Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-17

ESP1TE the high praise given
him because of his accomplish
ments as personnel of1icer and
H. head Of athletics In the Marine
Corps during the last four
years, Maj. Joseph E. Fegan, who has
just left for Cape Hatien, Haiti, to be-
come commanding officer of that de-
partment in the Garde d. Haiti, is the
last man to think that athletics and
other activities for which the Quantico
men have become famous during his
tenure of ONCE will stop or even halt
in their development.
Just as he was leaving washington,
Maj. Fegan was asked whether or not
his departure would affect athletics in
the Marine Corps or in any way hinder
the development of foot ball. base ball
and basket ball. His reply was charac-
teristic and to the effect that he had
done little other than get things started
fairly well and that whereas he had
his time to development of athletics,
man was now being detailed to give full
time to that work.
Athletics in the Marine Corps has
q brilliant future and will not be al
fected by me leaving Washington to
take up duties in Haiti. We have things
fairly well organized and started toward
o successful goal. Gen. Neville Is just
as enthusiastic about sports as was Gen.
Lejeune, and recognizes in sports not
only fine facts for the development of
men, but also a great aid in maintain
ing the high morale which the Marine
Corps always has had and always must
have.
Praises His Successor.
"All this thing about not being able
10 find a man to fill a job when an
other leaves Is just foolishness Maj.
Brewster, who will handle athletics, is
one of the finest chaps in the whole
CORDS and not only likes athletics, but
knows athletics as well. He was a star
foot ball player himself, and I under
stand, was in a fair way to make one
Of the greatest Of college players, had
he not left school to enter the Marine
Corps.
II have discussed the athletic situa-
ton with Maj. Brewster and he Is
ready to take up the reinS where
have dropped them. And you need have
no doubt that he will carry on just as
well as T have, and probably better.
Plans for the next foot ball season
are being worked out and basket ball
and base ball will come in their order.
LAS plans at Quantico get nearer and
nearer their completion, athletics as
representative of the entire corps
should improve until the Marine Corps
stands out as strong as any college
in the country. We want teams in foot
ball, basket ball and base ball at
Quantico that will be as truly repre-
sentative of the Marine Corps as are
the teams that wear Nays and Army's
colors at Annapolis and West Point.
Some years ago this was adopted as one
of the Marine Corp policies. and so far
has been of real value. Men in the
CORPS from Picking to London follow
the results Of our foot ball games,
Just as the personnel of the battle
ships stationed In Asiatic waters wait
for results of the games Navy plays.
gen. Neville, like Gen. Lejeune, be-
lieves that no organization can reach
its highest development without a soul
and no organization can have a soul
without that almost indefinable touch
which brings human beings close to-
sether and gives them a kindred goal
toward which their aspirations may
carry them And so Gen. Neville may
be depended on to develop those things,
Of which athletics is perhaps most i'm
portant, which tend to weld the corps
into spiritual as well as material
organism"
Has Done Fine Job.
Mai. Fegan did much for athletics in
the Marine Corps. 1t was his part to
begin the process of organization and
he played his part well. He has left
to serve the corps ard the Nation in
another part of the world, and he will
carry on in his new field as only one
with his vision, his willingness to sub
ordinate self for the good of the whole,
and his fine personality and character,
can, carry on. The good wishes Of
many good friends go with him.
It is very interesting to Washingto-
mans to know that the Mai. Brewster
who takes Maj Fegan's place in charge
Of Marine Corps athletics is none other
than Dave Brewster, former Technical
High School and George Washington
University athlete. Maj. Brewster, or
Dave" as he is better known to his
friends here. played end on the greatest