BobcatAttack.com - For Fans of Ohio University Sports

Welcome Guest!
Create an Account

site search

about us

advertise with us

help

BobcatAttack.com Message Board

Ohio Basketball

Topic: Dr. Alden's letter to Athens News

Topic: Dr. Alden's letter to Athens News

Author

Message

bobcat695
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Parkersburg, WV
Post Count: 1,345

Status: Offline

Dr. Alden's letter to Athens News

Posted: 2/2/2012 9:04:24 AM

In another thread, someone mentioned Dr. Alden's vision helping to make the Convo such a great building that has stood the test of time. I read the Athens News online this morning and noticed he wrote a letter to the editor about the name of our beloved institution. This goes beyond the Athletic Department's game notes asking the media to refer to us as "Ohio". I love the fact that in his advanced age, he is passionate enough about the university to take the time to write a letter to the editor.

http://www.athensnews.com/ohio/article-35963-lsours-thererss-a-reason-great-institutions-donrst-go-by-their-initials.html

"You can't un-fist a fist pump." - Saul Phillips 1/24/15

giacomo
General User

Member Since: 11/20/2007
Post Count: 2,734

Status: Offline

RE: Dr. Alden's letter to Athens News

Posted: 2/2/2012 11:36:51 AM

Thanks for this link. He's 88 now and was only 38 when he took over the university. Check out his biography if you want to see something: http://www.vernonalden.com/

Casper71
General User

Member Since: 12/1/2006
Post Count: 3,090

Status: Offline

RE: Dr. Alden's letter to Athens News

Posted: 2/2/2012 12:20:39 PM

This is gonna be real hard to do. As a 1971 graduate I've always told people I went to Ohio U or OU and I have never been offended when seeing that description. Now that I have been presented the logic from an esteemed former President of the University, I better understand the reasoning behind the change. I would only ask: Why don't we call ourselves THE OHIO UNIVERSITY which is what was originally agreed upon? (Screw the Agriculture school)

Last Edited: 2/2/2012 12:21:07 PM by Casper71

Mike Johnson
General User

Member Since: 11/11/2004
Location: North Canton, OH
Post Count: 1,736

Status: Offline

RE: Dr. Alden's letter to Athens News

Posted: 2/2/2012 1:17:29 PM

Indulge me, please.

When I think of Vern Alden, the words 'memories' and 'luck' come to mind.

I regard myself as lucky that Vern's years as Ohio president spanned my years in Athens - '63-'67. He was a most energetic, engaging leader. I recall vividly the times he visited Gam Hall to hang out with the guys. Then there was his late wife Marion's sense of whimsy. The photo at left shows Fran Femia Hahn on the dust jacket of one of my books. Frannie was the original bobkitten mascot, a role she played for three years. Twice for Halloween parties, Marion borrowed Frannie's bobkitten costume.

Some years ago - I don't recall how - my first book came to Vern's attention. One day I received a long, handwritten letter in which he told me how much enjoyed the book. He also disclosed that, after serving some 20 years on the board of Digital Equipment Corporation, he had never learned to type or use computers.

Soon afterward we met in Cleveland. He reached into his jacket pocket and extracted a business card. He handed it to me with this directive: Whenever you have a new book out, send me a signed copy and I will send payment. Soon he will be receiving his 6th such tome.

Subsequently our paths have crossed a few more times and one of those crossings led to his inviting me to visit him in Boston or or Martha's Vineyard. Athought I travel often and far, I've not yet made that visit.

He sprung more surprises on me. He has sent me his two books. I especially recommend his Speaking for Myself - The Personal Reflections of Vernon R. Alden. It is both insightful and entertaining. ISBNs for hard and soft covers are 0-9650743-2-3 and 0-9650743-3-1. It was copyrighted by Ohio University Libraries. Tucked inside the book is a 5X7 black and white photo I took during the 1966 homecoming game. I was interning with SID and had a sideline pass. Vern is grinning happily as he and the homecoming queen hold her large trophy. To their left is Tanis Galik, a homecoming court member with whom I had grown close. She too is holding a large trophy.

More recently Vern sent me a CD that he commissioned. It includes Marion's favorite songs. 19 of them. Lots of Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra, Mills Brothers, Hawaii Loa Trio, et al. Title is "Just As Though You Were Here." Marion is pictured on the cover in a delightful way. She is looking to the right of the camera, her visage seemingly reflecting surprise, her reading glasses perched near the tip of her nose. Inside and on the CD itself are photos of Marion looking out onto the sea.

Like I said, memories and luck.

http://www.facebook.com/mikejohnson.author

DelBobcat
General User

Member Since: 8/26/2010
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Post Count: 1,135

Status: Offline

RE: Dr. Alden's letter to Athens News

Posted: 2/2/2012 5:31:06 PM

Amazing. I love that man.

BA OHIO 2010, BS OHIO 2010, MA Delaware 2012

OhioCatFan
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 14,770

Status: Offline

RE: Dr. Alden's letter to Athens News

Posted: 2/3/2012 10:44:56 AM

I believe the impetus for his letter was hearing the "OU -- Oh Yeah!" cheer at a recent basketball game he attended in the Convo. He really gets uptight every time he hears a public use of "OU" to refer to The Ohio University.

Last Edited: 2/3/2012 10:45:38 AM by OhioCatFan

The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

"It is better to be an optimist and be proven a fool than to be a pessimist and be proven right."

Note: My avatar is the national colors of the 78th Ohio Veteran Volunteer Infantry, which are now preserved in a climate controlled vault at the Ohio History Connection. Learn more about the old 78th at: http://www.78ohio.org

TheBikeman
General User

Member Since: 11/27/2010
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Post Count: 91

Status: Offline

RE: Dr. Alden's letter to Athens News

Posted: 2/3/2012 11:16:44 AM

Your diploma says "The Ohio University"

Casper71
General User

Member Since: 12/1/2006
Post Count: 3,090

Status: Offline

RE: Dr. Alden's letter to Athens News

Posted: 2/3/2012 12:45:06 PM

OCF-I heard that cheer on TV and thought there goes about 20 years of effort down the drain. It is just hard to get your arms around OHIO when it was those two derogatory terms (OU and Ohio U) during your formative years

Senior Fan
General User

Member Since: 3/13/2005
Post Count: 44

Status: Offline

RE: Dr. Alden's letter to Athens News

Posted: 2/3/2012 12:45:07 PM

Talk about somebody that loves Ohio University. There's none better than Dr.Alden. I'm a '53 grad but I've come to know him through many unversity affairs from Athens to Cape Cod. He can be remembered for many great contributions from his presidency to the present day. I always refer to him as the guy that moved a river. At 88 he stills visits Athens. I said hello to him at the Ball State game last Saturday..

By the way, I tell my Bucknut friends and relatives that I graduated from "The Ohio University" as noted on my deploma.

Showing Replies:	1 - 9 of 9 Posts
Jump to Page:	1

View Other 'Ohio Basketball' Topics

There are 128 Active Visitors on BobcatAttack.com

128 Guests
0 Registered Users

There are no other users looking at this page.