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

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Laying the stone base, former student Pete Fel+en finishes work on an 1 8-ton limestone buffalo, located at the site of old Fort Hays. At the north entrance to Hays, a view above the underpass of Interstate 70 reveals the recent expansion of the city northward Symbolic of learning, Picken HalLs pillars stand as a distinguishing mark of the coliege. Contents Groups . . • Classes . ■ ■ Advertising Index Features . Academics Sports • • .12 .52 .84 124 218 310 342 5

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Photo by Leon Max son Agriculture has been a source of livelihood for Hays citizens methods have changed, but the beauty of a field bearing a and other Kansans since early days in the state. Farming plentiful crop still holds the same uniqueness Foreword — Hays Marks Century of Progress et in the fertile, petroleum-rich prairies of Western Kansas. Hays today is a bustling city of more than 13,000 people. Here stand one of the world’s largest dry -land experiment stations, two of the finest hospitals in Kansas and Fort Hays State, the only state college in Western Kansas. Into the building of these accomplishments has gone a century of sweat and planning. It was 100 years ago, in 1867, that the city- was founded BuL the city’s heritage reaches back even further to old Fort Hays, founded first as Fort Fletcher in 1865, There such men as Buffalo Bill Cody, Gen. George Custer and his Seventh Cavalry regiment, and Wild Bill Hickok, who later became Hays’ first marshall, were stationed at various times. Today’s television Westerns have glorified and made legendary the type of life which characterized the his- tory of the fort’s operation and the early years of Hays. Buffalo herds roamed the plains, and a man’s life was as good as his draw But gradually lawlessness disappeared, and in its place appeared the culture which is today ingrained into the life of the community Dramatic clubs, literary societies, church groups and political parties found their way into Hays society. In 1902 Fort Hays Normal School, forerunner of Fort Hays State, became a part of Hays’ story. From meager beginnings — 34 students attending classes in the old fort hospital — has grown a vigorous liberal arts college which enrolls nearly 5,000 students and em- ploys more than 250 faculty members. Prospects for the future promise continued progress and expan sion. And so the city and its college look forward to the challenge generated by this promise— a challenge filled with broad horizons, limited only by the genius of coming generations. 4

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Otl derricks ri$Inq high info the air and brilliant sunsets add wealth and flavor to the features of Western Kansas, Rich petroleum Interests have played a particularly Important role in the development and economy of Hays, Rich Heritage Distinguishes Western Kansas estern Kansas is on llie march educationally, culturally, socially and economically. Histori- cal wagon trails, old forts, cattle towns, protected herds of lmffalo, vast hunting areas, fleets of com- bines, plains that stretch for miles— all contribute to the distinctive heritage of the region. Agriculture has become a way of life for the people of Western Kansas. It plays an important part in the economic well-being of the state. W + th the stimulation of improved varieties of grain and other crops, farm yields have increased tremend- ously, Even though the government-ad ministered allot- ment program has reduced acreage, the growing an- nual production of wheat has captured for Kansas the reputation of “The Wheat State 5 Western Kansas contributes to the state’s cattle mar- ket, fourth largest in the nation, and has helped place Kansas high in oil production. Petroleum has played a significant role in the growth of Fort Hays State. In 1929 the Kansas Board of Regents authorized the leasing of state lands to drill for gas and oik From the income received came the funds to finance the construction of the first unit of a men’s residence hall on campus.