Nebraska Hall of Fame Commission* *(Authorized in Revised Statutes of 72-724 ff)

Partial Transcript of the District 1 Hearing held on Wednesday, September 12, 2012 – 5:00–8:00PM at the Norfolk Arts Center, Gallery Room 305 North 5th Street, Norfolk, Nebraska

PRELIMINARY BUSINESS Call to Order and Welcome Guests. Chairman Harold Andersen called the meeting to order and welcomed guests.

Introductions. Members of the Commission Harold Andersen, Sara Crook, Ron Hull, Dennis Mihelich, Ron Naugle, and Michael J. Smith provided self introductions.

Formal Roll Call of Commission Members. Roll call showed the following members present: Harold Andersen, Dr. Sara Crook, Dr. Ron Hull, Dr. Dennis Mihelich, Dr. Ron Naugle, and Secretary to the Commission Michael J. Smith. Nebraska State Historical Society staff member Deb McWilliams was present. Absent: Commission member JoAnn Smith and ex-officio member Governor Dave Heineman.

Acknowledgement of Notice to the Press. Secretary Michael J. Smith reported that notice to the press had been given.

Nebraska Open Meetings Act (posted/available). Michael Smith stated that the Open Meetings Act was posted and available.

Procedure for Hearing Review. President Andersen stated that the Commission receives no appropriation for the bust that is customarily placed in the Capitol honoring the person selected, nor any other Hall of Fame Commission expenses.

Jim Curry of WJAG/KEXL/KQKX Radio, Norfolk, and Sheryl Schmeckpeper of the Norfolk Daily News attended the hearing.

Hearing Order. President Andersen commented that testimony would be taken in alphabetical order for individuals wishing to testify, and that testimony should be left with Secretary M. Smith.

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Big Elk. Alex Meyer testified that Big Elk was the principal chief after Black Bird died, at the time of the Louisiana purchase was made. Big Elk had dealings with William Clark. He strived to be friendly with Americans. In 1822, Big Elk went to Washington, D.C. for the first time and met with President James Monroe to express his concerns about his neighbors to the north, and to seek American help. In 1837, he went to Washington again, and amazed with American’s, he knew that Native Americans would have to learn to live with the Whites and be their friends. Meyer spoke of Big Elk’s posterity, and the marriages of his children.

Hull asked what Big Elk’s most significant accomplishment was, and what was his heritage that helped “us?” Meyer responded, it was his ability to speak with anyone. J. Sterling Morton had great respect for Big Elk, as he wrote about Big Elk. He was a man that made the history of Nebraska come out better, and the impression he gave his children and grandchildren - they learned he had a wise mind. Hull, replied, would you say that maybe creating good feelings between Whites and Native Americans was his accomplishment, with Meyer responding that Big Elk knew there was no reason to battle Americans, and that the Native Americans and Americans should become friends.

Edith Schwartz Clements.No testimony.

Frederic Edward Clements.No testimony.

Andersen mentioned that a great deal of supporting material has been received by the Commission on the Clements nominees. Mihelich commented, in the original documents received, the Clements nominations were a dual nomination, and the statute does not allow dual nominations. Mihelich asked if that point has been clarified with the nominator, with M. Smith responding, the nominator understood that only one individual can be installed. The nominator encouraged the Commission to approach the legislature to request a change for a husband and white combination nomination.

Leta Stetter Hollingworth. No testimony.

Alvin Saunders Johnson. Jerry Petr introduced himself as a friend and colleague of Lee Rockwell, and co-nominator of Alvin Saunders Johnson. Rockwell is the grand nephew of Alvin Johnson, and very proud to nominate such a distinguished person to the Hall of Fame. Petr introduced two other native Nebraskans to support Alvin Johnson, Dr. Steve Shively of the English Department at Utah State University, and Dr. John Mark Nielsen of Blair regarding his Danish background.

Steve Shively then noted the five books on Alvin Saunders Johnson that he brought with him. Shively added his pleasures to speak about a fellow native of northeast Nebraska, as he is originally from northeast Nebraska but now living in Utah. As a UN-L graduate student Shively got to know Johnson, as he organized Johnson’s papers. Those papers included signed letters

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from Albert Einstein and Theodore Roosevelt, as well as others sent to Johnson. Additional written testimony was provided by Shively and presented to the Commission.

Nielsen then spoke of Johnson’s Danish background, and when his family came to the United States via New York, his father was renamed John Johnson. Nielsen provided the Commission with written testimony.

Andersen commented that Johnson expressed on numerous occasions his affection for Nebraska. Nielsen commented that Johnson did comment many times about his love of Nebraska, and that Danes coming to the United States did want to be Americans.

Steve Shively talked about the books that Johnson wrote, “About Nebraska,” “Pioneers Progress,” and other short stories set in Nebraska, which are folksy in nature. Johnson’s novel, “Spring Storm,” is a realistic prairie novel that came out during the depression.

Hull asked if Johnson came back to Nebraska often? Shively responded, Johnson had relatives in Nebraska, and he came back to receive his doctorate. His wife was also from Pawnee City. He added, “I think he took Nebraska with him, rather than returning.” M. Smith asked if Johnson’s daughters are living, with the response being no, but there are several grandchildren living.

Clyde Malone. No testimony.

Louise Pound. Marie Krohn of Norfolk testified on the insight into Pound’s personality, not included in earlier materials. Pound was a loyal Nebraskan, and when she was in Heidelberg, Germany, finishing her Ph D., she wrote that “all of Heidelberg was not worth one square mile of Nebraska.”

As her scholarly reputation grew, she was offered positions outside of Nebraska, but she stayed in Nebraska because her family and friends were in Nebraska. She was not always popular among male professors as she was often outspoken.

Pound was very bright, and interested in . Krohn went through thirty-five folders of Pound papers at the Nebraska State Historical Society, and many of them correspondence with people in Nebraska, pioneer families, and about folklore. Pound wrote the only book on folklore in Nebraska. Outside of Nebraska she was well respected in the field, and chosen to represent the U.S. Council for English, and the only woman on the Council. She was important in helping H.L. Mencken develop a respect for American Language. Americans used to always put the British English ahead of the way American’s speak today, and she turned this around. Hull commented that when he first came to Nebraska, he had trouble pronouncing towns like Beatrice. Krohn responded that Pound loved words and had a sense of humor.

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Andersen commented that he took two classes from Pound and found her to be an excellent teacher. Krohn commented that H.L. Mencken wrote very kindly about Pound. Hull asked if Mencken and Pound were alike, with Krohn responding, yes.

At a period when women struggled to achieve equal status with men in careers and sports, Pound changed this. She put scholarship before sports. Pound was the western women’s tennis champion, and beat a woman from the East coast.

Andersen commented, that if Louise Pound was selected to the Hall of Fame, this would make a brother and sister combination in the Hall as is currently a member.

Krohn spoke of the competitiveness between her brother Roscoe Pound and Louise in sports. Their sister Olivia was the family record keeper, and taught at Lincoln High. Olivia developed a vocational program for girls.

Hull remarked that Pound was a contemporary of , with Krohn responding yes, they were friends for three years before Cather left Nebraska. Cather insulted Roscoe Pound, which is what ended the friendship.

John Milton Thayer. No testimony.

Malcolm X. No testimony.

President Andersen asked if there was anyone else who wished to testify, with no additional testimony presented.

Motion to adjourn by Hull, seconded by Mihelich. Voting yes: Andersen, Crook, Hull, Mihelich, Naugle, and M. Smith. Voting no: 0. Unanimously carried.

Respectfully submitted,

Michael J. Smith Secretary, Nebraska Hall of Fame Commission

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