Hasn't missed a class in 30 years
Printing prof retiring for second time
By CLANCEY MALONEY Kansan staff writer
Thomas C. (Mickie) Ryther, associate professor of journalism at the University of Kansas, will retire at the close of this semester after serving as a printing instructor since 1940.
This is the second time Ryther has retired from service to KU. In 1966, Ryther retired as the superintendent of the KU Printing Service to take on full-time duties as a faculty member at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Public Information.
"The gound-floor office adjoin ing the stairway entrance was the office of the Phelps County Record in Newburg, Mo," Ryther said. "I got into the habit of sweeping the walk in front of the newspaper office, even though I wasn't expected to.
Ryther gave his start in printing in 1916. He said he was working for a dentist, "doing the things a kid usually does around a dentist's office before the dentist arrives." Part of the job, he said, was to sweep the stairway and the sidewalk below.
"One day, the editor, Chester A. Haney, came out and asked me if I would like to learn the printing trade," he said. "Without knowing anything about it, I said yes.
"A few years back, a Karen E Haney showed up in my graphic arts class," Ryther said. "I found out she was a relative of Chester A. Haney, who had first hired me as a 'printer's devil.' So, I had a rare opportunity to repay in like kind the instruction which I received from him."
He said that while he was working for the paper, the editor
16 KANSAN May 6 1970
ran a cartoon series featuring "Mickie, the Printer's Devil." Many printer's devils working for papers at that time got that nickname.
"With me," Ryther said, "I guess the name just stuck."
In 1920, Ryther went to the Logan (Kan.) Republican where he purchased a half-interest in the paper, "mostly on credit." In 1922, he enrolled as a freshman at KU and found a job in the campus print shop to finance his education.
After graduating in 1926, Ryther took a job as the plant foreman of the Newark (Del.) Ledger, where he also served "in emergency periods" as editor, reporter and editorial writer.
Returning to KU in 1928, he was a full-time printing plant foreman at the KU Press, later called the Printing Service, and part-time student working for his master's degree. He received his degree in 1932.
Ryther left KU in 1937 to become the printing plant superintendent and printing instructor at South Dakota State College in Brookings. In 1940, he returned to become supervisor of KU's printing service and a part-time instructor in journalism.
"I remember the first linotype machine I ever operated." Ryther said. "My wife and I visited the old Cawker County (Kan.) Ledger in 1969 when my high school class held its fifttim reunion. It was an old Model 10 linotype machine that used to be at the Altom Empire back in 1918."
Rythe has several hobbies which he intends to pursue after he retires. He has written several dozen articles concerning all phases of printing, including a guide to printing museums in the United States. He said he would continue writing.
seums of printing in Europe that my wife and I hope to visit after I retire." Ryther said.
"There are also many fine mu-
Ryther is also interested in "contested documents," including counterfeit money, about which he has written several articles.
"I write the articles mostly by way of trying to help," Ryther said. "In my classes, I usually give one lecture a semester about counterfeiting."
In addition to this hobby, Ryther is also an expert on old
Thomas C. Ryther
printing equipment. He has been instrumental in helping the School of Journalism acquire several antique presses of great historical value.
Among the items he has helped to acquire are a Simplex type-setter which "is a rare item," according to Ryther. The School of Journalism also has a Civil War press which belonged to the father of another faculty member, James Murray. In 1952, Ryther helped to obtain an antique Pearl Press.
Having never missed a day in class since he began teaching in 1940, Ryther has a definite philosophy about how to treat students.
"I never give a rush job for quizzes," he said, "I always give my students ten days notice before an exam."
Ryther now teaches History and art of Printing, a required
course for many journalism majors. He has also taught several other journalism courses, including History of American Journalism, advanced reporting, and Newspaper Administration.
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