8 | March 15 - April 4, 2012 the JOURNAL FEATURES History is No Mystery at East Central University BY MARY NEWPORT otzinlly found by a Chicks- located there, But 0 Fduorin chief $8 Tan in a hog lot on the the people as well, Harry Brown Ranch near Bur- Perhaps the clearest. East Central University is row. The man's name is not example of this isthe fall of mysteries, secrets and known, according to an antcle Gordo family rumors, butthe school 'shidden in “The East Central Story Tn 1918, BCU, pstisn'theonlythingstadenls “One wonders why the then East Centra ‘might find interesting There Chickasaw Indian who discov- Normal School are plenty of incidents and eredtheuprooted fossil was not built the president's events too well-documented alsorecognizedontheplagueor home, which now tobe considered mysteries but insomecther appropiate way.” adjoins the Stedling sill relatively unknown by the Marvin Kroeker, professor Williams Foundation ‘campus at large. Most ofthese emeritus of history and author and Alumni Center are undeniably eo! ofthe article, said James M, Gordon, ‘One such story is about the The unidentified manshowed the second president Callixylon Tree, a petrified thetreeto ohn Fits,anAds ge- of ECU, was the fist, tuee located near the north- ologst, who began collecting to live in the new cast entrance of the Horace money to have it bought and house with his wife Mann Building. The tre is a moved ECU for display. Gordon's daughter 350,000,000-yearold remnant Fiisin turn showeditto Da. was born on campus ‘ofthe Devonian peied and the vid White, head of the United in the house, an unusual but the Dall Cowboys from 1960- bomber pilot and flew se largest example of the oldest States Geological Survey, who effective way fora president 1988, hada more solid connec- missions from 1944 - 1945, a twee ever found, accordiagto an decided it should be displayed forge abond with his school. tion. During World Warl,ECU cording to Rob Moris, author article in the 1940 Ada Sunday inthe Smithsonianinstead. da Other notable campus con- provided military Hight taining of “Acts of Valor” a collection ‘cot ofthe Air: 10408 ECU e.ot ake a bresk tom gh waning News. citizens disagreed, ada fund- nections are those of Helen Tor pilots and more than 300 of tris about pilots in WWI “The e's rarity and histri- raising wat began, Keller and Tor Landry Keller men enrolled inthe schoo)'sait This sony faction ofthe cal significance made it quite White passed away before visited campus in April 1915, _ cadet taining program history of ECU, One hundred a catch for the college. Iwas raising enough money tomove causing a sensation among the “One of those was the leg- _andthree years have let behind 0 much ofa catch, infact, it the tree and Fits bought itand students. Keller. accompanied ondary football coach Tom enough stories fill a million Sparked a small, polite fight placeditoncampusin i936asa_by her teacher Anne Sullivan Landry.” Gerald Williamson, papers, but many students come between two great institutions, memorial to White Thetree as Macy, gave a lecture in Sci- advancement professional of and go without ever knowing ECU and the Smithsonian remained apopularartfactever ence Hall on happiness, which the ECU Development Office, much about the grand tradition ‘museum of Washington, D.C, since.evenbeing immortalized received rave reviews from sid. “He appeared in alumni they're pat of. The real mys both tied to secure the tree for on stamp in the 1940s the Star Democrat and the Ada directories upto his death." tery is why anybody wouldn't themselves. The history ofthe school is Weekly News, Atercompleting his tsining want to learn about such an The Callixylon Tree was linked, not just to the things Tom Landry, head ecach of at ECU, Landry became aB-17- exciting past OUr Members make the difference <5; eet Ll LOANS + LOANS + LOANS EAST CENTRAL CREDIT UNION 881 EASTMAIN ~ ADA, OKLAHOMA 74820 ~ 680.332.6306 www.eccuada.com