Messages to Wobs - October 2014

Tom Wobker was diagnosed with throat and liver cancer earlier this year. He and Sharon are pursuing an aggressive course to return Tom to full health, and his pledge brothers have responded with many messages of concern and support for Tom and Sharon as well as additional stories about Tom's Pi Doot years for this blog book. This post contains a sample of recent messages:

Tom, Spokane River, April 2014

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Wobs

You quoted Churchill. My father's hero. Dad survived and prospered through 4 different cancers during the last 40 years of his life. Fighting prostrate, bladder, melanoma and lymphoma. He died at 92 from a worn out heart valve. He never gave in and you will do the same. Courage matters but no easy days.

Rob

Dave - so concerned about Wobs situation. He is a special guy. So real. I would like to call him but concerned he would have difficulty conversing. If not, I would like to give him a call and need his number. My sister -in law and family live in Spokane. We have visited many times. Sure wish I knew Wobs was around the corner.

Rob

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Tom, thanks so much for keeping us up-to-date, and it's great to see you're giving it the old Wobker headlong approach. It's always worked well for you, albeit sometimes controversial. You know you are top of mind and spirit with all of us.

Curt

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Thanks, Dave, for the info. I did finally talk to Tom yesterday after days of phone tag. Great attitude! I appreciate your help in getting in touch.

Van

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Tom and Sharon,

Just know that we are sending you both very good vibes from Brooklyn and are very impressed with your spirit and positive attitude. Cancer can be beaten and the two of you can do it as a team along with a good stable of doctors (which it is obvious you have carefully assembled). There is no need to respond to this e-mail as Dave is keeping us all up to date and informed (he has already reported that yesterday’s biopsy went well). You both are inCynthia and my thoughts and prayers.

Michael

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Wobs,

It certainly sounds as if you and Sharon are on top of all aspects of this and that is extremely important in dealing with any illness. Another thing that is an important factor is for you to have an advocate in your corner taking notes, asking questions, and insuring that the proper care is being provided (i.e. being pushy). Sharon sounds like she is perfectly suited for that task and that is wonderful. Bill, and specifically Edie (who is a wonderful lady), may be able to help you deliberate and if you want a phone number in addition to the e-mail let me know. We missed both you and Thumper at the reunion so that means we will have to do it again.

I am happy to hear that your doctors think that this cancer can be controlled and possibly cured (my brother-in-law just got a positive read from his doctors on a similar circumstance so we know that medicine has these things boxed more and more). I am also certain that all of your doctors will tell you that a positive attitude from the patient helps remedy all problems and you seem to be very positive. KEEP IT UP!

All the best, Michael
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Tom:

Mike Maloney's kept my wife and me in the loop about your serious health condition. We're very sorry that you and your family are going through this. My wife,  Edie Mao, works at NIH. She's going to ask some specialists at NIH if there are any researchers focusing on your specific problem. (Edie is an Imaging Science specialist, working at NIH's Intensive Care Unit, dealing with numerous specialists.)

We'll get back as soon as possible.

God Bless!

Bill Jones and Edie Mao

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Tom,  

I can't begin to tell you how sorry I am to hear this news, but I appreciate your letting me know. We will be thinking about you and Sharon with confidence that you will find the best course of treatment. 

If there is anything I can do tell Sharon not to think twice about letting me know. I can be there in a relative flash. I share your goal of conquering Long's Peak next year.

Hoping for the best,

Be well,

Dave

The pay-off

Still looking good! Watch out ladies.

Still looking good at the 50 year pledge class Golden Owl ceremony, Oread hotel, Lawrence, Sept 26, 2014

left to right - Nevin Waters, Bob Boyd, Allen Purvis, Michael Maloney, Jack Clevenger, Curt Heinz, Rob Morton

Highlight - Bob and Rick Boyd celebrating 50 and 25 years respectively as Phi Gams.

Ice-bucket challenge

The most positive thing to come out of all of our reminiscing has been Koala bear's ice-bucket challenge, which brought forth a strong response from Steve Heck's pledge brothers with commitments to donate to ALS research.

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K-bear issuing the ALS ice bucket challenge in honor of Steve Heck

The fire - May 16-17, 1967

The evening of May 16 - about 10 days before final exams - the Phi Gam house at 1540 Louisiana caught fire and was essentially totaled. The cause remains a mystery, although apparently the brothers who attended the recent Golden Owl reunion fingered a prime (though somewhat unlikely) suspect. Fijis completed the spring semester at Templin Hall, and moved en masse to the Fireside apartment complex for the fall semester.

