No 4, 2011 I $5 Power Plants The healing promise of the prairie I ARCTIC EXPLORER I MOUNT OREAD MOMENTS Contents | July 2011 24 16 32 24 16 32 COVER STORY Moments in Time Age of Discovery Prescription: Prairie For students making their way Now in her 80s, renowned through college, a chance paleontologist Mary Dawson is Could prairie plants long used encounter, an encouraging still traveling the world—and for healing by American word or an inspiring class can still making important Indian tribes hold promise as mean all the difference. finds—in the name of science. new medicines and other Readers share their memories health products? By collecting of a KU connection that By Doug McInnis and analyzing native flora with changed their lives. the latest high-tech tools, scientists at KU’s Native Medicinal Plant Research Program are trying to find out. By Steven Hill Cover photograph by Steve Puppe Established in 1902 as The Graduate Magazine Volume 109, No. 4, 2011 ISSUE 4, 2011 | 1 Lift the Chorus anniversaries,” Lift the Chorus, passing of Professor Dennis issue No. 3]. It brought back Quinn [In Memory, The Your many memories of the times I University Community, issue opinion counts spent in the Jayhawk Cafe. No. 3]. From 1968 to1974, Please email us a note Paul was a truly wonderful as an undergraduate and at [email protected] person and a friend to all. graduate student in the to tell us what you think of One of the amazing things English department, I took your alumni magazine. about Paul was his ability to as many classes as I could remember people and their from Mr. Quinn. names. He only had to meet In his classes, every day was James Bible class. The subject you once and you were an adventure, filled with of his lecture that day was King registered forever in his recall. wonder and excitement. David’s conflict with his Ralph rules As an example: I spent one Within the same lecture, Mr. rebellious son, Absalom, year at KU and then went into Quinn could move the class perhaps a topic not terribly It was with a great deal of the Navy for four years. The from uproarious laughter to popular with an audience of interest that I read the excellent first time I saw Paul after four thoughtful reflection to college students in the ’60s. article “The Naismith Rules” years, he immediately called heartfelt tears. But, somehow, Mr. Quinn [issue No. 3]. One of the most me by name. Since leaving KU for a drew us in to the story, and, intriguing elements of the Ben Shaw, b’63 37-year career as a college when he movingly described a presentation was the unnamed Seattle teacher and administrator, I father’s grief over the loss of basketball player pictured to have never met anyone who the son who had tried to the right of Dr. Naismith [p. Mighty Quinn electrifies a classroom like overthrow him, there was not a 25]; I searched the article at he did. dry eye in the bell-bottomed, length to see if I had somehow I read with great sorrow, in My most vivid memory of tie-dyed, long-haired house. skipped over his name. the May issue of Kansas Professor Quinn occurred in John Neibling, c’71, g’74 Having played for Ralph Alumni, the notice of the his Literary Aspects of the King Clovis, N.M. Miller, d’42, at Wichita University, I recognized him immediately. Not only was he an outstanding basketball coach, named to the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1988, he was an outstanding athlete in high school (Chanute) and at KU, winning three letters in both basketball and football—in what was then called the Big Six. The decision to add Ralph’s presence to this article was a special touch to a topic that has many facets. Leonard Clark, l’73 Wichita Visit us at A friend to all www.homecoming.ku.edu I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed the letter from Facebook: KU Homecoming Cynthia Sinclair regarding her Twitter: KU_Homecoming dad, Paul Sinclair [“Iconic 2 | KANSAS ALUMNI July 2011 60 Publisher Kevin J. Corbett, c’88 Editor Jennifer Jackson Sanner, j’81 Creative Director Susan Younger, f’91 2 Lift the Chorus Letters from our readers Associate Editors Chris Lazzarino, j’86 Steven Hill Sta Writer Terry Rombeck 5 First Word e editor’s turn Editorial Assistant Karen Goodell Photographer Steve Puppe, j’98 Graphic Designer Valerie Spicher, j’94 6 On the Boulevard KU & Alumni Association events Advertising Sales Representative David Johnston, j’94, g’06 8 Jayhawk Walk Naked the, Joe’s in the Union and a new way to relax in the tub Editorial and Advertising Oce KU Alumni Association 10 Hilltopics 1266 Oread Avenue News and notes: Engineering wins major support; Lawrence, KS 66045-3169 KU seeks nominees for new honorary degrees. 