Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1942 [PAGE 383]

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38o

BOARD OF TRUSTEES REPORT ON ATHLETIC SITUATION

[July 15

President Olander reported that the Board of Directors of the Athletic Association had met on July 15 to consider the recommendations of President Willard on the athletic situation. On request of President Cleary, President Willard read his recommendations.

July 7, 1941 Honorable Honorable Honorable Chester R. Davis, Frank A. Jensen John R. Foniof Chairman~\ \Committee J on Athletic Activities

GENTLEMEN :

Pursuant to the request of the Chairman of your Committee, I am submitting herewith the following statement, with my recommendations, relating to the intercollegiate athletic situation at the University of Illinois and the status of Messrs. W . S. Wilson, Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, and Robert C. Zuppke, Head Football Coach. In 1913, almost 28 years ago, Robert C. Zuppke was appointed head football coach at the University of Illinois. In the intervening years, he made one of the most distinguished records for himself and for his teams ever achieved in intercollegiate sport. H e developed many famous players, at least one of whom has never been equalled. H e ably assisted the late Director of Athletics, George Huff, in securing nearly $2,000,000 from alumni, students, faculty, and friends of the University for the Memorial Stadium. T h e success of this campaign was due largely to the personal efforts of Director Huff and Coach Zuppke, whose energy, popularity, and resourcefulness proved most effective in raising funds. It was a major accomplishment—one of the finest structures of its kind in America. T h r o u g h all his years as head football coach he has served the University of Illinois loyally, conscientiously, and usually with conspicuous distinction in his field of intercollegiate competition. H e not only stood with Director Huff for preserving and defending the amateur status of the game, but has also carried this tradition on even more vigorously since Mr. Huff's death. H e has long since established his reputation as one of the greatest football coaches in the history of the sport. H e is now 62 years of age. Early in the fall of 1936, Wendell S. Wilson, a graduate of the University, Class of 1927, was appointed Acting Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Assistant Professor of Physical Education for Men when Director Huff was granted a leave of absence on account of his health. Mr. Huff died on October 1, 1936. This appointment was made on recommendation of the Board of Directors of the Athletic Association in which I concurred, and was approved by the Board of Trustees. Mr. Huff as a member and as President of the Board of Directors of the Athletic Association had advised me that Mr. Wilson was the best available man for the directorship of intercollegiate athletics. H e had been on the coaching and physical education staffs since 1927, advancing from assistant through instructor and associate to the rank of assistant professor. Mr. Huff suggested at the same time that the School of Physical Education, which he also headed, be placed under a separate director, which was done. On February 27, 1937, Mr. Wilson was appointed Director of Athletics and Associate Professor of Physical Education for Men. Director Wilson entered upon his duties with enthusiasm and great energy. H e also advocated and pursued an aggressive policy in presenting Illinois as a great University to the high schools of the State. Director Wilson is now 36 years of age. In the fall of 1938, following a conversation between Messrs. Zuppke and Wilson in which the former inquired of the latter about the University retirement system as applicable to himself, Director Wilson discussed the possibility of a retirement agreement with Coach Zuppke. This retirement agreement in its final form was approved unanimously by the then Board of Directors of the Athletic Association, was signed by Director Wilson and Coach Zuppke and presented by Director Wilson to the Board of Trustees on November 29, 1938. In my opinion, the agreement was fair and