The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-05-04
3-YEAR CONTRACT
Details of Secret Signing of DIR.
Kennedy Given Out.
He Was Best Man of Many
Available Candidates.

The following details of the signing
of DR.. Kennedy to take charge of
athletics at Washburn college were
given out by a member of the COM
mittee that had the matter in charge:
Negotiations with DR.. Kennedy had
been going on for about two weeks
when the final details were arranged.
We ascertained that his contract with
the Haskell Indians was in such shape
that he would be able to secure his
release at the end of this season, pro-
vided the proposition at Washburn
could be made sufficiently attractive
There were at that time about
dozen active candidates for the posi-
ton, whose claims were seriously
studied. We had them all the way
from Kentucky to the Pacific coast
One of the leading candidates, aside
from Kennedy, was a Kansas man.
Another candidate came very highly
endorsed by Coach Stiehm, late of
Nebraska. Another was recommended
by A. A. Stage of Chicago; another by
the University of Wisconsin and an
other by the University of Minnesota
There was never any lack of candi-
dates and some of them promised to
be excellent material
Best All Around Man.
some OF the canQ1OateS were IlTSI
class football players, but had no ex-
perience in track, gymnasium or gen.
eral athletic work some were expert
enced football coaches, but lacked the
necessary education to conduct the
class work in hygiene and kindred
subjects which the physical director
must conduct. A good many candi-
date were just out of college, without
any coaching experience whatever.
These candidates received little con-
sideration, because it was felt that
Washburn must have a man of ma
ture judgment, broad, progressive
views, and the necessary mental cali
Der to build up the athletic situation
on the right sort of a foundation. The
fact that the physical director is a
full-fledged member of the Washburn
faculty made it out of the question to
consider seriously the applications of
some of the candidates, who possessed
little more than a high school educa-
ton.
However, after it became known
that DIR. Kennedy was possibly avail
able, it was Kennedy against the field.
the chief question being whether we
could meet his terms.
Here Ten Days Ago.
"Mr. Kennedy came to Topeka
about ten days ago and looked over
the situation, and talked to some of
the people interested in the selection
of the athletic director. He went
away very favorably impressed with
the prospects for athletics at Wash
burn, and left an impression with the
committee that he was a man suited
to the position. There had been some
objection to him on the ground that
he was likely to devote too much at
tention to football and not enough to
general physical education and devel-
opment. But DIR. Kennedy soon con-
WINGED those unfamiliar with his poll
cies that he was fitted to deliver the
goods in every department of the
athletic dictatorship of Washburn-
"A few days ago Dean McEachron,
who is chairman of the special COM
mittee from the trustees having in
charge the employment of teachers,
went to Lawrence, and had a long
conference with DR.. and Mrs Ken
needy. He also talked to DIR. Naismith,
physical director at Kansas univer-
sity, who fully endorsed Mr. Ken
nedy's qualifications for the all-around
work of physical director.
The special committee from the
athletic board had a conference with
! Mr.. McEaehron last Saturday and
submitted two propositions to Mr..
( Kennedy. He accepted one of those
propositions, with slight changes, and
on Tuesday afternoon he and Mrs
Kennedy came to Topeka and the for
NAL agreement for three years be-
tween DIR. Kennedy and the college
was signed up at the college office
Story Given Out
| DIR. Kennedy went back to Law
renee Tuesday evening, secured the
formal release from his contract with
! the Haskell institute, and then, act
ing in accordance with an understand
ing with Dean McEachron. gave out
the public announcement of the
change.
'.One of the reasons which led DR.
and Mrs. Kennedy to desire earnestly
to come to Topeka to live is the fact
that they have four children of school
age. and want to be able to take adj
vantage of the superior public school,
| facilities of Topeka.
DR.. Kennedy has taken an active
part in the struggle for better public