Valparaiso University - Beacon / Record Yearbook (Valparaiso, IN)

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Appreciation It is a pleasure to reproduce a picture taken at the Catherine Corboy Ciub banquet on March 25, at which Catherine Corboy was honored For her Fifty years of ser- vice and loyalty to the ideals of this Institution. The 1935 UHLAN joins the student body and alumni in on expression OF appreciation to this kindly personality. Page 9

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Page 8 NDHESIIDIMBACIMGDN In recognition of the opportunities For higher education aHorded the youth of today through the acquisition and reorganization 0F Valparaiso University ten years ago, we dedicate this volume to the Lutheran University Association.

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Valparaiso University 119254935 In 1925 the glory that once encircled the Old College Building was in grave danger of passing away. The building lay in ashes and the heroic work of Professors H. B. Brown and O, P. Kinsey had no successors. The tradition of higher education at Valparaiso, a reality For over Fifty years, appeared hopelessly doomed. Since 1920 the management of the University had been vested in a board of trustees. The board of trustees was seIF-perpetuoting and held the University in trust for the cause of education. It did not operate For profit but devoted its atten- tion to the educational desires of the people. The Board of Trustees valiantly tried to main- tain the normal Functioning of the University, but unfortunately their purposes were not realized. Attempts to interest several church bodies in taking over the institution failed. A concerted drive was then made to induce the state of Indiana to take over Valparaiso University and convert it into a State Normal School. The bill passed both houses of the Legislature and every indication pointed to this transfer. The bill died, however, as a pocket veto. Undaunted by these several reversals, the Board, upon the suggestion and instigation of the local Lutheran pastor, contacted the Evangelical Lutheran Missouri Synod in an attempt to have them take over Valparaiso University. At this time the University had an indebtedness of about $331,000 with no assets whatsoever. In this last desperate eHort to save the University a com- mittee of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the Valparaiso Realty Com- pany, which owned all real and personal property used by the University, called on all creditors to conditionally cancel and surrender their claims in full. The members of this committee were: Chester W. Wharton, Pastor, Presbyterian Church, Chairman W. C. Sutter, Manager Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce E. L. Loomis, Superintendent Valparaiso Water Company H. E. Sievers, Treasurer, Specht-Finney Com- pony E. W. Strecker, Pastor, Methodist Episcopal Church Within a month the complete cancellation was effected and on June 92, 1925, at a convention of the Central District of the Missouri Synod, a Page 10 East TowereOld College Building resolution was passed encouraging the Formation of a corporation Hto acquire and conduct educa- tional institutions and speciFicalIy to acquire and operate Valparaiso University. The following committee was elected: Wt C. Dickmeyer, Fort Wayne, ind. Prof. W. D. Mensing, Fort Wayne, ind. C. J. Scheimann, Fort Wayne, Ind. Herman Sieversi Valparaiso, ind. George Halter, Cleveland, Ohio L, Holland-Letz, Gary, Ind. A. Ahlbrand, Seymour, Ind. C, H. Richman, Cincinnati, Ohio Rev. M. F. Kretzmann, Kendallville, Ind. Rev. Paul F. Miller, Fort Wayne, Ind. E. Lotham, Louisville, Ky. J. A. Fichter, Akron, Ohio Dr. H. A. Duemling, Fort Wayne, lncl. Rev. J C. Baur, Fort Wayne, Ind. Rev. George Schutes, Valparaiso, lnd. W. D. Holterman, Fort Wayne, Incl. Martin Luecke, Fort Wayne, Ind. Rev. J. D. Mattius, Indianapolis, Ind.