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Category: Bleeds Scarlet and Gray series (page 1 of 3)

Bleeds Scarlet and Gray: Long after death, Failer’s contributions continue

August 16, 2013 / drobik.5@osu.edu / Comments Off

Josephine Failer, 1985

On the anniversary of her birth this week in 1910, we would like to remember Josephine Sitterle Failer, who graduated from Ohio State’s College of Pharmacy in 1939, the same year the OSU Development Fund began the first year she donated to the Fund. She contributed to the fund for the rest of her life, but that wasn’t the only way she showed her support for her alma mater.

From her graduation, Mrs. Failer stayed active with her College’s alumni association. Over the years, she served on numerous boards and committees, including: the Alumni Association’s Board of Directors and Executive Board, the Alumnae Scholarship Houses Advisory Board, the Ohio State Alumni Council, the Friends of OSU Libraries, and the University Hospitals board. For more than 25 years, Failer, who had a passion for antiques, co-sponsored the Greater Columbus Antique Show and Sale, raising more than $105,000 for OSU organizations, including Alumnae Scholarship Housing, the OSU Marching Band, Men’s Glee Club, Naval ROTC, OSU Libraries and student financial aid.

But Jo, as she was known, did more than raise money. She delivered groceries to the elderly, visited hospital rooms, spoke with parents at freshman orientation, and registered participants for Program 60. If there was a job that needed doing, Jo was the woman to do it.

For years, she oversaw that the living conditions at the Alumnae Scholarship Housing residences were up to par, even occasionally hemming curtains while her husband, Jay, replaced fuses or rewired lamps. She and her husband continued to live in the University District, on East 15^th Avenue, befriending their student neighbors. She once said she knew she would not find a more interesting place to live anywhere in the city.

Failer receives her honorary degree, 1987

It was her love of the University, and her desire to give back to her alma mater that earned her an incredible amount of recognition. This recognition includes the University’s highest honors: the Distinguished Service Award (1964), the Alumni Centennial Recognition Award (1970), the Ralph D. Mershon Alumni Award (1984) and lastly, the honorary Doctorate of Humanities Award presented at the December 1987 Commencement a week before her death. She was 77 years old.

Failer’s dedication to OSU has continued long after her death, in the form of alumni awards and student financial awards in her name, such as the Josephine Sitterle Failer Alumni Award through the College of Pharmacy. The award honors a College alumnus or alumna who has made significant contributions to his or her community. A fund in her name also provides assistance to students in Alumnae Scholarship Housing who have been elected to membership in OSU honoraries. And the OSU Alumni Association established the Josephine Sitterle Failer Award for volunteer service to students. Its most recent recipient was James Miller, senior associate vice president for the Office of Technology Commercialization, whose many contributions include the renovation of a rundown fraternity house into a home for military veterans enrolled at Ohio State. Jo would be very proud.

Filed by C.N.

Bleeds Scarlet and Gray: Athletics Director Larkins hired without applying for job

April 11, 2013 / drobik.5@osu.edu / Comments Off

Richard Larkins, 1930

Before the imposing RPAC was the place to work out, there was Larkins Hall. It was much smaller, and by the time it was torn down in 2005, a lot worse for wear. But it had long served the OSU community, much as its namesake, Richard C. Larkins, did, as athletics director for nearly a quarter-century.

Larkins was associated with the University since he came to OSU as a student in the late 1920s. As a student, Dick Larkins played both on the varsity football team and the varsity basketball team, lettering in football from 1928-1930 and in basketball from 1929-1931. He displayed both leadership and smarts from the beginning: He was captain of the basketball team and class president, and he won the Western Conference Medal for scholastic achievement his senior year. Larkins was also a member of the junior honorary, Bucket & Dipper, and the senior honorary, Sphinx.

After earning a bachelor of science degree in Business Administration in 1931, Larkins coached the freshman football team while he worked on his MBA, which he received in 1935. Later that year he left OSU to serve as head coach for the University of Rochester football team.

Larkins, 1966

In 1937 Dick Larkins returned to his alma mater to teach physical education. When the position of Director of Athletics became vacant in 1947, Larkins never actually applied for the job. However, when members of the Athletic Board sat down to discuss possible candidates, Larkins was the only one who had the support of the coaching staff, the physical education department, and retiring Athletic Director Lynn St. John, according to an Alumni Monthly profile.

Larkins’ term as Director of Athletics included the hiring of three head football coaches – the last was Woody Hayes. But his influence on OSU athletics was much broader: Under his leadership, the program expanded to 18 sports, and he oversaw the construction of St. John Arena, French Field House and the adjacent ice rink, as well as an extensive renovation of Ohio Stadium.

In 1976, the Board of Trustees named the recreational facility after Larkins, who had retired in 1970 after 24 years as athletics director. Larkins died April 5, 1977, at the age of 67.

Larkins Hall, 1977

Bleeds Scarlet and Gray: Registrar as devoted to alma mater as she was to detail

March 15, 2013 / drobik.5@osu.edu / Comments Off

Edith Cockins, 1910

One of our all-favorite people from the University’s past is Edith Daisy Cockins. So upon this anniversary of her death, we thought we should remember her and her commitment to the University.

Edith Cockins first came to Ohio State as a preparatory student in 1888 at the age of fifteen. Two years later, she officially enrolled as a freshman; some of her activities while she was a student included her work on the Lantern and the Makio. She graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in 1894.

She went on to complete a year of graduate work and joined the University staff in 1896 as a record clerk. The following year, she was appointed to the newly created post of University Registrar. She would retire 47 years later, having overseen the records of over 60,000 students.

Cockins, 1937

However, in that interval of 47 years, Miss Cockins accomplished quite a lot. As registrar, she was responsible for all student records, and in 1914 she first organized diplomas at Commencement according to a system that allows students to receive their official diploma at the ceremony. It is still in use today, even though roughly 9,000 students attend the Commencement ceremony.

In 1911, she and another loyal alumnus, Ralph D. Mershon, undertook reorganizing the Alumni Association. The next year, she oversaw publication of the University’s “Who’s Who,” a guide to former notable alumni. And in 1929 was named director of the newly created Alumni Records division.

Along the way, she also held the titles of secretary of the faculty and University Editor. Cockins also was involved with several outside organizations, including the American Association of Collegiate Registrars, of which she was elected president in 1938.

Cockins retired from Ohio State in 1944 and was named registrar emeritus. She didn’t stray far from her alma mater, though. She stayed active with the alumni association, and she served as housing chairman for the national organization of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She also oversaw the publication in 1959 of a biography on Mershon, for whom the Mershon Center for International Security Studies and Mershon Auditorium are named.

She was awarded an honorary degree, a Doctorate of Administration, for dedicating so many years and expressing such commitment to the University.

Cockins passed away on March 15, 1963 at the age of 89. In 1967 the Pharmacy and Microbiology Building was renamed Cockins Hall to honor her. The Edith D. Cockins Memorial Award was also established to honor the University registrar employee who best demonstrates Cockins’ high standards.

Cockins Hall, 1967

Filed by C.N.

For information on other notable women at OSU, see The Women’s Place’s Encyclopedia of Pathbreaking Women at the Ohio State University at http://www.womensplace.osu.edu/assets/files/womenpathbreakers_Final.pdf

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Category: Bleeds Scarlet and Gray series (page 1 of 3)

Bleeds Scarlet and Gray: Long after death, Failer’s contributions continue

Bleeds Scarlet and Gray: Athletics Director Larkins hired without applying for job

Bleeds Scarlet and Gray: Registrar as devoted to alma mater as she was to detail

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