Alumni in The 'News Van Heflin Addresses Students No Lasso Needed to Hold At 7th O.U . Career Conference Audience, Josh Lee Writes By THELMA DICKEY, '48, Oklahoma City Josh Lee, '17ba, colorful Oklahoma scholar, O.U. Journalism Junior statesman, public speaker and author, is the author of How To Hold an Audience Without a Rope, a Even the heartiest appetites were satisfied when delightfully instructive book recently released by job-hungry students were served a main dish Ziff-Davis Publishing Company. of Van Heflin, Russell Birdwell and hosts of others Lee's new book is rich in amusing anecdotes at the University's seventh annual Career Confer- and colorful personalities that he has encountered ence sponsored by the Association of Women Stu- in his versatile career . Having been proclaimed dents, April 23, 24 and 25. Also included on the one of the greatest orators in American public menu were personal conferences and social gath- life, he is said to have received inspiration for the erings with top flight executives in almost every title of his book from the late Will Rogers, and like line of work. the latter, Lee has been influencing people, making Dessert consisted of the B.W.O.C. banque t hon- friends and spellbinding audiences for many years oring the 100 busiest women on campus from -without a rope's benefit. whom Peg Marchant was chosen the biggest Anecdotes of many Oklahomns-Mike Mon- B.W.O.C. of all . To add a touch of spice, 21 sen- roney, '24ba; Carl Albert, '316a ; W. H. Murrah, iors from state high schools were wide-eyed guests O. H. "Dutch" Brewer, '176a, '201aw ; Temple at the conference . Houston, Moman Pruitt, J. C. Monnet, Joe Benton, Everyone had to know about the big meal being '206a, '21fa, '41ma ; Charles Fair, '24ba; and others served at the University of Oklahoma so Glamour -are used as illustrations in the book . magazine's Evelyn Englund and Metro-Goldwyn Lee experienced a boyhood of frontier frugality Mayer's E. B. Coleman came down as star re- and privations. He was born in Childersburg, Ala- porters. Long distance assistance was given by bama, and moved into the Indian territory at the Hollywood's Hedda Hopper who mentioned the age of three. His father, a country doctor, prac- conference in her column. ticed with saddle bags and moved his family Free cuts from classes tempted the appetites of DR . LLOYD E. SWEARINGEN, '206s, '21ms . throughout the Oklahoma territory in a covered the student body and the season's worst rain New University Research Director. wagon. didn't even get a byline. Josh left the hardships of his boyhood behind The long, tough road to stardom as well as when he discovered his oratorical prowess and the interesting people who make motion pictures worked his way through the University giving possible were verbally visualized by a nervous Dr. Lloyd E. Swearingen Named lectures and speeches at community gatherings . Van Heflin, '326a, before an over-capacity crowd Upon graduating, Lee enlisted in the Army, but at the Boomer theater where one of his latest New Research Director at O.U . when the war ended, he returned to O. U. as a pictures was the featured attraction. public speaking instructor. He subsequently or- His companion during his visit, at his own re- Dr. Lloyd E. Swearingen, '206s, '21ms, O.U. appointed direc- ganized a public speaking department, which he quest, was Ida Z. Kirk, his former speech and professor of chemistry, has been directed until becoming a candidate for the House dramatics teacher at the University, to whom he tor of the University Research Institute, President of Representatives in 1934 . attributed much of his present success. George L. Cross announced recently . While a faculty member, Lee secured several Background music for the whole show was The new director will succeed Dr. V. E. Mon- leaves of the School of Geology, who asked absence which enabled him to earn his provided by Leonard Feather, music editor of nett, director of Master's Degree at Columbia University and a Esquire magazine, while Mr. Birdwell took ap- to be relieved of his duties. Law Degree from Cumberland University . petites away with his story of how he directed the Dr. Swearingen, who attained the rank of col- service Lee distinguished himself as a Congressman, his publicity campaign for "The Outlaw" and "Gone onel while serving in the chemical warfare eloquent oratory gaining the respect of America's With the Wind." Approving the design of the during World War II, received his Ph.D . at Mas- outstanding statesmen and speakers . In 1936 he entire program was Ralph Fletcher Seymour, de- sachusetts Institute of Technology while studying "covered Oklahoma 1926 . first joined the Uni- like a mustard plaster on an signer and publisher from Chicago . there from 1924 to He aching back" and astounded the country by being