The original documents are located in Box C38, folder “Presidential Handwriting, 4/19/1976” of the Presidential Handwriting File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
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April lt. 1976
Dear Dave:
Your letter of April 14 and the copy of your letter of April 13 to BohbJ Dodd baa beeo received.
The Sports Illuatreted iaaue of Deeaaber 21. 19S9. brouaht bact araat •••ortea. I waa very proud to be in that aroup with you. 1 have the silver goal poat diaplayed in our relaxattoa roo• on the aaeond floor of the White Houaa vbere.Betty and I apend a few quiet evening&. I •• TeturniDI yoar copy of ~he aaaaat11e taaaauch •• I ha•e kept oae alao.
Toar •amory of the incident in the Geora1a TeebMiebtsan a••• ta a bit batter than •ina. However,
'~1 •• certain that during the a••• there vera "aoma worcla paaaed between ua." That vaa frequently the caae between a center and the oppoaina auarda. X aua~act it atill happeaa although in our day probably •ora often with player& playing both olfenae and dafenaa. . '
You are undoubtedly correct that Michigan didn't make ~ firat down deep in our owu territory after the eeeon4 half kiek•off. Hiehtaan in 19~ va1 not aucb of an offenaiva threat aa the record of -one victor7 and aevan loa••• olea~ly ahowa.
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l can more cleftnitely verify that ••· coaaratulated each other after the final whtatle. Thia te what I believe ia th~ beat element in athletic competition. Fierce and fair competition which enda vith a handabaka ia the driving force that baa kept the Uulted States on the aove for 200 yeara •
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Digitized from Box C38 of The Presidential Handwriting File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
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In Jour letter to Bobby Dodd you mention Wlllia · Ward who has aa enviable record of public service
tu ~1 State of Michigan--a federal prosecutor, Cht,faaD of the Michigan 'Public Service Coa•t••,._, 1ad aow • fSa• Judge in the Htchiaan judicia~,. J aa certain that all would aaree that sreat
. ~~~sreea baa been aade aince 1934 wheA the f.u.ci-~~· · ·-·· · 4f•'Q't you meu.tioned caueed two fine football player••
oae from each team, to ait on the eideltaea. fortunately a areat deal of proareas ia race relation• baa been aade in our nation in the last 42 years.
If you aee Bobby Dodd, aive hia ay beat.
; · Waraeet beat wiahea,
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Mr. B. Davia Wilcox 1. Davia Wilcox Aaaocfiates 833 South Beckham Aveaue Tyler, texaa 75701 ?- ··,
..• ·., GRF:Downton • /closure 1 December 21, 1959, Sports Illustrated
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Dear Dave:
Your letter of April 14 and the copy of your letter
of April 13 to Bobby Dodd has been received.
The Sports Illustrated issue of December 21, 1959,
brought back great memories. I was very proud to be in
that group with you1 ~ I have the silver goal post displayed
in our relaxation room on the second floor of the White House
where Betty and I spend a few quiet evenings. I am returning
your copy of the magazine inasmuch as I have kept one also.
Your memory of the incident in the Georgia Tech-Michigan
game is a bit better than mine. However, I am certain that
during the game there were "some words passed between us."
That was frequently the case between a center and the opposing
guards. I suspect it still happens although in our day
probably more often with players playing both offense and
defense.
You are undoubtedly correct that Michigan didn't make
a first down deep in our own territory after the second
half kick-off. Michigan in 1934 was not much of an offensive
threat as the record of one victory and seven losses clearly
shows.
I can more definitely verify that we congratulated each
other after the final whistle. This is what I believe is the
best element in athletic competition. Fierce and fair
competition which ends with a handshake is the driving
force that has kept the United States on the move for 200
years.
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In your letter to Bobby Dodd you mention Willis Ward
who has an enviable record of public service in my State
of Michigan--a federal prosecutor, Chairman of the Michigan
Public Service Commission, and now a fine Judge in the
Michigan judiciary. I'm certain that all would agree
that great progress has been made since
If you see Bobby Dodd, give him my
Warmest best wishes,
Mr. E. Davis Wilcox E. Davis Wilcox Associates 833 South Beckham Avenue Tyler, Texas 75701
E&LE relations.
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. E. DAVIS WILCOX ASSOCIATES • r
833 a. BECKHAM AVE.
Apr i I 14, 1976
President Gerald Ford The White House Washinton, D. C. 20000
Dear Mr. President:
TYLER, TEXAS 715701
ARCHITECTS
PHONE !592•10!52
E. DAVIS WILCOX, FAIA
CHARLES F, HANNA, AlA
I enc los e a copy of my Jetter to Bobby Dodd in answer to his query, a tabbed 11Sports lllust rated 11 magazine and a clipping from my firm's brochure which evidences my identity.
As we age, Mr. Ford, our memories of t he past may become embellished, inaccurate or even contrad ic tory. If my accou nting of incidents of the 1934 Michi gan-Tech game require repudiation pl ease furnish Bobby Dodd or me with your c lar i fication.
Respectfully ·-,
EDW:dh
Enc. 3
cc: Mr. Bobby Dodd
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13, 1976 . •' ~~·, . ..~
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J /· · ,! c Mr.": Robert L. : Dodd ·.• Athletic Director
Apri l
Georgia Institute
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-~, of Technology .'·-.'(:·'· .. Atlanta, Ge_~rg1•}~~32
T .YLER, TEXAS ·71570! ...