785-864-4760 • 800-584-2957 www.kualumni.org 14 Sports [email protected] Freshman Diamond Dixon sprints to stellar start. 34 Association News KANSAS ALUMNI MAGAZINE (ISSN 0745-3345) is published by the ree Jayhawks win Ellsworth honors; Board of KU Alumni Association six times a year in January, March, May, July, Directors elects new ocers and members. September and November. $55 annual subscription includes member- ship in the Alumni Association. O¡ce of Publication: 1266 Oread Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045-3169. Periodicals postage paid at Lawrence, KS. 38 Class Notes Proles of a PGA golfer, the voice of Yoda, POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Kansas Alumni Magazine, 1266 a TV storyteller and more Oread Avenue, Lawrence, KS 66045-3169 © 2011 by Kansas Alumni Magazine. Non-member issue price: $7 56 In Memory Deaths in the KU family Letters to the Editor: 60 Rock Chalk Review Kansas Alumni welcomes letters to the editor. Our Toni Brou’s rising suns, Chris Ordal’s “Earthwork,” address is Kansas Alumni magazine, 1266 Oread Avenue, Reagan rethought and more Lawrence, KS 66045-3169. Email responses may be sent to the Alumni Association, [email protected]. Letters appearing in the magazine may be edited for space 64 Glorious to View and clarity. For letters published, we’ll send a free gift of Scene on campus the KU Magnet Game, a $15 value. ISSUE 4, 2011 | 3 by Jennifer Jackson Sanne r First Word he email message arrived out of the later became city editor of the Topeka blue, from a mentor I had not seen State Journal, Flint sent him a note: FOLLETTE T a in 24 years: “You’re on your way.” To this day, Born “There probably are few of my BOB L remains thankful, touting his KU years in classmates still around to read it, but I the first line of his biography on Smash- have just published an e-book, In the words, the website that published his Prime of Death, which deals with e-book. Boomers, midlife crisis and murder. ... I will remain grateful to Born for years This is my first fiction. I trust that all is to come—and thankful to the alma mater well with you. Regards, Roscoe.” we share. If not for KU, we would never Roscoe is 90-year-old Roscoe Born, have met for that fateful lunch in 1987, ’41, former reporter and editor for The nor had the chance for a reprise this Wall Street Journal and Barron’s and a summer. Those moments, 24 years apart, founding editor of the National will linger. Observer. We met in 1987, during my As Jayhawks, we often share stories of first trip to Washington, D.C., when he treasured KU moments that endure. They agreed to an interview and invited me to occur in classrooms and dorm rooms, on lunch at the National Press Club. The Jayhawk Boulevard and, truth be told, in memory of that lunch has stayed with bars on Mass Street. Some occur long me ever since. I was a nervous, awestruck after we’ve left the Hill. They produce life wreck, and he was the gracious, patient lessons, lifelong friends and stories that veteran, full of irresistible stories and sly Roscoe Born only get better with age. humor. Through the years, I’ve kept In this issue, readers tell their KU Born’s first book, The Suspended Sen- stories in “Moments in Time,” a collec- tence: A Guide for Writers, within easy reach of my keyboard, and tion that begins on page 16. The project began more than a year I’ve exclaimed with delight every few years, when he has sent brief ago, when Sue Shields Watson, d’75, then the Alumni Associa- notes of encouragement. I share them with the staff and stow tion’s national chair, opened a meeting by asking board members them in my “keepers” file. to share their most pivotal KU moments. Chris Lazzarino, j’86, So to receive his email a few weeks ago was marvelous—espe- associate editor, suggested we take a cue from Sue and invite cially because I was leaving the next day for an alumni event in readers to tell their favorite KU tales. As you’ll see, the stories Washington. After two dozen years, could I finally repay the favor connect us across the years and across the miles. They are the and take him to lunch? Yes, he said, acknowledging the “great reason we remain loyal to our university and to one another, coincidence” of his timing and sending directions to his retire- the reason we gather at alumni events and the reason we recruit ment community in Sykesville, Md.