The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-11-08
Athearn Custer Followed His
Firing of downtown Office
FavOrites, Educator Charges
Sport Fans Worried Over
Effect on Athletic
Program.
BY DICK MILLER
Times staff Writer

What effect the recent dismissal
of President Walter Scott Athearn
at Butler and subsequent charges
made by him that downtown
board ruled destinies of the univer-
sity, will have on Buffers athletic
program, IS being watched with keen
interest by sports officials and fans
through the state and nation.
It is RECALLED that only a few
years ago, Butler was ousted from
the North Central Association of
Colleges, and one of the charges
that figured in the suspension was
that the downtown office, princi-
pally the same one that exists now,
controlled and ictated Butler ath-
letic programs.
Professionalism Charged
Also, it is recalled, that separate
unit. an outside corporation, owned
the mammoth Butler fieldhouse and
football bowl. Charges Of profess
sionalism and PROSECUTING crept into
the case and a general upheaval
took place in the athletic depart
ment.
The present faculty athletic board
and Paul D. CTony) Hinkle, athletic
director, haze been staging a sue
cessful uphill battle during the past
two wears to restore Buffers ath-
letics to a high plane, one that
could receive the o. k. of the most
critical Of the other colleges IN the
state and Missouri Valley confer
ence league to which Butler be-
longs.
Hinkle Rated Highly
Hinkle, regarded as one OF the
foremost basketball coaches in the
country. has been able continuously
to develop winning net teams be-
cause he is regarded as a personal
magnet to draw high school stars
to college to continue their hard
wood game under his coaching.
Although the football team has
not been able to turn out as sue
cesful a record as the basket
ball teams, Coach Fritz Mackey has
been able to develop some fighting
elevens from only mediocre material
Coach Herman Phillips, himself a
former Butler track star and later
a member of the United States
Olympic team, likewise has been
able to hold his own in track COM
petition because of his development
of raw material.
The light was beginning to shine
on Buffers athletic department
Mackey had installed a strong phys
ical education and intra-mural pro-
gram.
Interference Is Feared
The heavy Indebtedness of the
fieldhouse and bowl had been as
sumed, it is reported, as a univer-
sity endowment by Will Irwin, Co.
lumbus trustee, and guaranteed to
the North Central Association for
several years.
Hopes were being entertained by
Butler athletic officials that they
soon would be able to arrange ano
present strong and attractive COM
petitive schedules in all branches
of sports that would carry them
selves financially.
Now that a chance exists for But
Ter be expelled again from the North
Central Association, officials of col
legeS who compete with Butler az
beginning to wonder if the alleged
downtown office" is to take charge
of the Butler athletic destinies again
and how long will the men at pres
ent in control of athletics and or
the coaching staff be allowed to di-
rect them and continue to revive
Butler sports on the present I'M
challenged basis.