Repository: UIHistories Project: UI Foundation Series - Bulletin 4 (1936) [PAGE 4]

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University of Illinois Alumni Association

H E Alumni Association, which occupies the south wing, first floor, of the Union Building, is a busyorganization these days. T h e officers are feeling pretty good over the fact that the annual report shows an increase in membership over last year. More pages were published in the Illinois Alumni News than in any year since 1928. I n one issue of the Alumni News (there were ten during the year) 2337 alumni were mentioned by actual count. T h e Illinois Alumni News is the most widely traveled of any representative of the University of Illinois. Copies of it go not only all

Athletics and Physical Education at the University of Illinois

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versities indicates that Illinois' total of 132,700 graduates and former students is exceeded by only one other university. Also, our Alumni Association membership of 6171 is exceeded by only two other universities on the list. I t is of course true that the 119 colleges and universities do not make up a complete list—but practically all the larger ones are in it. T h e names of the 132,700 Illini fill scores of filing cabinets. T h e problems of filing all of these correctly are considerable. Several alumni have identical names. Not only do we list quite an assortment of John Adams', for instance, but we actually have two people named Leason Adams. When the Class of '36 went out on June 8, the total number of classes graduated from the University reached 65. N o Class has as yet completely died out, although one, the Class of 7 3 , has only one graduate living. Practically all the classes have class secretaries who keep up the records of t h e i r c l a s s m a t e s and supply information about them for the Alumni News. A few of these secretaries, h a v i n g r e t i r e d from their life occupations, are devoting considerable time to their classes, and seem to be getting a great deal of enjoyment out of them.

J. Pfistcr, began work in January. H e visits the Illini clubs, and other Illini groups, secures new members in the Alumni Association, and cultivates good will for the University wherever he goes. H e does considerable work with the Student-Alumni Association, which has for its object, "to further the welfare of the University of Illinois in the communities from which the students come." T h e past year was the first one, for the new Alumni Association scholarships, two of which were maintained during the year. These two were selected from a total of 120 applicants. F o r the coming year, two more scholarships have been made possible by contributions from the New York Illinae Club. ^ The intention of the Alumni A s sociation is to establish new scholarships just as fast as funds can be found for them. T h e Illinae clubs in Chicago, Detroit, and St. Louis have continued to contribute to the various University loan funds for women students. The alumni feel that it is important to secure for the University as many high-grade students as possible. Competitive scholarships are an exceedingly valuable asset for any University.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The editor of this

Director of Publicity, Athletic Department N O T H E R Illinois football season has ended but the great fall sport, so much in the public eye, after all is only a phase of the athletic program of the University. Such things as victories and defeats were of course overshadowed by the death of Director George Huff. A n impressive tribute was paid to him at the Washington game on Oct. 3, and at Homecoming again heads were bowed in his memory. Athletics and physical education are being carried on. under the leadership of Seward C. Staley, professor of physical education, as acting director of the School of Physical Education, under which falls the required and professional courses in physical education and the Health Service, and Wendell S. Wilson, '27, acting director of intercollegiate athletics in whose division also falls intramural athletics and faculty recreation. Under the wise direction and farseeing vision of George Huff, the little department of the early days has grown to proportions that would amaze one who has not been in touch with the development. Illinois teams in all the popular competitive sports have made good records and won many championships but the proper balance between athlelies and education has always been maintained, Surplus income from football has been used for the benefit of all the students. T h e artificial ice skating rink is a striking example of what is being done to give them healthful exercise and rerreal ion. In the last few years there has been no surplus to spend for such purposes but the Athletic Association has no debts. Memorial Stadium and Rink have long since been completely paid for. Illinois indeed is in a more fortunate situation than many oilier universities which have heavy burdens ul debt for capital expenditures for sladiums and other additions to athletic plants. One shudders to think what good will would have been lost in the state if we were still limited to a seating capacity of 22,000 and the Stadium were not available for alumni and other friends vyho want to see football games. T h e Stadium has been the magnet that attracted thousands of citizens to give them their first glimpse of their state university, (hit the great structure has its other uses. T h e west (neat Hall, a gymnasium in itself, is walled and floored for intramural basketball and is in constant use. T h e east Great Hall is available for similar development. T h e track squad uses the Stadium for training and meets and it is the scene of the traditional state interscholastic meet which brings t h e pick and flower of high school athletes and their supporters in May. Last August 25,000 persons attended a sports festival of the farmers of the state, held in the Stadium. Baseball is still played on historic Illinois field, rich in tradition, the apple ot George .Huffs eye. This field is also used for physical education classes and general athlelies. T h e fields adjacent to I he Sladium swarm with intramural baseball players in the fall and spring. M m swim iti I wo tanks and the women

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Reading down, first tier: President K. J. T. Ekblaw, '09; 1st Vice President Mrs. Alice V. B. Clark, ' 9 1 ; 2nd Vice President Charles Wham, „ „ '12. Second tier: Past President Wilfred C. Ropiequet, '14; Director Irene Pierson, '25. Third tier: Director Ralph Chapman, ' 1 5 ; Director Dr. C. L. Daniels, '02.