Diamond rings and fraternity pins flocked en versity faculty in 1923 . elected to the Senate by a large majority . masse with their owners and donors to hear Dr. He entered the service in February, 1942, and Upon chem- leaving the Senate in 1943, Josh was ap- Henry A. Bowman, marriage counselor from Ste- was discharged in March, 1946 . He served as pointed a member of the Civil Aeronautics Board, phens college discuss Marriage for Moderns, which ical officer and chief liaison officer for the XX corps on which he still serves . He and Mrs. Lee (the involves, it seems, a good sense of psychology and and was assigned to the XV corps which served in former Louise Gerlach, '23) live in Washington, bookkeeping . Following his talk, models from Normandy, central France, Germany and Austria . D. C., where their daughter attends school. Their Kerrs, Oklahoma City, paraded bridal fashions He holds the Bronze star, Croix de Guerre with son, Robert, is an arts and sciences senior at O. U. while Evelyn Flinn, bridal consultant, explained palm and has been recommended for the Legion of the details to starry-eyed coeds. Merit. The menu was so choked with celebrities it In 1939, Dr. Swearingen was invited to Cam- Photography Notables Attend was hard not to over-indulge . Students crowded bridge University, England, as a guest. He was Annual University Short Course to talks by Robert S. Kerr, former governor of scheduled to engage in research with a member of the state; Miss Vilona Cutler, executive director the department of colloid science but the outbreak Many of the nation's best cameramen partici- of the Oklahoma City Y.W.C.A.; Hugh Smith, of hostilities in Europe forced a change of plans. pated in the University's sixth annual news pho- resident manager of the American Airlines in Dr. Swearingen, however accepted a similar invi- tography short course held at the North Campus Tulsa, and Lela O'Toole, state supervisor of home tation to Massachusetts Institute of Technology and May 1, 2 and 3. economics . did research there on surface phenomena during The short course was directed by Truman Poun- Also Louise Newman, personnel director of 1939 and 1940 . cey, '42, assistant professor of journalism. Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co.; Dr. J. H. His principle interest is in the field of colloid On hand to give fellow-photographers advice VanFleck, head of the physics department at Har- chemistry . He currently is conducting a research were an array of notable picture-takers that vir- vard University ; Bea Johnson, national president program on the colloidal aspects of clays in which tually comprise the "Who's Who in American of Gamma Alpha Chi, women's advertising fra- the industrial development of the soil in Oklahoma Photography ." They included . ternity ; Mrs. George C. Calvert, past president of may be enhanced . Frank Scherschel, senior Life photographer from the National Congress for Parents and Teachers ; Dr. Swearingen is the author of 20 research New York and chairman of the short course ; Her- Mrs. Frances Smith, librarian, and Mrs. Madelaine papers which have been published . He is a life bert Kamm, picture editor of the New York World- Wilson, feature writer for the Daily Oklahoman. member of the University of Oklahoma Association Telegram; Emil Karches and Fran Hyland, photo- Peg Marchant, journalism senior of Oklahoma and a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi, Alpha lamp division of the Wabash Corporation ; Don City, forgot all about appetites when she stepped Chi Sigma, Gamma Alpha, Phi Delta Chi and Mohler, lighting technician for General Electric; up to receive the First Letzeiser award at the Acacia . He is past president of the Oklahoma sec- Dick Sarno, director of photography for all Hearst B.W.O.C. banquet. Veta Jo Cullen, arts and sciences tion of the American Chemical society. He is newspapers. senior of Woodward, received the second place married to the former Lillian Jo Weisenbach, 24ba . Also, Joe Costa, president of the National Press honor and Conference Chairman Phyllis Prigmore, Photographers association ; Bert Brandt, of Acme arts and sciences senior of Oklahoma City, was Newspictures ; Adrian L. Ter Louw, school service third. Thomas P. Ryan, '42eng, is now located in Mid- head for Eastman Kodak, and Winston Leman, (Continued on page 30) land, Texas, with the Standard Oil Company . Eastman Kodak technician. MAY, 1947 "Glenn R. Watson, '391aw, 2272 24th Street, Santa Monica, is an attorney in downtown Los Angeles . "H . '1'. Clarkson, '37pharm, 1121A 14th Street, Los Angeles, is an independent druggist, having two stores. "George E. Bloch, '44eng, 625 Cochran Avenue, Los Angeles 36, is associated with the department of water and power of Los Angeles, as is Ben flume, '21eng . "Peggy Rennie Waxlax, '416s, 608 N.