Herman Wells Stories (A Midland Book)

Everyone who has been associated with Indiana University and Herman Wells has a favorite story or two about this great man. Some of his friends thought collecting a few of these stories in a little volume and presenting them to him, and to his many friends and associates throughout the University community, on his 90th birthday would be an excellent way to celebrate the occasion. There are a lot of good ones here, some funny, some serious, all very human--and all of them revealing different facets of a warm human being and a brilliant college president.
The Enema Bandit
The late Paul Klinge, long-time associate of Herman B Wells, told the story of a meeting involving campus security officials and other members of the administration back in the late '60s where the activities of one particular character were discussed. The Bloomington campus had been alerted by the Urbana-Champaign authorities--who had been notified by the police at another midwestern university farther west--to be on the lookout for a fellow who was making his way east from the plains states. His modus operandi was to force entry into a co-ed's room and, instead of violently assaulting her, he would (simply) give her an enema--and leave. Much discussion resulted pertaining to some strategies the campus could use to prevent an incident here. HBW sat silent, until--with that customary twinkle in his eye--he slowly said, " . . . I wish he would have caught me last Thursday " --Richard E. Bishop
The Wells Touch
Late one hot summer afternoon I found myself crammed into a window seat at the back of a 727 jetliner at New York's LaGuardia Airport awaiting departure to Louisville.
The last passenger in was Dr. Wells. He came down the long aisle and plopped down next to me. He said not a word and promptly went to sleep.
An hour or so later he woke up with a snort, turned to me and said: "George, the older you get the more you look like your father."
This happened at least 15 years after my graduation from I.U. and I had not seen Dr. Wells in the interim. He had indeed been a friend of my father's, but hadn't seen him for many years.
The nap? He explained that a heavy lunch and spirits at his favorite oyster bar in New York had temporarily dulled his alertness. --George N. Gill

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0253207533
• ISBN13: 9780253207531
• Release Date: June 1992
• Publisher: Indiana University Press
• Length: 74 Pages
• Weight: 0.31 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.5" x 8.3"
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

THE MAN HAD CHARACTER

Though not an alumnus of IU I can relate to this University.Wells obviously was a great President who was loved and respected by all who were fortunate to have known him for a long period or for only a few minutes.It's hard to imagine anyone not liking or not being impressed by him.This book reminded me of my alma mater; St.Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada.There as well we had a history of similar presidents including Dr.Coady who formed the Antigonish Movement that has spread worldwide.In spite of formal learning these people had great wisdom and character and gave their whole life to others.While there are others like them ;in a small University they are able to touch and mold every student in one way or another.I believe such men as Wells and Pres.Harry Truman ,who also came to mind as I read this,never saw themselves as great,however I think that was where their greatness was demonstrated.They would be as compfortable with any person from the high and mighty to the lowest servant;another sign of true greatness.I must add that ,while this book was published in 1992 and still in print,that mine is the first customer review.If you attended a small university I strongly recommend it as it will bring back memories ;if you went to a large sprawling institution it may give you a sense of what you missed.