Phi Gam Firefighters - May 16-17, 1967   Water pressure was so low that we could not get a decent car wash going. Wobs swears that the Sigma Chi house down the hill on Tennessee St. was infested by vermin fleeing the fire. Curt did heroic work to find us accomodations in Templin Hall for the rest of the semester.

Corbin Hall adventures

Jack Clevenger describes an incident immediately preceding the Fiji Island bus misadventure. Keep in mind that attitudes toward men frolicking in women's dorms were not as relaxed as they are today.

Clev and Wobs remind their dates that it is rude to be late for the Fiji Island bus

While the infamous night on the freshman bus for figi island party was well documented, I am not sure many remember what happened at corbin hall. Wobs and I were only 2 with dates from corbin - upon arrival the pledge class formed the famous line up—and chants -we went to front desk-no one on duty -as chants grew louder—-wobs suggested we just go up to second floor to find the gilrls—-probably not a good idea as upon arrival at second floor the screaming started…-.we did get the girls but in my case she was horrified by our actions and my looks —so it was a cool evening to say the least….believe it was part of the write up about reason figi’s needed to go on social probation..

The mystery of the Fiji Island bus

The mystery of the Fiji Island bus incident - freshman year

Editor’s Note: these blurbs are from a recent string of emails trying to unravel the mystery of the unfortunate disrobing of one or two pledge brothers on the party bus taking us and our dates to the Fiji Island party. Fortunately no known photographs exist.

{Wobs} Bill’s account has the ring of authenticity.  So does Marden’s most recent expose.

I too recall the double moon rise, now that Bill mentions it.  Some people on campus who witnessed that terrible sight are still in treatment.

As for me, I was astounded to learn the next day that someone had actually put *alcohol* in the fruit punch in my jug.  (I believe a number of us are fortunate that cell phones with cameras had not yet been invented.)

As to aging badly, many people think of me as a Cary Grant lookalike, except much better built.  They don’t say it, of course, but I know that’s what they are thinking. {Editor’s note: Of course if Cary Grant was still alive he would be 115. Not sure that looking as good as a 115 year old actor gives Wobs major bragging rights}

{Trull} Guys,

Like John, I was going to stay out of this “discussion”, but I do recall some of the antics of the Fiji Island on the bus our freshman year.  Maurice was stripped of his 1 yard loin cloth and yes believed that was all you could wear.  Yes, Lu S was shocked to say the least, but John assured her it was only an accident.  But then at least 2 brothers decided to moon the campus (I think Mitchell and Maurice) out the window.  Again, John assured Lu it was just a one time prank.  Once at the island, things really started to rock.  Lu told me later that this must be the animal house her dad had warned her about.

{Haase} Don’t recall being appointed the class historian but I can help you out with the Lu S story.  Recall that preparing for Fiji Island was as festive as the party.  Moss and I were assembling our attire and beverages (copiously sampling the latter) when he asked what I was wearing under my frock.  “Nothing” I replied – he conformed.  Lu was my date siting on my lap inches away from Moss’ “accident”.  Time stood still.  I can still see that wiggly little thing waving at Lu.  It was the beginning of my many failed romantic relationships.   

{Martin} Also, I think Haase had a date with Lu, didn’t he?  (Great idea—bring vice-chancellor’s daughter to Fiji Island Party = Social Probation!)   I’ll get him in on this question.

{Marden} John has convinced me that Lu was double-teamed. I’m still sure that someone pulled the pin on Moss’s sarong.

{Martin} OK, I was trying to stay out of this, but I have to go with Clev on this one.  I think Little Mitch was under the impression that the Fiji Island style required that there be nothing under the loin cloth or whatever the hell it was.  Then he reached up and grabbed ahold of the luggage rack/top sides of the bus and swung his legs up to catch them as well.  So he was hanging by his hands and feet, with the loin cloth falling open right in front of Lu’s face.  I’m sure she was never the same after that.  No offense to our beloved Maurice, but I don’t think he could have pulled that trick off. 

Now mind you, I was in the back of the bus reading my bible at the time, so I didn’t really see any of it.  Hearsay, as they call it in the law business.

{Marden} Guess we’ve rightly absolved Maurice of any responsibility for the flashing incident since he was the victim of the disrobing - as I recall without any awareness on his part (or parts). My main memory of the incident is that Wobs immediately doubled his intake of purple passion in an unsuccessful effort to wipe the image from his memory. Not trying to plant any seeds for the reunion dinner, but Corbin is only a block from the Oread hotel … . just saying’.

