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College Station, Texas
Tuesday, November 30, 1971
Wednesday — Cloudy, intermit
tent rain. Easterly winds 10-15
mph. High 61°, low 51°.
Thursday — Cloudy. Rain in
the morning. Easterly winds 10-
15 mph, becoming northerly 10-
15 mph late afternoon. High 66°,
low 54°.
845-2226
Stallings fired as coach,
no replacement is named
Thursday was a hard day for Gene Stallings and it is
lirrored in his face as he walks the side line at the Texas-
pM game. Despite the 34-14 loss, the worst was yet to
pe. He was fired following the game. See accompanying
«»y. (Photo by Sue Davis)
By JOHN CURYLO
Battalion Sports Editor
In a terse statement issued late
Thursday night, the Board of Di
rectors fired Gene Stallings as
A&M’s head football coach and
athletic director.
The board met immediately af
ter the Aggies’ 34-14 loss to
twelfth-ranked Texas and took
the action after meeting with
Stallings and the Athletic Coun
cil.
Stallings had been the object
of numerous rumors attributed
to “informed sources” and “of
ficials close to the university” for
over a year, but the 1957 gradu
ate of A&M was confident until
the end that he would be allowed
to continue his job here.
“I think they’ll tell me I can
coach here for another year,” he
said at his postgame press con
ference. He met with sports writ
ers covering the annual Thanks
giving Day game before he went
to a meeting with Dr. Jack K.
Williams, University President,
and Dr. O. D. Butler, chairman
of the Athletic Council and head
of the Animal Science Depart
ment.
“I don’t think I’ve done a poor
coaching job,” Stallings said.
“I’m not quitting and I’ve never
considered resigning. If I were
on the board, I’d vote in favor of
keeping me on. Had we continued
losing or if we’d played poorly
today (against Texas), I’d vote
for dismissal. But we were in con
tention for the title until last
Saturday and we could have gone
to the Liberty Bowl had we won
today, so I think the decision will
be favorable.”
In discussing his contract terms,
Stallings said that following the
1967 conference championship, he
was given a five-year extension
on his verbal agreement with the
late Gen. Earl Rudder, who was
president at that time. This re
newal came after three years,
but his original contract was for
four years, so. the extra five years
made a total of eight years. This
would have the contract running
out in 1972.
“After the ’67 season I suggest
ed to Gen. Rudder that I have a
written contract,” Stallings ex
plained. “He said that wasn’t
necessary and that I could coach
here as long as I wanted. He said
that he didn’t even have a written
contract, so I could operate on a
man-to-man agreement.”
Stallings was hired in 1964 to
take over from Hank Foldberg.
He played at A&M under Bear
Bryant, then stayed on as a stu
dent assistant. When Bryant re
turned to Alabama in 1958, Stall
ings went with him. He reached
the post of assistant head coach
before returning to Aggieland.
In 1967 the Aggies won the South
west Conference championship
and defeated Alabama in the Cot
ton Bowl.
“I don’t think it’s a negative
decision,” Stallings said at the
press conference. “That’s because
I think I know A&M people better
than you (the writers) do. Of
course, I'm probably the only one
in this room who thinks so, but
we’ll find out who’s right. There’s
a good quote for you.”
He was scheduled to meet with
Williams and Butler at the presi
dent’s on-campus residence at 8
p.m. He departed that conference
at 9 and it was announced 45
minutes later that a decision had
been reached and an announce
ment was forthcoming. At 10:15,
a 90-word statement was delivered
to the Aggie Press Room at the
Ramada Inn to the writers wait
ing there.
“Gene Stallings, Texas A&M
University’s head football coach
and athletic director, will be re
lieved of all athletic responsibil
ities, effective Dec. 1.
“The action was taken Thurs
day night at a special board of
directors meeting attended by
representatives of the university’s
administration and athletic coun
cil.
“A committee consisting of rep
resentatives of the athletic coun
cil, administration and board of
directors will be formed to begin
a search for Stallings’ successor.
“Marvin Tate, associate ath
letic director, was named acting
athletic director.
"Stallings, 36, compiled a 27-
45-1 record during seven seasons
at Texas A&M.”
Stallings revealed that he had
met with Williams before the
season began to discuss his status
and his chances of keeping his
job.
“He told me at that time that
it would be necessary to have a
‘pretty good year’,” he said. “He
gave no basis of a won-lost rec
ord, but said that we ‘had to be
contenders.’ We’ve had no dis
cussion since then.”
The screening committee to find
a new coach consists of Williams,
Butler and Clyde Wells, president
of the Board of Directors. Wil
liams left for Florida Friday
morning to attend an educators’
convention. Butler left at the
same time for a Chicago meeting
in connection with his position in
the university’s College of Agri
culture.
Stallings ranks third in tenure
among A&M coaches. His seven
years is exceeded by D. X. Bible
with 11 seasons and Homer Nor
ton with 14.
Sen. Barbara Jordan
brought by BAC Friday
approved by Board
Bioengineering degree sought
I A&M was authorized by its
of directors Wednesday to
state approval to offer the
jrthwest’s first undergraduate
free program in bioengineer-
A program in bioengineering
opportunity to apply the
abilities of engineering and
jplogy with the needs that
® arising in all medical and
^ tklds,” A&M President
K- Williams told members
the A&M University System
ir <l of Directors.
