Western Kentucky University - Talisman Yearbook (Bowling Green, KY)

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1943 Talisman tells impact of WWII With World War II in full throttle in the early 1940's, student support was so complete that the foreward to the 1943 Talisman read: Since the world is at war and America is at war, Western goes to war too. We have given many of our boys, and many more will follow them. It is because of them and their fighting spirit that we pledge this annual to the boys and to Victory. The yearbook contained 23 pages dedicated to the military, and included a two-page listing of 825 faculty, students, and alumni in the service. Giving information on athletes in the service, sports stories reflected the war-time influence on Western. The football team had Tommy Prothro, who is now head coach of the Los Angeles Rams, as an assistant coach. The team won only three of eight games due to a draft-depleted squad. Despite a predominately female enrollment, the then red-and-gray Hilltoppers managed to field a winning basketball team. That team- Downing, Oldham, Gibson, and Co.-was a quarterfinalist in the Madison Square Garden Tournament and the winners of the KIAG. Lower left-Dr. Paul L. Garrett was President of Western Kentucky Slate College for 'IB years. Bottom- The Betrayal was one of three major productions presented by the Western Players in the fall of 1942. Below-The Hilltoppers of Western Kentucky scored 1566 points in 26 regular season games for an average of 60 points per game. They held their opponents to 839 points and an average of 32 points per game. Western won the 1943 KIAC tournament by defeating Morehead 46-35. It was their tenth championship in 11 years. The team was a quarterfinalist in the 1943 Madison Square Garden Tournament. Western's great team of 1943, which completed Sl most successful season, is shown above. They are, left to right, from row: Oran McKinney, Charlie Ruter, Don Ray, Charlie Labharr, john Oldham, Odicia Spearsg second row: Harding Shelby, Chalmers Embry, Dee Gibson, Paul Champion, Dero Downing, Buck Sydnor, Charlie Morang third row: Howard Goodner, Skiles Harris, Charles Atkinson, William Edmiston, Dave Stephenson, and James Young. B Little ofthe old

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Right-Western has traditionally been noted for its fine football teams, and the 1953 team was no exception. Led by such stand-outs as Max Stevens, Williard Price, Gene McFadden, and jim Feix, the team finished with an 8-1 record. Western won the Refrigerator Bowl and finished the season ranked in the small college top ten. Below right-With the United States bordering on the brink of the Korean conflict, Western students, many of whom were women, rushed to join ROTC to show their patriotism. As a result two of the most efficient ROTC units in the country were active at Western. Below-Candid photographs in the earlier Talismans appeared to be posed shots. Represen- ting the silly aspects of dorm life, this candid was spotted in the 1953 Talisman. In a time of sweaters, white socks, saddle shoes, and short hair, pipe smoking was very popular. 'I ,A is ,-J .f r 1. 'S' l 4? U Little ofthe old TX . a-' 'tt-Ma .Nik 'ff IS ff? t '- R.0.T.C. T. . 'Remember' ke notes 1953 Talisman Remember was the theme of the 1953 Talisman, as memories of the year were faithfully recorded in pictures and copy. Athletics dominated the Talisman that year. Western shared their first OVC football title, tying with Tennessee Tech, and went to their first bowl. Appearing in the Refrigerator Bowl, Western downed Arkansas State 34-19. The team was sparked by senior quarterback Iirnmy Feix, who led the nation's small colleges in percentage of passes com- pleted. Feix was chosen most valuable player in the Refrigerator Bowl. Western also won OVC championships in basketball, baseball, tennis, and golf. The basketball team, winning the third OVC title in the conferences five year history, received Western's seventh bid to the National Intercollegiate Tournament. At that time Western had received more bids than any school outside the New York area. Non-related to sports was the Hilltoppers appearance on the Perry Como and the Ed Sullivan television shows. The musical quartet of four Western students gained national prominence with their hit records. The Korean War had caused increased interest in ROTC programs. Both Air Force and Army units were represented on campus..