j Plaza named for former president! 7 Center to be memorialized (Continued from page 1) a church school and the first when it became a state institution. He was president for 13 years, from 1922-35, during a span of years that presented many critical ‘problems, including the transfer of the western states. He also made a detailed geological study of the Archean formation and igneous intrusions in the northern Wasatch the college from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to the mountains, which entailed the microscopic study of thin sections of many rocks collected. During the summer vacations he traveled widely, including trip to Spain and to Mexico City to attend an International Geological Congress. He gathered specimens of gold, silver, zinc, mercury and other State of Utah in 1933. During the depression of the late 20’s and early 39’s, President Tracy found part-time jobs for students and set up a system that enabled the college to accept farm produce in lieu of cash for tuition to keep the doors of the school open. He worked to bring recognition to many activities of the college, ores on these trip for his collection. He had worked, as a boy of 14, in the mines of Park City and it was from the arts and sciences, forensics, vocational training and competitive through this work that he became sports. interested in Geology. Dr. Lind died in June, 1944 an his grave monument states simply Aaron W. Tracy “Scientist-Scholar-Teacher-Friend.”’ The forensic program was raised to national prominence under his administration. He also started theater activity and supported a Milton Mecham selected for Alumni Award (Continued from page 1) ‘We set up a boxing ring in the gym night after night, week after week, to raise money to buy buses and cars for our teams use for travel. “We purchased two 1942 C.I. surplus buses to travel to California to play Pasadena Junior College in the Rose Bowl. We came upon a that had gone off the road and car McKinley High school. Later 16 Hawaiian ballplayers came to play for Dean Mecham at Weber during ‘48-49. “They were great football players,’’ he said. Following his coaching at Weber, Dean Mecham became director of stopped to assist them. As we placement and veteran’s coordinator, stepped off the buses everyone Dean of Men, Registrar and Dean of Admissions and Records in 1962. “I’ve seen the enrollment grow started toppling over like flies. apparently asphyxiated. ‘The bus had a faulty exhaust pipe and of course we didn’t know it. from about 1100 to the present 11,500, and from a junior college to a It’s pretty safe to say if we hadn’t stopped to help them we would have had a horrible experience ourselves. four-year degree-granting institution, and had the privilege of working “It was bitter cold- we climbed back on the buses, rolled down all the windows and drove to Fillmore where everyone was treated and the pipe was fixed. Joseph Bishop and Rodney Brady. . .and association with the athletic department all these years, either as “Naturally the players were weakened but we beat Pasadena 7-6, a fine climax to what could have been a disaster,” Dean Mecham said. Dean Mecham also reflected on the purchase of two black Larkin Mortuary family cars and two long-bellied, 15-passenger Chevrolets painted blue and affectionally dubbed the ‘“‘Blue Gooses.”’ “Everywhere we went in those with four great presidents, H. Aldous Dixon, William P. Miller, a coach or as a faculty representative.”’ Dean Mecham was present when they organized the Big Sky Athletic Conference and has worked with three “‘excellent’’ athletic directors, Reed Swenson, Dale Gardner and Gary Cromtpon. Students who have attended Weber State College have always been first class, Dean Mecham believes, and considers it an cars a crowd of students would surround us. They thought for sure opportunity to be probably the first we were the Maffia,’”’ he chuckled. to the campus. “I watch them come as fine, new freshmen and receive diplomas four years later. It has been a source of “One of our faithful fans who went ' everywhere with use was John Gaz, chairman of the automotive department. He fixed whatever went wrong with one of the vehicles and saw to it that we got where we were going. . .our insurance policy! We didn’t have money to do it any other way in those days.” Playing football was for ‘‘fun’” and one of the highlights was taking the team to Hawaii to play the Alumni of : Page 2 to meet and greet them as they come great enjoyment for me. Students have come back after graduation and told me how grateful they are for the experience and for the excellent teachers they have had,”’ Dean Mecham said. “T’ve enjoyed coming to work every morning. Every day has been a challenge and I have thoroughly enjoyed the individuals I’ve associated with in my work. They have contributed greatly to my life and the life of my family.”’ His wife is the former Marjorie White who grew up in Perry. They attended Box Elder High School together and were high school ‘‘sweethearts.” They are the parents of three children, Roy, Steve, and Mrs. Dennis (Patricia) Wood, and have 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild. “In the years to come I’m looking forward to watching Weber and still participating in all the activities. I’ve watched every building on this campus being built and witnessed heartaches, struggles, joys and great foresight and leadership.’’ “ve watched ... heartaches, struggles, joys and great foresight and leadership." Heartaches included the traumatic time when Governor Lee wanted to give the college back to the LDS Church. The faculty, staff and community joined together to fight that decision. They had to acquire signatures from all over the state. Joys. . .simple things like knowing everyone when there was a faculty of 60 and assemblies every day with instruction and entertainment such as musical numbers, plays, election campaigns... competitive athletic program, giving e approval for the football team of 7 1928 to travel to Honolulu fora — game with McKinley of Hawaii. A native of Marriott, Weber . County, Mr. Tracy taught in the Weber County School District forlf ~ years. He graduated from Brigham Young University, where he majori# in English and history, and did graduate work at the University Phe Chicago. His doctoral thesis, on the collect history of the old Salt Lake Theate, Have | fills 18 typewritten volumes. and p He served three two-year terms as) __ representative in the Utah Legislature. Hee | the m _ barrel aware ‘in the that o Understand values | mutti Students need a great | produ have | knowledge of varying value j systems in today’s world so they) Purch can better understand others who have different systems, Dr. Malcom Sillars, dean of the College of Humanities at the . i, University of Utah, told the WSC School of Humanities Forum. Students need to be given the | intellectual tools to identify value systems. In what they read and hear they must look for | definite statements of belief, key words expressing the intellectual — direction of the others thinking, etc. na Aaron W. Tracy was the last president to serve while Weber was Too many people tend to think that their own system of values * ® organized, with all his specimens labeled with name, date and place. During his career he did field work in glacial geology in Wisconsin and in the Uintah and Wasatch mountains of Utah and extensive work in the study of ore deposits in is carefully reasoned, while some one else’s values are largely emotional, bad. and for that reason Value systems usually are adapted to changing situations, not totally discarded for others when strong outside pressures — arise, Dr. Sillars said. Those engaged in the arts, literature and language areas are in the forefront of value changes, hence the humanities are most important today, not less so as those in scientific studies often say, Dr. Sillars asserted. Weber State College Comment | Li Editor: Arlene Wilson ¥ a Second-class postage paid at Ogden, Utah published four times a year in October, January, April and June by the Department of College Relations, 316 Adminstration Building, Ogden, Utah 84408. The COMMENT is mailed to alumni, faculty, staff, business community and friends at no charge. 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