® r ' Williams said these needs
t hospitals, medical
100 f> industry and government.
6 cited predictions that the
th field will be the nation’s
cst single “industry” by the
“4-1970’s.
^h® bioengineering program
™<I combine approximately 12
courses with current offer-
ln engineering, science, lib-
^ arts and education.
r ' Williams said the program
1 now be submitted for ap-
by the Coordinating
. Texas College and Uni-
"5% System.
h® A&M board authorized the
university to establish a Mechan
ics and Materials Research Cen-«
ter, utilizing personnel and re
sources from the institution’s
aerospace, civil and mechanical
engineering departments. Per
sonnel involved in the new center
already have an extensive re
search program sponsored by in
dustry and other off-campus
sources, university officials noted.
Contracts totaling $701,742
were awarded by the board for
construction and related projects
throughout the state.
A $472,432 contract was
awarded to Eddleblute Construc
tion Co. of La Feria for construc
tion of an auditorium and other
additions to the headquarters
building of the agricultural re
search and extension center at
Weslaco.
Barclay-Owens Inc. of Beau
mont received a $43,500 contract
to install a waste collection and
treatment facility at the agri
cultural research and extension
center at Beaumont.
A new poultry disease labora
tory will be built at Gonzales
under a $59,155 contract awarded
to Robert A. Machemehl Co. of
Seguin.
Other contracts included
$69,405 to Sentry Construction
Co. of Bryan for an addition to
the A&M Press building; $35,950
to Lane Electric Co. of Brenham
for dormitory telephone conduit
systems at Prairie View A&M
College, and $21,300 to S&B En
gineers Inc.-S&B Constructors
Inc. of Houston for modifications
to the power distribution system
at Prairie View.
The board also appropriated
$451,000 for nine other projects,
including $350,000 for equipment
and related activities for the new
auditorium complex at A&M.
Other appropriations were au
thorized for design of a mall and
five parking lots, remodeling the
geosciences building and Bolton
Hall, and compiling a program
of requirements for an intra
mural complex, all at A&M, and
campus planning at Prairie View.
Board members formally ac
cepted a $140,000 gift from
Uvalde citizens and a $10,000
grant from the Caesar Kleberg
Foundation for use in construc
tion of an agricultural research
and extension center at Uvalde.
ystery stories written
during Prof’s spare time
The gift was made through the
Uvalde Chamber of Commerce.
In other business, the board
approved a rate of $570 per
semester for room and boar<T at
A&M’s new l,000-'3tudent resi
dence hall, which includes one
wing designated for women’s
housing. The facility will be
ready for occupancy next fall.
The policy for refunding prop
erty deposits to students enrolled
in the various parts of the A&M
University System was revised to
provide for refunds at the ear
liest possible date upon request
after enrollment is terminated.
The new procedure, similar to
that adopted by other institutions
of higher education in Texas,
stipulates that any unclaimed
property deposits will be used in
making scholarship awards.
Board members also authorized
distribution of $35,000 from Ex
change Store profits for financial
assistance to 81 student organiza
tions. Determination of organiza
tions supported and the alloca
tions were recommended by the
Exchange Store Advisory Com
mittee composed of faculty-staff
and students.
Sen. Barbara Jordan of Hous
ton will speak on the Black po
litical movement Friday at A&M
in a Black Awareness Committee
presentation.
Senator Jordan became the first
Black woman senator in Texas
and has been honored as one of
the “100 1 Women in Touch With
Our Time.”
Her address in the Memorial
Student Center Assembly Room
will begin at 8 p.m. and is public
free, announced Marvin L.
Bridges, BAC chairman of San
Angelo.
Black Awareness is one of 16
student committees in the MSC
Directorate. It is in its second
year of activity at TAMU.
A practicing attorney and for
mer administrative assistant to
the county judge of Harris Coun
ty, Senator Jordan was first elect
ed to the Texas Senate in 1966.
She was unopposed for a second
four-year term in 1968.
Senator Jordan has credentials
as a legislative pioneer for Black
Texans. As the first Black to
preside over the state Senate, she
also held the distinction for the
entire U. S. The Houston-born
lawmaker was the first Black to
chair a major committee of the
Senate.
She also was the first freshman
Senator named to the five-seat
Texas Legislative Council, re
search arm of the state legisla
ture. Senator Jordan was a dele
gate to the 1968 Democratic Na
tional Convention and was ap
pointed' permanent secretary at
the 1970 State Democratic Con
vention.
The member of Texas, Massa
chusetts and American bar asso
ciations became a member of the
executive committee of the Na
tional Democratic Policy Council
in 1969.
Several honors and prestigious
appointments include income, pub
lic service and environmental
health assignments by former
President Lyndon B. Johnson,
Governor Preston Smith and Lt.
Gov. Ben Barnes.
