. "No matter where they live now, we want KU grads to throw out their chests and say, I was a member of the class of . . ."
"The best way to accomplish this is through personal acquaintance- ship," Ellsworth said. "The office cultivates these personal contacts by making area tours.
"you go in and people collar you and visit as hard as they can," Ellsworth said. "They want to know what is going on at KU."
And Ellsworth has plenty of stories to tell. When he came to KU in 1924 there were 18,000 alumni on the college rolls. Today that number is about 60,000.
THE KANSAS UNION is a good example of the students' part in forming the present-day University, Ellsworth said. In those years he was on the committee that organized the management of the Union.
"The tables and chairs for the cateriae were moved over from a small wooden building in front of Watson called 'The Commons.'
"WE BEGAN SCHEMING to get money and finally hit upon the idea of a voluntary union fee — $1 for membership for the semester and $1.50 for sustaining membership. The students could pay as they came through the enrollment lines. They didn't have to pay the fee and most didn't."
The first thing Ellsworth and his committee bought with the money was a radio for the Union.
"Next we went down another floor and installed a soda fountain which made money from the start. We laced crepe paper across the ceiling so the concrete walls wouldn't look so bare."
BEFORE AN ADDITION to the Union in the 1950's, the main part of the building was structured as it is now, except that most of the rooms were unfinished.
In 1929 the students took a real
interest in the Union. Those were the days when there were separate men's and women's student councils.
Ellsworth remembers that Charles Haines of Sabetha and Helen Filikin, now Mrs. John Fox of Honolulu, made up their minds that the student councils would finance a dance floor. They did.
"No sooner did we get our floor
in than a fraternity and sorority had a formal at the FAU hail. Somebody left a cigarette burning and the place burned down.
LAST GRADUATION. . . Fred Ellsworth is planning his last commencement reunion as Alumni Secretary. He retires June 30.
ALTHOUGH THE UNION charged admission to dances, the budget was small until 1932 when Harold Denton was elected head of the Student Council.
"Harold was a victim of polio and walked on crutches, but what a strong boy he was," Ellsworth recalls.
In the lowest part of the depression he pushed through the Council a student activity fee of $1, Ellsworth said. The band and the Union got some of the fee. Much later the University Daily Kansan was included in the assessment. Students got into the games free.
LIKE THE PHYSICAL part of the campus, KU traditions have grown through the years. In 1923, before Ellsworth came to KU, the administration used a tent for commencement.
In 1924, students for the first time filed down the hill to the football stadium in what Ellsworth calls "the most beautiful graduation ceremony in the United States.
"No other university has the topography to provide such an effect," he said.
In bad weather the ceremonies were moved to Hoch Auditorium. The band played, and friends and relatives of graduates filled the auditorium.
"BUT THE BUILDING was a source of heartaches. Many parents couldn't get in." Ellsworth describes Allen Field House, where graduations are now conducted in bad weather as "a blessing."
At the alumni office graduation is big business.
"We're always in the middle of graduation or homecoming in the alumni office," he said. "That's when most of the alumni come back."
The Alumni Association is now preparing to be host to six class reunions in June: the gold medal club — all the classes who have gone through their 50th reunion — plus the class of 1913, the class of 1923, the class of 1938, the class of 1953 and the law school class of 1928.
SINCE MOST OF THE fraternity houses are closed by graduation, returning alumni usually make arrangements with the alumni office to stay in the dormitories.
Ellsworth said a highlight of the June reunion will be the return of the basketball team of 1923, declared national champions by the Helms Foundation.
Those were the days when the Jayhawk glowed with student enthusiasm. Ellsworth said.
"There was always a rally and a bonfire before a football game. Before the Missouri game in 1922 students carrying railroad flares lined Mississippi street to the stadium parking lot where "Phog" Allen led a pep rally in front of a bonfire.
"ANDY SCHOEPEPEL, then governor of Kansas, went down to the dressing room to give the boys a pep talk. And they won.
"Students today are more logical about school spirit."
Ellsworth won't forget his memories of 24 years of college life. He has tucked them away to share with the Centennial committee in preparation for the University celebration in 1966.
Nor will the endless procession of students who file down the hill to be graduated each June forget him. A grateful university has named a newly-built men's dormitory on the west side of the campus Ellsworth Hall in his honor.
Kent McCoin, Akron, Ohio, junior, was recently elected captain of Scabbard and Blade, tri-service honorary military society. Other officers are James Head, Des Moines, Iowa junior, first lieutenant; David Mackenzie, Prairie Village junior, second lieutenant; and Robert McCarty, New York City junior, first sergeant.
Scabbard and Blade Elects Fall Officers
New initiates into Scabbard and Blade are: Charles Edmonds, Lawrence junior; Harvey Edmonds, Leavenworth junior; Larry Heeb, Lawrence senior; Robert Herchert, Webster Groves, Moo, sophomore; Marvin Lampton, Wichita junior; Thomas Palmerlee, Lawrence senior; and Robert Tieszen, McPherson junior.
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