No run-of-the-mill millionaire
45th Relays dedicated to Hershberger
BY UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
A new event has been added to the Kansas Relays this year. It's the 35-and-over mile run, and one entry is the man who donated the money to build the track the race will be run on
Jim Hershberger, Wichita millionaire oilman, gave the University of Kansas $125,000 last year for a new synthetic track and expansion of the old one from six to eight lanes. This 45th Kansas Relays has been dedicated to him
Hershberger, 38, is a former member of the Kansas track squad. He was a sprinter in his college days. But few would bet against him in Saturday's mile for the middle-aged set.
Most everyone in Kansas knows the story of how Jim Hershberger set Wichita a-buzz one May day in 1958.
Seems Jim used to run out to play nine holes during his lunch break. He started telling everyone he could play nine holes in 45 minutes. Some of his friends expanded his boast to 36 holes in three hours and bet he couldn't do it. That turned out to be a piddling effort; Hershberger went the distance in two hours, 21 minutes and averaged 78 strokes for the two rounds.
Wild Bet
Naturally, Jim didn't keep quiet about it. That set the stage for one of the wildest bets made in the annals of sport. On May 12, 1958, at Wichita Country Club, Hershberger was bet he couldn't play 10 rounds, or 180 holes, in less than 15 hours.
Preparing for the effort, Jim ran 60 miles, the distance he figured 180 holes to be, in rehearsal for the big event. When the big
day came, the course at Wichita County Club was cleared. Hershberger pulled his own cart and ran.
He played the first 96 holes in four hours, 56 minutes and averaged 79.5 strokes per 18 holes. A crowd estimated at 6,000 filtered onto the course.
No one knows how much money was on the line, but estimates of wagers among the affluent spectators ranged up to $50,000.
Knee Injury
On the 97th hole, Hershberger fell and wrenched his knee trying to jump over a creek. That hole took 45 minutes to finish.
But a spectator went for a doctor, who came and froze Hersberger's knee with a chemical spray. The knee had to be frozen 10 times in the succeeding holes
Hershberger completed the 180 holes in 12 hours 56 minutes, avi-
eraging 87 strokes a round.
Jim, who claims he started with "14 cents in the bank and a lot of mortgages," has always been a physical fitness nut. Three times a week, he runs four miles as soon as he gets out of bed in the morning. The other four days, he runs seven miles.
Preparing All Winter
For lunch, he plays basketball and follows that with paddleball or tennis in the evening.
As expected, Hersberger has been preparing all winter. It's been reported he's been clocked in 4:35 in practice.
"The snow didn't interfere with my training too much," he says.
"Training is coming along as well as a 14-hour business schedule will allow and if I'm defeated it will be because someone else is a better distance runner than I at this age.
Wilt sparks Lakers bid for NBA throne
"But I'm in shape and they're going to know that I was in the race."
As you can see, Jim Hersnberger is not the run-of-the-mill millionaire.
"Our backs certainly couldn't be further up the wall," said the Hawks' player-coach. "We shot very poorly."
during and after the sloppily- played contest.
By RABUN MATTHEWS
ATLANTA (UPI) — Wilt Chamberlain, a "controversy back home," according to Los Angeles Coach Joe Mullaney, is the difference in the National Basket-
coach who was so outraged by the officiating in Sunday's opening game loss that he called a press conference and threatened to turn the second game into a blood-letting, was almost docile
Rugby club continues league play
ball Association Western Division playoff finals.
The KU rugby club takes it's undefeated record to Atchison Saturday to play St. Benedicts, a team it beat earlier this year. The rugby "A" team carries a seven win, no loss record into the contest. The "B" team also undefeated, will play a "B" game against St. Benedicts in the second game Saturday.
The "A" team is fresh from a 10-3 victory over Missouri last Saturday. In it's seven wins it has piled up 110 points to 17 for the opposition. Kim Ewonus, Wichita junior, is the leading scorer with 49 points. Jim Thurman, Overland Park junior, is second with 18 points.
On April 25 KU travels to Columbia, Mo. for a rematch against the Tigers. The KU team has been pointing all year for a tournament in Chicago May 2-3 sanctioned by the United States Rugby Union. Other teams entered are the defending champion the St. Louis Falcons, Notre Dame and all the Big Ten schools.
Co-captain Bob Marquis, Kansas City, Mo. sophomore, said "We have a good chance to go all the way this year in Chicago. We have the best team we've had in years." In 1698 the KU rugby club placed third in Chicago
The other co-captain is Phil Conner, Detroit, Mich. senior. The president of the rugby club is Shorty Lawrence, Scott City junior.
Chamberlain was the offensive spark when the Lakers needed it and a bulky intimidator all night long who kept Atlanta players unnerved in a ho-hum, 105-94 win Tuesday over the Hawks in what had been billed as a possible blood-letting by Atlanta Coach Richie Guerin.
Apr. 16
1970 KANSAN 15
The victory was the second in two playoff games for Los Angeles. The two teams go to Los Angeles for games three and four, to be played Friday and Sunday.
The New York Knickerbocker also hold a 2-0 edge on Milwaukee in the Eastern Division playoff finals, with game three Friday in Milwaukee.
A Lot of Controversy
A Lot of Controversy "There's been a lot of controversy back home about Chamberblain," Mullaney said. "A lot of folks thought we were a better team — quicker and more exciting — without Chamberblain."
Chamberlain hurt his knee early in the season and sat out most of the year while the Lakers finished second to Atlanta in the Western Division race.
"It's Incredible"
"He played well in the fourth and fifth games at Phoenix and has been a really key man for us since," Mullaney said.
Chamberlain had 10 points during the Lakers' 32-18 scoring spurt in the third quarter against Atlanta that was the difference in the game. He finished the night with 24 points and as many rebounds.
West said, "It's incredible that we could come in here and win two straight games. Just unbelievable." West's words were echoed by Mullaney.
Richie Guerin, the Atlanta
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TRIAL BY JURY AND COX AND BOX
(TWO ONE-ACT MUSICALS) presented by the Mt. Oread Gilbert & Sullivan Company
SUNDAY, APRIL 19 Twilight Matinee 5:30 p.m. Evening,8:30 p.m. Woodruff Auditorium
All tickets $1 at SUA Office Kansas Union and at the door