The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-11-14
DR.. Walter S. Athearn,
EX-PreSident Of Butler,
Victim of Heart Disease
Former City College Head
Dies Suddenly in
st. Louis.
FUNERAL NOT YET SET
Oklahoma City U. Leader
Well known Here;
Served 2 Years.

Funeral arrangements for DR..
Walter Scott Athearn, 81, former
president of Butler university, who
died last night in a hotel room in
ST. Louis, Mo-, today awaited the
arrival of the widow from her home
in Oklahoma City.
DR.. Athearn, who was president
of Oklahoma City university at the
time of his death, suffered an at
tack of heart disease that resulted
in his death.
He had gone to st. Louis with
S. K. Ingram, president of the
Oklahoma schools board Of trus-
tees, to confer with bondholders Of
that institution.
Physicians were called, but re-
ported his condition too grave to
remove him to a hospital. Treat
ments were given him, but he failed
to respond to the medical care and
died at 9 last night.
Mrs. Athearn was on her way 10
st. Louis at the time of his death.
1t is believed the body will be
taken back to Oklahoma City for
burial.
City Friends Shocked
Numerous indianapolis friends,
acouaintances, members of the But
Ter faculty and students expressed
~ r1tIInY1 death
I'm sorry to hear Of his death, !"
said DR.. j. w. Putnam, acting pres
ident of Butler university, where
DR.. Athearn served as president for
two years.
Il had hoped" continued DR.. Put
nam. that he would have num-
Der of years as president OF the
Oklahoma university. He was man
of a good deal of ability. He was
man of ideals and persistent IN
carrying out those ideals.
Prior to coming to indianapolis IN
1881, DR.. Athearn was dean OF the
school of religious education and So
cial service at Boston university and
professor of religious education at
Drake university.
Succeeds DIR. Alley
Succeeding DR.. Robert j. Alley, re-
tired, as head of Butler, DR.. Athearn
centered his activities in this city
toward an intramural system OF
athletics and aided in having the
school reaccredited by the North
Central Association of Colleges ana
Secondary Schools.
Shortly before he came to Butler
the school had been taken off the
accredited list for alleged over
emphasis OF athletics.
DR.. Athearn reorganized the COL
lege of education, enlarged the eve
ming and extension courses, and Gre
ated a graduate college OF religion.
A ten commandments for fresh
men. which he wrote upon coming
to Butler, created widespread COM
ment.
Former Baseball Star
The rules we're, Make your col
lege work your main business: Live
within your income. Budget your
time. Choose your intimate friends
with care. Guard your health. Be
democratic. Acquire the marks OF
a cultivated man or woman. Write
to YOUR parents. Cultivate your re-
ligious life. Learn to act in crowd
in harmony with resolutions which
YOU have made in your solitude"
DR.. Athearn left indianapolis last
June to head the Oklahoma City
university.
He was star baseball player dur
ing his school days and later
second baseman in the Southern
Iowa League.
He was author of the Minister
and the Religious Teacher mem
Der of Phi Beta Kappa fraternity,
the Columbia Club and the City
Club, New York.
Two children, Gertrude and Clar-
ence Athearn, by his first wife, who
died in June, 1917, survive besides
the widow, Mrs. Frances Emily
Afhparn