{Wobs} I was thinking that Little Mitch lost his clothes as well.  Am I wrong? (My recollection is hazy after all these years, although it was probably equally hazy the next morning)

{Maloney) It was the Moss and my main recollection is the horror on Lu S’s face; it was hysterical!  I also think a number of us ended up in the Chi Omega fountain that night.

Purple passion recipe

Does anyone remember the recipe for purple passion?

• Marden - 'Purple passion' was the root cause of many sophomoric episodes associated with the Fiji Island parties. Of course if you claim to remember the recipe, you probably never drank any.
• Martin - Grain alcohol and something purple {editor's note: John obviously missed the law school course on verbal obfuscation}

Mis-adventures

Pi Doot pledge brothers experienced plenty of ups and downs. The downs were usually associated with alcohol use, which seemed to lead to an inability to consider the consequences of obviously incompletely thought out actions. A small sample is described in this section, including excerpts from an e-mail exchange on the freshman year Fiji Island party bus.

This example from John Haase about Dave Snider is not atypical of the behavior of which we were capable.

Dave Snider at Gertrude Sellards Pearson (GSP Freshman Women's Dorm)

{ Haase} Who can polish this story? Snider takes his date back to the dorm one night and is confronted by a police officer with respect to his drunken behavior (clearly he was a passenger in a double date thing). The officer asked for ID, Dave gave him his driver’s license (or student ID), bolted, and ran back to the house. When he shared his story and was confronted with the reality of what he had done, he quietly uttered, “Oh rats (expletive substitute for obvious reasons)”.

Road Trips

Pi Doots took many road trips, both during the school year and summer break. Rush parties were popular destinations during the summer. Wobs and Marden made several memorable drives from western Kansas to parties in Wichita, Hutchinson and points east.

These photos are from a late summer fishing trip to northern Ontario that Heck, Wobker and Marden took in 1966. Steve hauled a fishing boat behind his mauve Lemans. Other than the drive (before I-35 made it a pretty easy trip), highlights included camping at a sewage treatment plant in Black Duck, MN, where a thunderstorm knocked over our heavy canvas tent; camping next to a blueberry patch on an island at the lake to avoid bears only to discover that our island was a peninsula; and motoring to the far end of the 5 mile long lake where the pull cord on the motor broke, leaving us a long slog back to camp into the wind with only 2 short paddles .

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Heck and Wobs (photo by Marden) 1966 Canadian fishing adventure; Wobs after he swallowed his tobacco chaw

Party Pics

{Courtesy John Martin}

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Pi Doot sophisticates and their ladies. Why is Jones’s date grimacing?                    John and Nancy circa 1967                                                                                       See, Haase really did have hair                                                                            Rabbit contemplating the grim world situation                                                    Clev, Hyter, Martin

Steve Heck's Jumping Boat

Heck's Jumping Boat at Lake Dabanawa

{Haase} Steve taught me to water ski at Lake Dabinawa where his family had a cabin.  Got up the first time.  He dragged me around the lake a couple of times, got impatient, and  put the boat in a tight turn.  Just as I heard the sonic boom I started skipping across the lake like a rock.  Got my revenge.  Steve wanted to try barefooting, but thought it would be more foot friendly if he wore tennis shoes.  When he stepped off the second ski, it was like Nessie grabbed him by the ankles; he went down like he was on hinges.  Later, he successfully barefooted in the conventional manner, which was a bit amazing since the boat was underpowered for a dude his size.

About the jumping boat.  I was not involved in this project, but I think some of the brothers were.  Built from scratch, as I recall the rig was about six feet long with a fairly serious motor.  Its mission was to jump waves.  Someone piloted the thing into the shore, which closed the chapter on this adventure.  Somewhere along the way I saw a photograph of Steve in the boat 4 or 5 feet above the water.  Would love to see this on the blog.  Anybody have an idea as to how we could run it down?  J

{Trull} Steve and I used to water ski a lot, usually on the way home from construction work in the summers.  He talked me into trying to barefoot.  I was on one ski and stepped off.  In a nano second my face hit the water and my eyeballs went between my ears.  Never tried it again.  Then Steve wanted to try jumping off a neighbors dock that was about 3-4 feet above the water, barefoot no less.  I was driving the boat and he yelled hit it.  At full throttle, as the tow rope was about to tighten, Steve jumped into the air, hit the water and the entire back of the boat, motor and all, came flying out of the lake.  I shut down the engine right away and Steve said, “I think I could of made it.”  But once we looked at the tow rope bar and saw it was bent, he decided maybe he shouldn’t try it again.

