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.

Copyright Notice

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections. Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.

';·

. , ·~ . .

·, ,.

·~ /'f. '. "'~;' .. '

;J ~<_;rit- i • ...

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.

. .

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 •

.. ~·

Digitized from Box C38 of The Presidential Handwriting File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library

., .. . , -, ....

; '

, .. '

·-

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,

... '·

·- .'1!.

'· i-" • !

' .. -.;

~·· .. _

Mr. B. Davia Wilcox 1. Davia Wilcox Aaaocfiates 833 South Beckham Aveaue Tyler, texaa 75701 ?- ··,

..• ·., GRF:Downton • /closure 1 December 21, 1959, Sports Illustrated

'. >;

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.

Page 2

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.

(~ ,

~ ~~

1 ~- ~7

~ Wt;t

tl-~ --ttT 7~

~-?/~ 1 - ~. ~· I J'/

I ~~7 ~. · 77~ ~ ~ /.~~.,.

/ ~ ~ 1~~~./f ~

~(-:( L~~ ~ ~ ~ 7Zo /~ ~ ~ .IT/~. ~

1/

~~~4£-~ie~~

r .zu- L 4r 14 [(. ~ tnt. Xc,

~ f' 7-t>tJ ~-

4_~ /dz; 7: &;q r~ t.Jdt.;, u~ ~ ~ ~

Ul~~~~~~r ~ /7 . ' - ~ d,__t_J~~

w ~ r. -·~ • I _I

~7~ ;;~-~

.~~~~rrr~~ uu~~~&.A... 'r~~ r L.. ~ ~

IAL/Mu!/~~~~ ~~ ~~ 11~'1~ ~~·

l r;#L/YjAl~r~ r4:1.,7P~~~.

. 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

.. t •

' . ' E. , .. Q A v I 5 w I L c 0 X ' I A 5 5 0 c I A T E 5

! .. ..

. ~ --.... < . ~ ~ 833 a. BECKH;A· M AVE. . :

13, 1976 . •' ~~·, . ..~

..... : /':· ~- , '. ·~ ~ ~ , ' ·•l': ,.l w

6'

~· ..: '_.'; ' I, ~ -: . • .;,>:,-'.1...

J /· · ,! c Mr.": Robert L. : Dodd ·.• Athletic Director

Apri l

Georgia Institute

' ' I

-~, of Technology .'·-.'(:·'· .. Atlanta, Ge_~rg1•}~~32

T .YLER, TEXAS ·71570! ...

'

. ' !

. ,'-·,

~ .;.· •• ~. • •• of ·• ... I ', : t. ·, .. , .

ARCHITECTS

PHONE 1582•!0152

E. DAVIS WILCOX, ... AlA ·

CHARLES ,.., HANNA, AlA

.''

~-:- ·. .

, .. ~ . ~-

:·. :\.·:-·;\;;.; :.,, •, I ·~ . • •

· ... '.·~ ·! ··:· Bobby, I am responding to your secretaries request for my remembrance -of \._. ..... , .: ·:. :) the 1934 Mlchlgan•Tech ga~~~·

,. : ..

.. l ~~

'· . '

~~ ~::).:~::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··· · .·.~. ·· · ;. ,_,.'!;·~--~-·:_:! .. ~_.· .

. ~:···;*._1;1:'· .!· . .r - ~ ••

·.·' · .. ;·.· ~ 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

·,,.::, __ .. :1

·., ~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. ·~.;:·. · ,. ,· .; . >. ;., .· ·. ·. ·,

; . '•' : . . ! ·;: :· .. . . ' . . .' .. . ·' .. ;· ' . . . . . .

".< .. · · ·' I trust that our Honorable President will forgive my famll iar use of his . . . ' - . ~ . ' .. .

. . . . : ~~- ,. .

·.·. .. . ·: ~ : ·.~~t~ ;!: ~).~

. : ... -~.

.. · 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 •

'·

Dave Wilcox ~ :.

..... ! . .: . .-,

.. ' EOW:dh

! .~ • cc: · President Gerald Ford

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