SHOCKERS EVERYWHERE, at events long ago or happenings just the other day, always have something interesting to say. Take this sampling as a Shock Talk example:
“I feel that Kansas should be the archival home to the works of its native son and the base from which his brilliance is studied and shared with the rest of the world.”
— Ted Ayres, WSU vice president and general counsel, as quoted in an Associated Press story on the university’s hopes of archiving the works of photographer, filmmaker, author, musician and native Kansan Gordon Parks, who died March 7, 2006.
“He’s not only a fantastic percussionist, but he possesses one of the most creatively fertile imaginations on the planet.”
— Jazz musician Matt Wilson ’86 on J.C. Combs, a favorite WSU music prof, as quoted on JazzPolice.com.
“I think this ought to be a rude awakening to our team. We’re not going to be able to walk in this league, cruise around and act like we’re something special and have good things happen. We got to have a chip on our shoulders.”
— WSU baseball coach Gene Stephenson on the Shockers’ No. 2 preseason ranking in the Missouri Valley Conference, as quoted in The Sunflower’s 2007 Baseball Guide.
“I’m a little bit mad that your Wheatshockers beat my Tigers back in Baton Rouge.”
— James Carville, Democratic power broker, during his and wife Mary Matalin’s Dec. 5, 2006 feature presentation at the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce annual meeting and community event, about WSU’s upset of No. 6 LSU in NCAA Division 1 men’s basketball. Carville, an LSU graduate, and Matalin spoke to a crowd of some 2,500 at Century II’s Convention Hall.
SHOCKER LOST & FOUND: Have you accidentally parted ways with your Wichita State class ring? If so, please read the descriptions below to discover if it’s been found — and turned in to the WSU Alumni Association for safekeeping.
Recently the alumni association has been notified of the separate discoveries of two WSU class rings, one found in Wichita, the other at Ray Roberts Lake State Park near Denton, Texas.
The first ring, found in Wichita, is from 1976. It is silver set with a blue stone, and is small, perhaps a size five or smaller. It bears a three-initial monogram, presumably that of the owner. (We’ve chosen not to reveal the monogram in the hope that the rightful owner will be able to identify the ring.) The letters BS appear on one side, probably indicating a bachelor of science degree.
The second ring, found in Texas, is from 1968. It is gold set with a blue stone and, like the other one, bears a three-initial monogram, as well as BBA (degree) and AKY (possibly a fraternity affiliation). Additionally, a man’s name (it’s a common one — and doesn’t match the monogram) is engraved on the inside.
We’d like nothing more than to reunite the rings with their rightful owners, so if you think one of them might belong to you or someone you know, please contact the association.
