Alumni Association, 1963

The content is a collection of newsclippings about people, events, and activities associated with Rice from September 1963 through March 1967. The lists that follow detail what is covered in addition to men’s athletic teams and games. The newsclippings record accomplishments of Rice faculty, departments, and alumni; lectures being given at Rice by outside speakers; and student activities.

People who are featured include Larry McMurtry at the film opening of Hud, based on his novel Horseman, Pass By; Jess Neely, honored as “Mr. Sportsman” of 1963, and at his retirement in 1966; F. Curtis Michel, potential Astronaut and later named one of the first six Astronauts; President John F. Kennedy, his arrival in Houston and his death in Dallas; Congressman Albert Thomas, appreciation dinner, honored with establishment of Political Science chair in his name by the Brown Foundation - death; Radoslav Tsanoff, returning to Rice as distinguished professor of humanities; Monroe K. Spears, joining the Rice faculty; John W. Cox, giving Rice 25-year lease of Yankee Stadium; Roland Pomerat, Rice organist, playing homemade harpsichord; Sarah L. Lane and Miss H. Lel Red, taking around-the-world trip; Dr. Frank Vandiver, first master of Brown College; Dr. Harold A. Wilson, founder of Rice Physics Dept. – death; Frank Ryan to teach math at Rice; Dr. Kennard Reed, Jr., first Negro on Rice faculty; Raymond Johnson, first Negro studying at Rice; Bobby May, winning Southwest Conference 120 and 440 hurdles and NCAA 120 high hurdles cham- pion; Prof. Angelo Miele on two-week speaking tour in Russia; Prof. James Castaneda, traveling to East to recruit students for Rice; Mr. and Mrs. George R. Brown, receiving Alumni Gold Medal for distinguished service to Rice; Harold (Bo) Hagan, named Rice football coach; Dr. William Houston, work in retirement.

Events of note covered in this scrapbook include (chronologically) announcement of plans to build geomagnetic observatory north of Houston; beginning of Rice’s Jefferson Davis Association; David Riesman on campus over several days for critique of Rice; installation of custom-built language laboratory; announcement of NASA grant for Rice to send four rocket probes into space; new electronic carillon in Rayzor Memorial Chapel; announcement of new Ryon Civil Engineering Labora- tories; “Sammy I” space probe instrument package, to be launched Jan. 14, 1964; suit to admit Negroes to Rice to be heard in court Feb. 10, 1964; Feb. 21, 1964, jury that is given eight issues to decide future policy at Rice upholds the Rice board; $20,000 gift enables printing of Jefferson Davis papers; March 9, 1964, Judge William Holland rules in favor of Rice Trustees; announcement of ten-year multi-million dollar expansion drive Oct. 11, 1964; ouster of Hugh Rice Kelly as editor of the Thresher; publication of Janus, a literary and creative arts journal; opening of Brown College; development of artificial heart jointly by Dr. Michael DeBakey and Rice group led by Prof. William Akers, and successful use in 37-year-old patient; Rice Players stage Harold Pinter’s Birthday Party; personality study symposium with Margaret Mead giving closing address; announcement by Rice space scientists of discovery of a new stellar-planetary system; testimonial dinner for Jess Neeely; establishment of Center for Research in Social Change and Economic Develop- ment; Rice Players stage Edward Albee’s Tiny Alice; Ken Kesey puts on improvisa- tion The Acid Test at Brown College March 16, 1967.

Activities covered in this scrapbook include the old athletic stadium being used as a fine arts workshop; homecoming Nov. 8 and 9, 1963; 35-day celebration of the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s birth, lectures to take place in Fondren Library; Archi- Arts Ball with the theme “Daemonia” Sat., Mar. 7, 1964; Pallas-Athene Literary Society to present Guys and Dolls; 1964 commencement with Dr. Charles H. Townes, provost and professor of physics at M.I.T. as speaker; 1964 homecoming; 1966 homecoming, with the first graduates, the class of 1916, being honored.