pamphlet has usually been circumvented by Editor Stephens of the Alumni Association when he has tried to say something nice about the "News." W e have the drop on Ye Ed. in this our own Foundation bulletin and here and now declare the "News" one of the best alumni publications in the country and consider it alone well worth the price of admission.

over the United States and Canada, but also to 24 foreign countries. I n its compact, closely-edited pages it gives from month to month a clear and comprehensive picture and interpretation of the University and of the Illini world. It might be interesting to note in this connection that the University of Illinois, with one or two exceptions, has the largest number of alumni of any university. A recent compilation of statistics concerning 119 colleges and uni-

One of our best class secretaries is an invalid, who seldom leaves his bed. During the year a little periodical, "Among U s Secretaries," a sort of class secretaries' bulletin, was published monthly. It aroused so much interest that its publication will be continued this year. Our new field secretary, William

ALUMNI

ASSOCIATION

MEMBERSHIP

APPLICATION

U. of I. Alumni Association 118 Student Center, Union Bldg. Champaign, Illinois I hereby apply for membership in the Alumni Association which includes subscription to the Illinois Alumni News. (Life membership is $50, annual membership $3.) My remittance for $_ •^se bill me for $_ is enclosed. on -193_ _Class_ Reading down, first tier: Director Albert Triebel, ' 0 5 ; Director Howard L. Cheney, ' 1 2 : Director Glenn G. Paxton, '24. Second tier: Director Rodney L. Bell, ' 0 9 ; Director George Clark, 16; Director Howard B. Hare ('14). Third tier: Carl Stephens, w'ir i ^ J ^ K a £ d E d i t o r J G 1 *yn Goodwine ('23), TreasurerWilliam J. Pfister, '34, Field Secretary. '

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have their own pool. T h e r e are 24 handball courts in the basement of the New Gym. Squash, badminton and volley ball are also played in the gymnasiums. T h e vast armory is used for indoor track practice and meets and for classes in indoor track athletics. Tennis is probably the most popular activity. T h e Athletic Association maintains 68 courts, six of which are lighted for night play. Popular theory holds that intercollegiate sports a r e only for the few but football, basketball^ baseball, track, cross country, swimming, water polo, wrestling, golf, tennis, g y m n a s t i c s and fencing, including their freshman squads, enroll approximately 1000 candidates annually. Polo is conducted under the auspices of the Military department. In i n t r amural s p o r t s last year there were enrolled 4622 men and 530 women, these figures including many duplications but demonstrating general interest. Physical education required for freshmen and sophomores e n r o l l e d 3942 men in twentyfour different activities and 1482 women in various activities the first semester last year. A ^ note in the required program that will be strange to the graduate who was a student in the Indian club and dumb-bell swinging era is to teach students games they can continue to play in after life, as well as to give them the option of registering in various activities. The Health Service examined 4761 students and 58,603 visits to the service were made last year. George \\ui'( was a pioneer in his idea that coaches should be educated for their life work just as men entering other vocations. T h u s the professional curriculum in physical education was established in 1919 and the first class was graduated in 1923. Today upwards of 500 graduates a r e employed as coaches and teachers of physical education with representatives in practically every state. In lesser numbers women are being trained in their own professional curriculum to fill physical educational positions. This is only a brief and sketchy survey of the great work that George Huff did, but it should be sufficient to show what an inspiring program he launched and carried on. It demonstrates that the University does put into practice the credo, "A sound mind in a sound body."

Place Sixth in Football Beating Chicago by a score of 18 to 7 in the closing game of the season on Stagg field, the Illinois football team ranked first in the "second division" of the Big Ten, leading Chicago, Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan. T h e Illini defeated Michigan and Chicago, tied with Iowa and lost to Northwestern, the champion and Ohio State, runner-up for first honors. I n non-conference competition Illinois lost to Southern California and defeated DePaul and Washington. This showing was considered creditable and probably better than could be expected with the available material. The verdict everywhere was that Bob Zuppke, had turned in a n o t h e r fine coaching job.

Reading from top to bottom — First column: Robert C. Zuppke, Football Coach; Walter H. Roettger, Baseball Coach; Douglas R. Mills, Basketball Coach. Second column: Don C. Seaton, Track Coach; Edwin J. Manley, Swimming Coach; Harold E. Kinney Wrestling Coach. Third column: Louis M. ,Tobin, Director of Publicity, Athletic Assn.; Charles E. Bowen, Business Manager, Athletic Assn.; Louise Freer, Head of Department of Physical Education for Women.

Basketball Takes Spotlight

Next to football in popular favor is basketball, which now takes the center of the stage. This season a new coach is at the helm. Douglas R. Mills, '30, who succeeds Craig Ruby, came here in 1935 to become freshman football coach and is the youngest basketball coach in the Big Ten. l i e was an outstanding basketball as well as football player as an undergraduate and coached both sports with signal success at Joliet IURII school. t\itjr Stwn

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