No 3, 2019 n $5 Merchants of Fun Adventure is where the action is for Swell Spark founders n ILLUSTRATED INSECTS n HARDWORKING HEROES © The University of Kansas Cancer Center Why choose an NCI cancer center? • Most promising treatment options Your best chance • Largest number of precision therapies • More of the latest clinical trials of surviving • Nationally renowned physicians • 25% greater chance of survival cancer is here. Appointments with a specialist are available within 24 hours. The University of Kansas Cancer Center is the region’s only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center. Here, you’ll have access to the latest in precision medicine – groundbreaking treatments that target a person’s cancer at the genetic level. In fact, because our researchers help to advance and perfect them, these therapies are available here first in the region. And patients treated at NCI-designated cancer centers have a 25% greater chance of survival. Why would you go anywhere else? Call 913-588-1227 to request a second opinion or visit us online at kucancercenter.org. ADVANCING THE POWER OF MEDICINE® Contents | Issue 3, 2019 20 28 34 34 20 28 COVER STORY The Illustrated Lives Campus Caretakers All for Fun, Fun for All of Insects Neither snow nor rain nor gloom of night will stay these Two Jayhawk business partners Broad interests and a deep devoted keepers of KU’s are building an entertainment appreciation for rare texts led hallowed grounds from their empire on a simple idea: entomologist Michael Engel to appointed rounds. People just want (and need) his latest project, a beautiful to have fun. book about beautiful books. By Heather Biele By Steven Hill By Chris Lazzarino Cover photograph by Steve Puppe Established in 1902 as The Graduate Magazine Volume 117, No. 3, 2019 ISSUE 3, 2019 | 1 Lift the Chorus heartfelt, because Coeur he was done, he would say, d’Alene is such an idyllic place “Now, where is the letter from Your and may be a step closer to _____.” My job, in addition to opinion counts heaven. I wish my path had recording and typing his Please email us a note crossed with The Bard, a letters, was to know which pile at [email protected] beloved Jayhawk for sure. I’ll which letter was in. to tell us what you think of have to make another stop at I have always remembered your alumni magazine. the Well-Read Moose to pick his letters. One I especially up a copy of Wobker’s book. remember fondly, since he Lee Hoffman, e’72 used it often. “Dear _____, incredibly slow. It’s hard to Hayden, Idaho Rock Chalk, Jayhawk! We need believe now. a new science building. Why Robert Day looks familiar, so Delightful story in the don’t you underwrite it I’m sure I ran into him in the Spencer most recent issue of Kansas (sometimes just pay for it)? basement of Strong, where I Alumni about “The Bard of Cordially, Fred Ellsworth.” also hung out between appreciation Sherman Avenue.” I ordered a He always used “Cordially.” classes—smoking, drinking few copies of the book with Thanks for an interesting coffee and petting Sarge. I was delighted to read Tom Wobker’s poems from magazine, and continue I went on to read the entire this month’s excellent cover a bookstore in Spokane— producing such interesting issue, cover to cover. We had story on the Spencer Museum’s hilarious, day- and night- issues. just seen the documentary current exhibition, “The Power brighteners, subtle wit I wish Nancy Lansdon Hubert, ’60 “They Shall Not Grow Old,” so of Place” [issue No. 2]. The my late husband, Tom, could Lexington, Massachusetts I had to read “Over Here” and article really digs into explain- have seen. was amazed by the contribu- ing the many facets that go into Jeannie Eblen, ’00 Catching up tions of KU students and making any large museum Lawrence faculty and the commitment show possible. Kansas Alumni continues of resources. As an alumnus and a Cordially ours to be the best publication that Steven Hill’s piece about the longtime supporter of the drops into our mailbox. Sadly, I Lied Center, “Sweet Suite Spencer, I encourage everyone I am writing to tell you often put it aside for “when I Music,” made me proud and to visit the museum with a how much I enjoy Kansas have more time,” so I get sad at the same time, since I better understanding of what it Alumni magazine. It is always behind, but I never throw them don’t have the opportunity to takes to create a remarkable so good, with interesting away. I was perusing issue No. enjoy the Lied Center offerings. exhibition. And kudos to the features and news about what’s 1 and didn’t get further than I would even attend with the hard working people who happening on the Hill. Lift the Chorus when I had to