Evening star., 1963-03-02

Those GoriIIos
Are Still at 1t
BY MORRIS sIEeEL

AS RESULT OF an innocent recent effort to de-
termne how and why Kansas state Teachers College Of
Pittsburg, Kans, could be unselecve to choose
"Gorillas" the nickname for its athletic teams,
now in trouble.
letter has arrived from Pittsburg (no h" as in the
other Pittsburgh inviting me to make an all-expenses
paid on-ste inspection Of the home of the Gorilas
The bid has to be declined fortunately unfortunately
depending on how you feel about the natural habitat for
the only domestic "Gorilas" west Of Clyde Beatty.
This is not my Gorilla" season. Another form Of
animal life less primitive and in cases less skilled
demands inspection Baseball players. The letter in
addition to its invitation also contains several hunks OF
information about Gorilas Of yesteryear who helped to
put the Pittsburgers the map being rs miles from
Joplin is considered being on the map
THE WRITER is H. Gordon Angwin vice chairman
Of the McNally Pttsburg Mfg Corp" according to the
etterhead Like the "Gorllasp didn't know anything
about the McNally Pittsburg Mfg Corp either until Mr..
Angwn came through. He wrote
Your article asks in substance:
Whence the name of Gorilas? We do not know as
there is not such within missile shot Of Pittsburg Kans
We do know that KsTC teams for many years have been
as rough and tough as gorilla is supposed to be.
~ 1T is settled fact that in the 19SOs, John Lances
basketball teams played the best basketball in the
try. Editors note But how did they do in the cy?
This prior to the time the large schools and unver
sites made basketball major endowed sport Our boys
played it for love Of the game and for free.
you WOULD BE interested in checking the records
Editors note Don't bet on it, Mr.. Angwn) to such
Pittsburg players One Grand Schmidt Ollie Johnson,
Frank Wachter, Bill Kmcaid, Arkie Hoffman, Psnsy
Ratzlaf Kay Goforth, Andy Mcclure and many Others.
In opposition to these players were boys such Jumping
Jack McCracken and Sparky Stacup from Missouri. /
would suggest that you check the roster Of the basketball
Hall of Fame for some Of these players" Editors note
No chance, pal, accept your word)
"KsTC track teams under the direction of Garfield
(Doc) Weede, former All-America football player at
Pennsylvania and an old Olympic track coach who is now
retired and Prentice Gudgen the present athletic director
and track coach have many trophies in the college
division at the University Of Kansas and Drake Relays
(which two OF the bes that the school is hard put
for adequate storage Of the trophies.
I'm ADDITION KsTC football teams winners Of
the NAIA bowl game in 1857 and 1861 under the able
direction Of Carney Smith, head coach and Joe Murphy
line coach The NAIA is the equivalent you know to
the Rose Bowl game for small colleges
Ray Heady outdoor editor for the Kansas City Star,
is graduate Of KSTC and participant In its athletic
program while in school Ed Pre of the Chicago Tribune
sports department learned the rudiments of sports re-
porting while student at KsTc by working for the college
newspaper and the Psburg Headlight and Sum- Editors
note: That helps explain my buddy, Ed PrenO
Sherman Lollar great catcher for the Chicago White
Sox attended KSTC Don Gutteridge, Of the great
defensive nfieders and a coach for the White sox,
KSTC aumnus What better record could one ask for?
YOUR ARTICLE MADE reference TO provinciaSm in
connection with school in this area. would like to
say this company whose etterhead this letter was
written has designed and built turnkey coal preparation
plants all over the country, and In Turkey South America
Australia the Philippines India and many other countries
Our people are apt be found most anywhere in the
world on any given day" Editors note: You turnkey
coal people do get around)
1--WE do a little bit of everything out here in Kansas
and do it reasonably well"
Thanks Mr. Angwin for the dope about the KsTc
"Gorllas" Only one question left Is the homecoming
queen called Miss Gorilla?