Four Teachers College Alumni to be Honored Friday
Special Events Scheduled This Week...
Emporia Gazette, May 1970

     Four outstanding alumni of Kansas State Teachers College will be honored by the Alumni Association this week for meritorious service to the college.
     They are: Margaret Lowe Burke, a 1931 graduate: Arthur E. Gropp, a 927 graduate; Homer W. (Bill) Hargiss, a 1909 graduate; and Francis G. (Fran) Welch, a 1918 graduate. Three of the alumni will be presented the K.S.T.C. Distinguished Alumnus Award during Alumni Day activities at the college Friday. Mr. Hargiss will be honored Thursday night at a dinner given by his former students and athletes.  More than 400 alumni and friends of the college are expected to be present at special Alumni Day activities which will at 7:30 p. m. Friday in Welch Stadium.
     The four honorees will be recognized during the annual Senior-Alumni Luncheon at noon in the K.S.T.C. Union Ballroom. Members of the honored classes of 1910, 1920, 1930 and 1945 also will be recognized at the luncheon as well as 1970 graduating seniors and members of the Second Century Club.
Margaret Lowe Burke
     Mrs. Burke, who now lives in Americus, is the designer and producer of the world-famous Marlow Woodcuts. She originated the art form of making tiny silhouettes out of wood and now supervises the operation of Marlow Woodcuts, which sends out more than 10,000 items yearly.
     While at K.S.T.C., Mrs. Burke was active in music groups and the Y.W.C.A. She graduated with a B.S. Degree in music with a minor in history, government and English. Before starting Marlow Woodcuts, Mrs. Burke taught for several years at Lehigh High School.
     For 37 years, Mrs. Burke --and her husband Robert since their marriage — have been producing woodcuts which are collector's items. Specialty shops the world over carry the woodcuts and the demand for the tiny works of art far exceeds the supply. Even though Mrs. Burke manages to cut out more than 30 designs daily, she loves the woodcuts and says, "Our work is pure joy!"
Arthur Eric Gropp
     Arthur Eric Gropp, who retired in 1968 after 18 years as head librarian of the Columbus Memorial Library in Washington, D. C., has a long and distinguished career in library science both in the United States and South America.
Mr. Gropp graduated from K.S.T.C. in 1927 with a degree in education. A native of Lakin, he also attended graduate school at K.S.T.C. before receiving a master's degree in library science at the University of Illinois.
     After his schooling, Mr. Gropp went to Uraguay where he spent several years in different librarian's positions. He helped found the library school at Artigas-Washington University in Montevideo, where a classroom was named in his honor in 1963.
     Mr. Gropp left Uruguay to become librarian of the Columbus Memorial Library in the Pan American Union in Washington, a post he kept until retirement.
F. G. Welch
     Fran Welch's selection as a distinguished alumnus is only one of many awards heaped on the former K.S.T.C. football and track coach, internationally known for his track achievements.
Not only was Mr. Welch a standout football player for the then Kansas Sate Normal school as football coach for 24 school as football coach for 24 years and track mentor for many more.
     Mr. Welch retired as director of athletics at K.S.T.C. in 1960 but stayed on as head of the track squad until 1965. During his years at the college, he also coached several U. S. Olympic teams and was named to the
N.A.I.A. Track and Field Hall of Fame.
     In 1960, the new K.S.T.C. football stadium was named in Mr. Welch's honor.
     Mr. Welch's football coach while at K.S.T.C. was the legendary Bill Hargiss, who also is being recognized this year. Mr. Hargiss has one of the best coaching records of any Kansas college mentor.
Homer "Bill" Hargiss
     He was an outstanding athlete for the college from 1905 until graduation in 1909. Known to his friends as the "Bald Eagle," Mr. Hargiss left K. S. T. C. to coach one year at Marion then returned to Emporia as head football coach at the College of Emporia.
     He served C. of E. and Oregon State University as coach before returning to K.S.T.C. as head football coach in the spring of 1920. Mr. Hargiss stayed for many years as coach and director of the physical education department. leaving only to go to the University of Kansas as head football coach.
     At 83, Mr. Hargiss is still active. He plays golf and still likes to attend all sporting events.
Former students of Mr. Hargiss describe him as a "great coach, a greater man and an
"even greater teacher."