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ARCHITECTS
PHONE 1582•!0152
E. DAVIS WILCOX, ... AlA ·
CHARLES ,.., HANNA, AlA
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· ... '.·~ ·! ··:· Bobby, I am responding to your secretaries request for my remembrance -of \._. ..... , .: ·:. :) the 1934 Mlchlgan•Tech ga~~~·
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~~ ~::).:~::l~~~.., \ e .• ,·· .~: . ~ ; . . -r;_,.,:,);' .. : None. of ·us will have forgotten the . trade of ' ou'r end for Hlchlgan•s -black •· ·· i;;:< f:· ~· :· .. ~nd_ ·n~med, I be_lleve Ward, nor ·· the._: end.Jess, bpolng ·we were ·accorded.:' •. ~ ( · ·~;,~ .
.. \· .. :'·_.:,; }".',/' ... , " .. . . . ' '• ," .,_ ' ·} :: :. . . . .- ... . . .· . .. , - . : i. / . .. -.; · '· ·<~, Three Instances of a personal nature are wei 1 remembered by me. I Intercepted ·.
· ::;.;.'·.:~:· · ~~. . the one and only pass of my ca~.eer and ·also missed a field goal ·attempt which .:·· ··· · . .:_.:.
1. was not unlqu~_ · for:: me··· · .·.~. ·· · ;. ,_,.'!;·~--~-·:_:! .. ~_.· .
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·.·' · .. ;·.· ~ Our President ' was Involved with the third Incident which 11 11 relate. ' ;: · . :; ··:.r.. k I eked-off to · commence the second ha If and contInued down fIe 1 d. Jerry Ford · ., ·' 'i ~'· ..
··' · . ··· was stationed in my path and was crouched so extremely low that I was deter• ... ·:~ .' . • ·.. mined to hurdle him. Unfortunately, Ford raised his face . to be implanted
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·., ~lth my shoe aS I went over. him. He c,hased me down fleld _where the ball had . ·' ... ·:· ~·;·-· been dpwned .near_Michigan1 s goal 11ne at which point some words were passed .· ·:.~-~ between us. Ford, tal King across the line, vowed that they would run over
, . my position the next sarles.of plays. ·· with my brother, John, backing up the · • line and those aside me, we ·held until they were forced to kick on the fourth . ·. :..·. 'down. As soon as the game was over, Jerry Ford and I congratulated each other,
.·.· .·. · ·.\ . shook ,hands and parted as fr lends. · .. . . . ~;' .. . ' . :. . . . . ·l;" .... t: .. . • ·>,. . Bobby, the occasIon 6-fi a guard beIng· knocked out h6ppened In a Kentucky game.
·· Kercherale was kicking ·us to death~ The "Old Man' 1 decided to attempt a field t.,?+i~·~ .... ~ goal which was normally my chore, however at that time I was led off the field
... .. . : .. .. . ·{. for I dldn 1 ~ . kry~ _ where JO l ln~~up •. l~cldently, John tried the_ flel~ goal ':·:··"~···. andmlssed. ·~.;:·. · ,. ,· .; . >. ;., .· ·. ·. ·,
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".< .. · · ·' I trust that our Honorable President will forgive my famll iar use of his . . . ' - . ~ . ' .. .
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.. · Please tell AI Ice and your children of the enjoyment which my sons and I found with our companionship on the occasion of the celebratl,on to your honor •
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Dave Wilcox ~ :.
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E. DAVIS WILCOX, F. A. I. A. BORN
AUCIIJaT 11!!1, 1913
EDUCATION
TEACHING
B.s., ARCHITECTURE
GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
DIPLOMA, ARCHITECTURE
ECOLE DES BEAUX - ARTS AMERICAIN EN FRANCE
GRADUATE STUDY YALE UNIVERSITY
RICE UNIVERSITY
PRECEPTORSHIP IN THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY
VISITING CRITIC ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
ARCHITECTURAL ORGANIZATIONS
AMERlCAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS
MEMBER OF THE COLLEGE OF FELLOWS
MEMBER OF COMMITTEE ON SCHOOL BUILDINGS
TEXAS SOCIETY OF ARCHITECTS
VICE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR
CHAIRMAN OF COMMISSION ON ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN
NATIONAL COUNCIL OF ARCHITECTURAL REGISTRATION BOARDS MEMBER OF COMMITTEE ON EXAMINATION
TEXAS STATE BOARD OF ARCHITECTURAL EXAMINERS MEMBER AND CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
DESlGN JURY MEMBER
AASA SCHOOL BUILDING ARCHITECTURAL EXHIBIT JURY
FIRST SCHOOL DESIGN .JURY FOR HOUSTON SCHOOL DISTRICT
HONOR AWARDS PROGRAM JURY FOR HOUSTON CHAPTER, A . I . A .
PANEL MEMBER
G . S.A., REGION 7, ADVISORY PANEL ON ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES
SCHOOL ADMlNISTRATION ADVISORY CONFERENCE ON EDUCATION, T.S.A. EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT CONFERENCE, MODERATOR
TEXAS EDUCATIONAL AGENCy SCHOOLHOUSING CONFERENCE
CITY OF TYLER BUlLDING CODE COMMITTEE
CITY OF TYLER BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT AND APPEALS
CAREER ACHIEVEMENT
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED SILVER ANNIVERSARY FOOTBALL ALL-AMERICA, 1959
U . S. NAVY, LT. COMMANDER USNR
FlGHTER D i RECTOR, PACIFIC THEATRE 1942-46