middle-schoolers if I were in make up the Spencer Museum. I worked in the alumni find the previous issue and Lawrence! I may have to look We all benefit from your vision office as a secretary to Fred read it first. into senior living opportunities and efforts. Ellsworth from late 1955 to I was a student during the in the area. David Henry, c’82, g’84 1957 (if I am remembering protest years [“Protests Past,” Now, I’m going to get busy San Francisco correctly). Mildred Clodfelter issue No. 6] and have vivid on issue No. 1, 2019! I am very was the office manager and memories of TV cameras on interested in the article about Wobker wit Dick Wintermote handled the second floor of Strong Hall Salina’s medical school campus, alumni affairs. I did enjoy as I went to Panhellenic “Homegrown Healing.” I have When I was perusing “First my job. meetings in Dean Emily’s been impressed with the Word,” my heart skipped when When he came in in the office. None of the sororities University’s commitment to I read Post Falls, Idaho. I know morning, usually around 9:30, or fraternities had discrimina- rural areas of the state, where that town is, because I Mr. Ellsworth would settle at tory policies in their charters, especially since my relatives have lived in the Coeur d’Alene his desk. Mildred gave him the but there was the issue of de lived in north-central Kansas area for the past 11 years. mail and I would sit while he facto discrimination, since I and I know how limited access Tod Marshall’s story on Tom went through it, commenting don’t believe any of them were used to be. Wobker [“Anonymous No here and there. He would put actually integrated. Progress Donna Multer Ward, d’65 More,” issue No. 2] was letters in different piles. When was being made, but it was Pueblo, Colorado 2 | KANSAS ALUMNI May 2019 Publisher Heath Peterson, d’04, g’09 10 Editor Jennifer Jackson Sanner, j’81 Creative Director Susan Younger, f’91 Graphic Designer Valerie Spicher, j’94 5 First Word Associate Editors Chris Lazzarino, j’86 The editor’s turn Steven Hill Assistant Editor Heather Biele 6 On the Boulevard Photographers Steve Puppe, j’98 KU & Alumni Association events Dan Storey 8 Jayhawk Walk Advertising Sales Representative Textbook heroes, spring break rescue, tea is for Teri Harris Thursday and more Editorial and Advertising Office KU Alumni Association 10 Hilltopics 1266 Oread Avenue News and notes: Architecture students renew a Lawrence, KS 66045-3100 hidden garden; Buzbee accepts journalism award. 785-864-4760 800-584-2957 www.kualumni.org 14 Sports [email protected] Track and field has record-setting spring; senior All-Americans complete tennis comeback. KANSAS ALUMNI MAGAZINE (ISSN 0745-3345) is published by the KU Alumni Association six times a year in January, March, May, July, September and November. $55 annual subscription includes member- ship in the Alumni Association. Office of Publication: 1266 Oread 42 Association News Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045-3100. Periodicals postage paid at Rock Chalk Ball and Roundup raise money and Lawrence, KS. spirits; reunions salute Gold Medal grads. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Kansas Alumni Magazine, 1266 Oread Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045-3100 © 2019 by Kansas Alumni Magazine. Non-member issue price: $7 51 Class Notes Profiles of a Netflix communicator, a cannabis counselor, a veteran sportscaster and more 68 In Memory Deaths in the KU family Letters to the Editor: Kansas Alumni welcomes letters to the editor. Our 72 Rock Chalk Review address is Kansas Alumni magazine, 1266 Oread Avenue, African modern, a Bunker book, and art from Lawrence, KS 66045-3100. Email responses may be sent to Shimomura and Esquire. the Alumni Association, [email protected]. Letters appearing in the magazine may be edited for space 76 Glorious to View and clarity. For letters published, we’ll send a free KU gift, a Scene on campus $5 value. ISSUE 3, 2019 | 3 IGNITE POTENTIAL The indomitable Jayhawk spirit is a beacon of hope in Kansas and beyond. Private support fuels KU’s success by transforming students into leaders and ideas into discoveries. Most gifts are $500 or less, but regardless of size, each one opens doors to new opportunities. www.kuendowment.org/your-gift by Jennifer Jackson Sanner First Word Soon he struck up a conversation with Keon Stowers, c’15, a former KU football team STEVE PUPPE STEVE captain, now the Association’s assistant director of student programs. Palmer, a starter for the Jayhawks in ’57 and ’58, wanted to talk foot- ball—and he just happened to mention that he had served in Vietnam and would like to mentor a KU student and fellow veteran.