Barbara Jordan was selected by
UPI in 1967 as one of the 10 most
influential women in Texas and
was named last January to Har
pers Bazaar Magazine’s list of
“100 Women in Touch With Our
Time.” The 1956 Texas Southern
University graduate completed
law school at Boston University
in 1959 and was awarded an hon
orary doctor of laws degree from
the latter in 1969.
Senator Jordan’s memberships
include the NAACP, National Ur
ban League board of directors and
Good Hope Baptist Church of
Houston.
Aggie senior injured slightly
at A&M-Texas football game
Dudley Vickers, Aggie senior
who was struck on the head by a
falling tripod and camera in the
first period of the A&M-Texas
football game here last Thursday,
was released from Bryan Clinic
Friday morning in good condi
tion after the freak accident.
Early in the first quarter, a
University of Texas Longhorn
Band camera fell from atop the
pressbox landing in the stands on
Vickers. He was rushed to Bryan
Clinic by ambulance where exten-*
sive tests were performed to find
out the extent of injury.
Vickers was sitting with his
wife on about the 30-yard line
three rows down from the press-
box on the upper level when the
accident occurred.
Word was received from the
clinic in the third period that
Vickers’ condition was termed
good but that he would be kept
overnight for observations. His
injuries were termed a slight con
cussion with head lascerations.
A&M faculty member hurt
in bicycle-automobile crash
A&M faculty member Howard
Eilers suffered a broken collar
bone last Wednesday morning in
a bicycle-automobile accident in
u ones ome mountain climber,
| ^ ^ ror o his journey, sat down
L y a s k° rt story to lift his
He read “The Man Who
L a , Nation Wagon” in “Ellery
®n s Mystery Magazine” and
ime 80 inspired that he wrote
u. aut J 10rs proclaiming that the
L5 rea ffirmed his faith in
nature.”
IJ} 13 *' Was the only piece of fan
J tJl ft Frank Peirce has re-
e since he published his first
^ a nationwide magazine
|JJ e s t°ry the mountain climber
p. Was the creation of Frank
ifj* 6 an 4 Fred Rodewald, the
! (Ve j er 0: t which teaches a junior-
Crea ti Ve writing course at
on ^ >e * rce has been writing
atl d off for “Ellery Queen’s
ry Magazine” since 1964.
a dition he has sold stories to
J P u blications as “Playboy,”
Sc apad e ,” “Tiger,” “Rake” and
iter’s Digest.”
^®>rce has seriously considered
Univi
raster
''ersity National
n the side of Texas
Bank
A&M.”
—Adv.
free lance writing as a profession.
When he first began writing for
publications he sold three stories
within the first three months.
However, he decided that teaching
meant more to him than just
writing. The decision was a wise
one because it was two long years
before he was able to sell another
Record total
will graduate
this mid-term
A record 1,198 students have
applied for mid-term graduation
at A&M, announced
Robert A. Lacey.
Commencement exercises
be conducted Dec. 11*
Lacey said this year s
term class represents an increase
of 32 over last year, the previous
high.
Included in the totals are 318
students applying for master’s
degrees and 138 for doctorates.
Registrar
will
mid
story.
“Some people start with a char
acter or a plot as a basis for writ
ing a story but I begin with an
idea and develop the other two
around it,” Peirce said. He went
on to say that his ideas can stem
from an interesting quote or from
a relationship that he wishes to
express. He comments about peo
ple and relationships but does not
try to attach a moral.
Peirce spends several hours a
day writing but it takes him sev
eral weeks to months to complete
a story. He receives from $50 to
$250' per story, depending on the
length.
“I seek to solve writing prob
lems,” Peirce said.
Peirce has written a total of
eight stories for “Ellery Queen’s
Mystery Magazine” including
“The Hot Tamales Murder Case”
which appears in this December’s
issue. “Nothing New” will be pub
lished in the next few months.
Peirce is currently working on
his first radio play, a geneology
of classical mythology and an
other short story.
linn iihiiBb
A&M MAY HAVE LOST THE GAME, but they won the half-time Thursday when two
armadillos appeared on the 50 yard line, just before the Longhorn Band started on the
field. The armadillo, which evaded distraught teasips for some minutes, was the high
point of the game for most Ags.
Bryan.
Eilers, assistant professor of
journalism photography, was rid
ing his bicycle south on Texas
Avenue when a car headed north
on Texas Avenue turned across
his path at 27th Street.
The bicycle hit the right rear of
the car and Eilers was thrown
from the bike. Police said the
accident occurred at 9:10 a.m.
He is now in Methodist Hospital
in Houston and is expected to be
released soon.
Eilers lives at 3707 Old Hearne
Road and daily rides his 10-speed
bike the seven miles to the A&M
campus.
Suicide is ruled
in shotgun death
of grad student
Suicide was ruled in the death
of A&M student Maj. William
John Scharrett which took place
early Monday morning.
The shooting occurred at his
home on Streamside Way, off
Turkey Creek Road in Bryan.
Scharrett was originally from
West Brookfield, Mass., where he
received his bachelor’s degree. He
was currently working on his
master’s degree in civil engineer
ing.
Brazos County Justice of the
Peace Jess McGee, who ruled the
death suicide, said a long note
was found beside the body.