Great fun at lake Dabanawa.

{Marden} Remember well the sight of Heck water-skiing bare-foot like a huge demented Rockette. I was involved in the construction of the jumping boat at Steve’s uncle’s barn. Steve was the designer who had a very specific and maniacal vision of what he wanted - maximum speed, minimum weight and no safety features . He dubbed it the 2-banger. You had to sit backwards astride the bow to level off and start it, and then quickly swing back around to sit in the driving position. Brewster was the one who drove it up onto the rocks because he could not get turned around in time. Heck loved it even though it pretty well totaled the 2-banger. I know the photo Haase mentioned, but have not run across it yet - would love to have it for this post.

Many other fond memories of Lake Dabanawa - other than it was a nice quiet place to take a date at night when nobody was using the cabin.

• Frog-gigging at night; fun until Steve reminded us that water moccasins also liked frogs. 
• During a family bbq, Steve trying to distract everyone by telling us to look at the ducks on the lake after his Dad proclaimed “I know my boys drink, but at least they don’t smoke!” Wobs and I showed supreme self-control to keep from falling down laughing. 
• Steve once drove his mauve Lemans back late at night at top speed with the headlights off. There may have been alcohol involved.

Giant water balloon launcher

• {Haase} Does anyone remember this? Alleged to have enough range to break windows at the Sigma Chi house.
• {Koala Bear} I remember the water balloon launcher. We took out the window of the Theta Tau house mother's room. They retaliated with bb guns.

Favorite nightspots

• The 'Hawk' and 'Wheel' were convenient favorite afternoon/weekday evening respites from the rigors of our studies.
• The 'Rock Chalk Cafe' at the site of the new Oread Hotel was a little more down-scale and more likely to be the scene of fisticuffs.

• The 'Teepees' was a favorite venue for Ann Brewer and the Flames. Brewer was about 4'10", but she could scream like Janice Joplin. Brewer's spiritual descendant, Kelly Hunt, still performs in Lawrence.
• The 'Stables' had a 50 cent pitcher night for brothers who enjoyed bargains. It lasted until 9 pm, and it was not unusual to see 5-10 fresh pitchers on our table at  8:59.
• 'Louise's' on Mass. street had 10 cent short glasses, 35 cent schooners and for entertainment a tubercular hostess and her regular admirers.
• The 'Red Dog Inn' featured pledge brother Doug Crotty and the Flippers as well as the Ike and Tina Turner review. According to the Red Dog's manager from that era, Ike and Tina commanded a $500 fee (for a great, raw show - Tina was at the peak of her powers). The manager reports that Ike was a "stern taskmaster" who complained that the Ikettes were always "getting pregnant on him." Probably just a coincidence, but Dick Hoener was observed sniffing around the Ikettes dressing room during one performance.
• As for after hours fine dining, Sandy’s and Griff’s are no more, Bob’s Our Place on Mass. is gone as is Raney Drug, and Joe’s Doughnuts is now the location of a pretty good Italian restaurant. Heck used to take his post-game $5 meal money to Sandy’s, buy a couple of bags of 15 cent burgers and fries, and come home with $3 clear. He also had a standing late night order for a Joe’s hot sub until we woke him up one Saturday morning with about 4” of sub still stuffed in his mouth.

Top Pi Doot tunes of 1964-65

• Stop in the Name of Love/Nxxxxn Booth - The Supremes; covered by K-Bear
• I Can’t Get No Satisfaction - The Rolling Stones
• In the Midnight Hour - Wicked Wilson Picket
• Louie, Louie - The Kingsmen
• Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime (favorite wake-up tune of some rather large and surly actives) - Dean Martin
• Land of a Thousand Dances - (propelled to the top 10 by repeated playings demaded by Wobs at the Fiji Island) - ??

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Pi Doot Pledge Diversions

When we were not hard at our studies or learning the PGD catechism, pledges found any number of ways to amuse ourselves. Intramural sports was always busy and the Fijis were well-represented in the winner's circle. One memorable basketball team had Wyatt Breidenthal as a point guard because he was one of the smaller guys on the team!

The following posts describe some of the other amusements we pursued.