Lawrence Technological University - L Book Yearbook (Southfield, MI)

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A was N ' , A . N. 1323. ,Az-. -sm. wi. U ,V ,W -vw ,. I 1994.-1:-'i ,ar..':e6My:

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Genevieve G. Dooley, Registrar Twenty-five years! To say it seems like only yesterday when the doors opened to our first class at 15100 Woodward would be a cliche. And yet Working daily ever since to establish our present college has not allowed much time for counting years and reminiscing. From the days of three hundred students to the present en- rollment of nearly three thousand opportunities for serving, befriending and guiding-even congratulating-have come countless times. Contributing in some way in each instance has been my privilege and purpose. As I look out over our modern campus, I cannot help but think that there have been greater accomplishments than those which only meet the eye. With the aid of our present staff and our expanded facilities, Lawrence Tech should be able to accomplish its goals more fully now than ever before. But to truly accomplish them, we must preserve the challenging spirit of the first yearsg those times must continue to seem like only yesterday.

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Edwin O. Graeffe, Dean of the Facultw Before Lawrence Tech obtained its charter in 1932, the old Ford Trade School was used only for recreational purposes. The Golden Glove tournament was held there that year. One of the greatest fighters in the world, Joe Louis, got his start there. The upper floors had been closed for four years and were in very bad condition. Many of the original students earned their first year's tuition by repairing these floors. Although it was against regulations, many out of town stu- dents slept on the fourth floor. After the banks closed in February 1933, the faculty used to meet in Miss Dooley's office hoping that a student would pay a portion of his tuition to enable them to divide it for their lunches. An orchestra was started in 1933, in which Dr. Graeffe played the piano and directed. On Saturday afternoon our fencing team, of which Dr. Graeffe was the coach, would practice on the third floor. Bill Osis, one of our early students, made the Olympic Fencing Team in 1940. Unfortunatelythe Olympic games did not take place that year. Besides teaching, instructing fencing, and directing music, Dr. Graeffe also operated the book store for the first two years. Mrs. Graeffe operated the office for the evening school. During the year 1937-38, Dr. Graeffe made a trip around the world and gathered many valuable experiences and informa- tion for future instruction. World War II caused a big setback for the school in that a majority of our students went to war. At this time Dr. Graefe worked at Fisher Body and taught in night school. lt was very gratifying to see that many of our original students returned to L.I.T. after the war and continued their education under the G. I. bill. The Business Administration curriculum began in 1939 and was interrupted during the war. After its reorganization, it grew to what is now the Industrial Management Curriculum.