Fort Hays State University - Reveille Yearbook (Hays, KS)

Page 10 text:

FORT HAYS OF YESTERDAY Fort Hays, a military post, which was established in the year 1867 by General Pope, was really built to serve as protection against the Indians who made numerous attacks on the settlers of Fort Hays and to ward off the buffalo stampedes which were quite frequent. At first, the rolling plains of Kansas seemed uninviting to the people of the East. It appeared to be only an endless chain of prairies — practically timberless and hardly anything but buffalo grass would grow well. With the approach of the Kansas Pacific Railroad, which was being constructed near Fort Hays, many people were attracted to the land of the plains. They settled about one mile north of Fort Hays with only the Big Creek between the settlers and the soldiers. This led to the founding of Hays City. The early settlers and soldiers had to undergo serious privations including floods, Indian scares and drouth. Little did they dream that in less than seventy years a great institution of higher learning would be well rooted in the midst of their descendants. 6

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OF THE b sote mi ? The indomitable spirit of Custer ' s Pride ' the renowned Seventh Cavalry which once fought with red skins where now twenty-two men fight over pig skins, is deeply ingrained in the institution which now occupies the site where once these men lived and fought. The leadership which they displayed in conquering the plains for civilization is the leadership which our institution, the Fort Hays Kansas State College, is taking to educate the sons and daughters of these western plains. And the hardy pioneer spirit, that spirit which caused the first settlers to stay on through drouth and flood, through hardships and massacres, is part and parcel of this present generation, who also carry on. Our problems today may differ vastly from those of our forebears, but they are similar in that they must be faced, and an attempt made to solve them. The unconquerable spirit of the old Seventh Cavalry is incorporated and shines forth from the song which we proudly sing: Western Kansans ' Alma Mater Hail ye men who did create her, No one else can boast a greater — K. S. C. Fort Hays. Sons and daughters chaunting, Black and Gold flag flaunting, Melodious strains of western plains, For Right stands she undaunting, Raise your voices, swell the chorus, Honor those who went before us, Labor that she may adore us, K. S. C. Fort Hays. ★ ★ ★ ★ Western Empire lies before Thee On the wind-swept rolling prairie, Great, as only boldly dare Thee — K. S. C. Fort Hays. Sons and daughters seeking, Trusting to her keeping, The younger seeds of epic deeds And future harvest reaping. Sing her praises, she who taught you How to live, and how comport you Cheer for her who nobly wrought you K. S. C. Fort Hays.

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FORT HAYS OF TOMORROW Fort Hays, the college of Western Kansas; may it give independent children of independent pioneers a chance to think, to live, and to grow. With a beautiful campus always growing as the visible symbol of increasing knowledge, with the fitting of students to know them- selves and their fellows, Fort Hays will become a means of trans- mutation of civilizations, making scorching plains the storehouse of secrets of living a life. The wind and dirt, the sun and rain beat hard against native stones and weather them a grey. But a grey of hope and endurance and courage, not one of defeat and meek acceptance. May we hope that the future student will be so weathered by these things: the campus, the permutation of ideals and ideas of teachers and books, the stimulus of kindred minds — each a step toward the goal. —