WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY ALUMNI MAGAZINE
Fall 2014

Shock Talk

Richard Crowson's tribute to Wilbur Elsea, who first imagined WuShock
Cartoon by Richard Crowson

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:

“The meeting between perennial power Kentucky and top-seeded Wichita State in the round of 32 was unfortunate — but the battle that resulted was unforgettable.”

— Sports Illustrated senior writer Luke Winn, in an article about the 2014 NCAA Tournament clash being chosen — from the myriad of games played at various levels of all sports — as Sports Illustrated’s 2014 Game of the Year.


“Al Higdon’s contribution to business aviation can’t be overstated, nor can his exceptional abilities as a communicator, creative thinker, and a business and community leader. He has made extraordinary contributions in virtually every area of endeavor he pursued throughout a very distinguished career, and he has done so with exemplary grace and humility.”

— Dave Franson, in a news release announcing that the fifth annual Wichita Aero Club Trophy will be presented to Al Higdon ’61, former Learjet PR exec and co-founder of the ad agency Sullivan Higdon & Sink, during a ceremony set for Jan. 24, 2015. The award citation reads: “Of the thousands of professionals involved in modern business aviation since its inception, few have had such a positive, far-reaching influence on the way people around the world perceive it as Al Higdon.”


“One big-time wish that drove the downtown arena project a decade ago was granted Monday — the chance to share the March Madness by hosting early rounds of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. That weekend, March 15-17, 2018, will be an outstanding opportunity for Sedgwick County’s Intrust Bank Arena to show teams, fans and officials a great time at a first-class facility.”

— Rhonda Holman in a Wichita Eagle editorial about Wichita’s selection to host 2018 NCAA men’s tournament games.


Right Place, Right Time: Our TimeWichita State’s new marketing campaign, “Our Time,” sports a fun, interactive social media component that has students, faculty, staff and alumni snapping photos of their feet as they stand on big, white Xs that have appeared all across campus. On Facebook, the push is explained this way: “Wichita State is the place where it all comes together. And now it’s your turn to let the world know that WSU is the right place for you! We’ve placed Xs all over campus. Find one, take a picture of yourself and share it using #ourtimewsu.”

Fun #ourtimewsu photos are coming in — but we here at the WSU Alumni Association don’t want to limit the fun to only Shockers on campus right now. So if you’re an alumna in New York City or an alumnus in Kuala Lumpur, we challenge you to take a photo of your feet on some surface representative of either what you do or where you live and work. Then share your photo using #ourtimewsu. Let’s show off the breadth and depth of Shocker Nation!

For some inspirational images from which to model your photo, check out the WSUTV-produced “Our Time” video. As the piece says, “Find yourself in the right place, at the right time and you can catch lightning in a bottle. At Wichita State University, we’ve brought together all of the resources of Kansas’ largest city with some of the nation’s best facilities and brightest minds to create an atmosphere where anything is possible.” 

Now, Shocker alumni, show us how you’ve used your education and experiences at Wichita State as the launching pad to your success — wherever you are in the world! #ourtimewsu