Northwest Missouri State University - Tower Yearbook (Maryville, MO)

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The fire seemed small at first. Then the flames burst from the Ad Building roof. Despite firemen ' s attempts, the west wing was destroyed by morning. All that was left were. . Burning memories ii

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DURING A SIBLING rivalry scone, Mar Wcirburton and Phvllis Barr talk about a relative During the summer, the theater department presented Phatry, The EJold Soprano and The Lesson Davp Ciespke A MEDIEVAL BATTLE is re- enacted between two Society for Creative Anachronism members. The event, sponsored by the University ' s chapter of Third Foundation, was held in the basement of Lamkin Gym because of rain PARTICIPANTS IN the canoe short course paddle on College Pond According to Lewis Dyche, the course was a first-time offering and its purpose was to teach basic canoeing and water safety SUMMER SCHOOL 23

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he University was devastated and uprooted after raging flames and smoke destroyed 60 percent of the Administration Building July 24. Roger Strieker, Maryville Pub- lic Safety director, said his department received a call for assistance at 8:14 p.m., 16 minutes after the fire was reported to campus security. The delay in action was the root of controversy surrounding the Uni- versity administration and state officials. We know there was a clock delay of 16 minutes, Tom Behrendson, state fire marshal, said at an emergency Board of Regents meeting. Now generally a 16-minute delay is a very crucial delay, and I want you to be aware of that. Later the delay proved to be of little consequence because, ac- PRESIDENT B D OWENS and Bob Henry get a report from a University employee during the first stages of the fire. The fire started on the fourth floor of the building. VOLUNTEER FIREMEN MOVE A firehose during the Administration Building fire. Firemen came from several surrounding communities to help fight the blaze. cording to Behrendson, the fire broke out at least two or three hours before smoke was first observed by University personnel. By the time the fire was reported to the Public Safety Department, the smoke had attracted a small crowd. In the dying daylight, students and University employees watched helplessly as smoke rolled off the roof and flames began to shoot out fourth floor windows. The crowd grew, and students were recruited to help remove documents and equipment from the burning building. According to President B.D. Owens, most of the materials, tapes and records were removed except for the most recently pre-registered students ' papers that had not yet been processed. Because the fire had been continued FIRE 25