C.V. Ruzek Oral History Interview, circa 1956

LILLIAN VAN LOAN: C.V. Ruzek has consented to talk to us about Oregon State College as he saw it when he first came to this campus. It is a pleasure to introduce C.V. Ruzek.

C.V. RUZEK: We arrived here in the fall in the year 1914, after spending five years at the University of Arkansas. At the University there I was connected with the agronomy department and came here to take over soil work, teaching and experiment station work. At that time the department was headed by the late H.D. Scudder. Others in the department were G.R. Hyslop, W.L. Powers, and W.J. Gilmore. In coming here, we came from an area that was entirely different than this. Our first impressions were exceptionally pleasing. The things that impressed me most about the campus was the fact that our buildings, while you would not classify them as being beautiful, they were very practical. I can remember discussing them with the director of extension, the late R.D. Hetzel, who later on became president of Penn State College, he remarked to me that that was one of the primary motives of Dr. Kerr in selecting the type of buildings that he did. Another thing that impressed us, and this especially did since we came from a southern institution, was to note the large number of students that were working their way through college, some on part time and some of them almost on full time. Many of my students in those early days were men who have since made quite a contribution to Oregon State and to Oregon. Among those I feel proud of are former Secretary Douglas McKay, Ralph Colemen, Doug Pine, who is now down in California doing outstanding work in the way of Forestation. Then in Klamath County there are and they are former students of mine, Ed Gary, who was in the legislature, I believe he was speaker of the Senate. Down there doing a very fine job, of course, is Charlie Henderson.

My first few years were mainly teaching work. Then, later on we branched out and started the first soil survey work in 1916. This work was in Yamhill County, and at that time we got about in horse and buggy. I had quite a time the following year convincing not only our people here at Oregon State but members of the Bureau of Soils in Washington D.C., that we could perhaps use a car. The following year in Washington County, we started out with a good Ford car. About two years later, the department, which was originally the department of agronomy was divided and we were then placed in the department of soils, irrigation and drainage. At that time it was headed by our Dr. W.L. Powers, he in turn was in charge of irrigation and drainage while I took up the soil fertility phase. Along about that time, perhaps a year or two previous, there were two outstanding events that of course occurred in so far as Mrs. Ruzek and I were concerned. Our sons were born, Jerry, who was born in 1915, and Chuck, a short time later the following year. Later, along about 1926, I took a special assignment to do special work on the Canadian border for Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company. I was to look over land in litigation that was supposed to affected by fumes from the smelter. I spent two full summers, '26, '27, and part of '28, in the area making a detailed land classification and soil map of the area. From this work, I was able to make enough money so that I in turn could go back to Wisconsin, my old Alma Mater. I took advanced work in the year '28 and 29, receiving my Master's degree just twenty years after I received my Bachelor's Degree.

A short time later, about 1933, I was appointed by President Kerr to the chairmanship of the Board of Control. The Board of Control at that time included not only intercollegiate athletics but all of the educational activities. The Board was composed of three faculty members and four students. In addition to myself, there was Professor Charlie Johnson, who was at that time head of the mathematics department, Dr. B.T. Simms, who was head of the Veterinary department. I think that the president of the student body that year, who was a member of our committee, was Fred Saling. Carl O'Dell was graduate manager. Lon Stiner, as we spoke of him "Young Lon Stiner," was brought up from assistant coach to head coach, Coach Schissler preceding. Lon had one assistant and that assistant was Jim Dixon.

After a number of years functioning as the Board of Control it was decided that the two activities, intercollegiate athletics and educational activities, should be divided. Two boards were formed. I was again appointed chairman of the athletic department and Percy Locey was made head of the Educational Activities Board. Professor Paul Petri was chairman of the Activities Board. We went along with the intercollegiate athletics, having quite a struggle. One of course, was finances, the other was to have the winning team. The year following, in I believe 1934, we had our famous Iron Man team, which broke the record of USC in the number of continuous games up at Portland. At this time our team began to function. Along about the period of '37-38, we had a team which was up near the top but never a winner. In 1937, our team was second in the conference, but we still didn't have a winner. This year also was outstanding for me in that both of the boys had finished college. Chuck, finishing in the school of engineering, and Jerry finishing in what is now called business administration, I think it was called secretarial science.

A short time later, namely in 1941, we had perhaps our most outstanding athletic event in that we had won the championship of the Pacific Coast Conference. We were selected, of course, as the team to play in the Rose Bowl. Things certainly did look rosy until the day of Pearl Harbor. It was also a bombshell so far as our own plans were concerned. It was decreed that the game could not be played in Pasadena. Then Wallis Wade and Duke University, whose team were to play in the Rose Bowl, made a wonderful contribution. He arranged to have the game played in Durham, North Carolina. Along about the end of December, we packed up, went with the team to Durham, and as you all know, it ended gloriously. We won 20-16.

There were some rather outstanding boys on that team, boys that I'm still in touch with. We had one here, in fact we have two here in Corvallis, Don Durdan, and the other was Quent Greenough. In addition to Durdan, there was of course Joe Day, and in addition to Joe there was a boy from up in the Hood River country, who was known as Bob Dethman It is rather difficult to recall all the lineman but I know Quent was an outstanding Center. George Peters was our blocking halfback. He had a brother who played end for us. Had a tackle by the name of Halverson. Those are the boys that I recall at this time. Now perhaps, I better wind up my conversation relative to the intercollegiate athletic program. I remember well some of my friends came to me and said "Well Bo, their at the top now, why don't you turn in your resignation while you're at the top?" I said "No, I'll go along with the team." Part of the time it's been fun, part of the time it hasn't been fun, but it is part of my work. I continued in this until I retired in 1952, after 19 years of service.

Perhaps a word now relative to the school itself, the department that I was working with. I came here, Dean Cordley was of course head of the agricultural school, Dean Bexell was in the school of commerce, Dean Covell was in the school of engineering, Dean Ziefle in the school of pharmacy, Dean Peavy in the school of forestry. I'm not sure but I think a short while after I came, Ava Milam was appointed to the deanship of the school of home economics. During the time I was connected with the soils department, we saw it grow from a small department of two or three men, where today there are 12-15 on the staff. I think perhaps one of the most outstanding pieces of work done by members of the staff was a continuing of the soil survey work that was started in '17. Now there are quite a number of counties in the state that have had soil surveys made and reports on the same and those that have not had them will have them in the very near future. Much of my contact in the school of agriculture, of course, was with the various other departments. In the department of bacteriology I had intimate contact with Professor G.B. Copson. Horticulture which was at first headed by C.I. Lewis, then Professor Brown, and later Dr. Hartman, was a department in which we did much of our cooperative work.

The campus of Oregon State College at the time I came and since had impressed me, mainly from the standpoint of practicability. Our buildings are really arranged for service, and certainly they have accomplished that in the years that I have been here and undoubtedly will continue in the same way. So far as the future is concerned, I have always felt that the West was a country for young men and women to grow up. I feel especially proud to be connected with Oregon State College due to the fact that my contact has been with students who have not only worked their way through school but who after finishing the school have been a credit to their parents and to the institution. Both Mrs. Ruzek and I are staunch Oregonians, our boys are also. The one boy who has four children, always says that he will send those children to Oregon State College. After having been here over a period of forty years, after visiting many institutions, I feel that Oregon State College has a place at the present time where they are not only putting out the fine type of men and women, but will continue to do so. We all know that the need for an education, especially in special lines as offered at Oregon State College, is becoming more necessary for our young folks. These same young folks are going to take advantage and we are going to have increasing numbers.

LILLIAN VAN LOAN: Thank you Professor Ruzek, this has been a pleasure.