Lewis and Clark

Interesting morning and early afternoon. I had breakfast this morning with brother John and his family. John mentioned several weeks ago tht we ought to go to Pompey's Pillar and have our pictures taken wearing our Marshall University hats. I mentioned it again today and the decision was made that this was the day. John drove us out - about 40-45 miles from Billings. The gate at entrance was shut so we walked back in. It could be 3/4s of a mile. Maybe a bit less, but it's been so long since I've been for a long walk it seemed that far. Then to get to the signature which Clark carved into the rock we had to ascend a long multi-level staircase. We did that and had pictures taken in front of the glassed in signature. I got a picture of the signature which can be read if blown up enough. Then there was another series of steps and ramps to the top of the pillar. John and I went that route and saw the whole valley which Clark would have seen and he deterrmined their futher route to the Missouri River to meet up with the rest of the party. It is one magnificant valley and well worth the climb. The only "pain" I felt was to the knees. The heart behaved itself.

The picture will, hopefully, be published in the Marshall alumni news at some point. I graduated a couple of years ahead of John since I was discharged early from the Air Force in WW II. I graduated in 1946 and was the first grad to receive a diploma from the hands of the new President, Stewart H. Smith. This resulted from a mix up between the Registrar's Office and the Dean's Office when an Incomplete which was made up and not recorded prevented me from participating in the Spring Commencement. When Dr. Smith heard of this he promply invited me into his Office and presented me with my diploma with due ceremony. I then went on to take a Master's Degree in Psychology and was invitedto stay and teach in the Department the Fall of 1947. But that is another story.