Founders' Days

From time to time, Nabors celebrated Founders' Day not necessarily just to honor the Founders, but more importantly to recognize the starting of an organization that has meant so much in their lives and to give thanks for it.

The First Three

These observances started early. In fact, in the spring of 1940, a Founders' Day banquet was held at the house for the men living there. The exact date of that first commemoration is not on record, but it appears to have been in April as one might expect. On April 27, 1941, the second celebration was held. But, other than the date, there is no information about it. On April 18, 1942, the third Founders' Day celebration was a dinner--for 75 cents, believe it or not, at the Illini Union. Dr. R.W. Bartlett was the speaker.

Then the Tenth

After the third observance of Founders' Day in 1942, none was held until Sunday, April 24, 1949. This was the tent anniversary! It seemed unreal to some members that Nabor House was already 10 years old. It was an important milestone to all Nabors. They approached the commemoration with deep pride, much feeling, and warm emotion.

A banquet was held at noon in Latzer Hall, University YMCA--it cost $1.50 per person--with 65 people attending. Parents of several of the founders attended. During the program, Toastmaster Howard W. Lanus, '41, presented each founder an inscribed plaque to show the Fraternity's appreciation for what they had done. The Nabor House Trio, made up of Edward E. Duvick, '51 1/2, James G. McCurdy, '50, and J. Joseph Small, '50, entertained with a number of novelty tunes. The program concluded with Dr. A.W. Nolan, Honorary Member, as the featured speaker. Author of the Fraternity's initiation ritual and steadfast and staunch supporter of Nabor House, he exerted a strong spiritual influence on the men of Nabor House. For those who heard his address, those who knew him, but most of all so that all Nabors may read and have his impressive and inspiring words, his brief address is presented here:

SPIRIT OF THE NABOR HOUSE

Every true Christian citizen is a builder. The men of Nabor House are such builders. They are building not only a house, but a Christian citizenship. At the building of King Solomon's temple, they erected two pillars. The one on the right hand they called 'Jachin,' signifying stability. The one on the left they called 'Boaz,' signifying strength. And when the pillars were erected, they put on the lilywork; thus, the work of the temple was completed.

So it is with the building of Nabor House. The pillar of Jachin is the stable agricultural column. The pillar of Boaz is the strong religious column. And the lilywork is the beautiful personalities and wholesome characters of the men who live in the Nabor House.

The strongest factor in the building of any structure is the spirit of the men who are the builders: 'They have a mind to do work,' not by might, not by power, but by my spirit,' saith the Lord. Even so it is with men. Their achievement is through the work of the spirit. The spirit is the spark-plug of endeavor. This fact applies to the evil spirits as well as to the good spirits.

I wish to commend some of the good spirits of the men of Nabor House. There is the pioneer spirit, the fighting spirit, the aggressive spirit, and the spirit of adventure! The founders had this spirit as they launched forth on the new experience of a cooperative house, to be founded on Christian character and cooperative effort. Every year in the life of Nabor House has been an adventure of faith and an advance in building.

There is the cooperative spirit, caught and brought down to earth to help the men solve the problems in the business of living. No task is too mental and no honor too high to be shared with each brother of the House. Nabor House has proved the value and success of the spirit of cooperation.

There is the spirit of loyalty. The deepest law of life and the greatest necessity of life is that men shall be loyal to each other. Unless this law is obeyed, we return to the jungles where the law of tooth and fang obtains and the end is suicide. The spirit of loyalty practiced in Nabor House carries over and begets loyolty in the home, in the state, and in the nation, where it is badly needed.

There is the spirit of enthusiasm. The word 'enthusiasm' means 'a little God within.' Hence, the power of enthusiasm. What a number of things the Nabor House has to be enthusiastic about!--the fellowship of good men, the security of a home in which to live and meet, the ideals of an agricultural education gained in an atmosphere of true religion, education, and recreation, and cooperation.

And, finally, there is the spirit of service. When this spirit is nurtured in the life of a man, he will be wanted in every circle, and his success and happiness are assured. 'He that would be greatest among you, let him be the servant of all.' 

To engender these good spirits, Nabor House is dedicated. The fellowship, the life, the work, and the spirit over all will establish that spirit which Christ commended in the good Samaritan and said unto the inquiring man, 'Go and do likewise.'
              
               -Aretas W. Nolan

Activites commemorating the tenth anniversary started before the banquet and extended on through the year. The April 15, 1949 issue of the newsletter said that in its dedicatory statement: "This edition of Nabor Nubbins is dedicated to those men, both living and dead, who founded Nabor House. It is with humbleness and deep appreciation that we pay tribute at this time to those who have made Nabor House much of what it is today."

These were not festive-type activities. Rather, they were remembrances of having reached this important milestone, thoughts of things along the road to organizing and developing the Fraternity to its present level of success. They were words of appreciation and deep feelings about having the privilege to live in such a desirable atmosphere. Perhaps J. William Curry, '50, captured some of those feelings well when he wrote in the Dec. 15, 1949, Nabor Nubbins:

There was a lot of talk that they were starting another frat and that there wasn't much finance behind them. Besides that, how could a bunch of Indees manage a house--absurd!

Well, I guess I rather blushed with society for the next few years. The fellows could manage a house, they did succeed in financing the indebtedness, but most important, they chose ideals which were based on Christianity. Economy was the password; cooperation was essential; and education, fellowship, and recreation were the profits.

This brings us to the present with no ending in sight, no indication that we have reached a climax, but with an outlook into the future that holds new goals, new hopes, and great expansion; for as a lowly spark started the greatest forest fire and an acorn bore the greatest oak, so will an idea and an ideal grow here.

Now the Twenty-Fifth

It was 1964. Nabor House had reached its twenty-fifth year. To celebrate this first quarter of a century, the spring 1964 issue of Nabor Nubbins was dedicated to the founders, saying in part, "...to those few who had the insight and fortitude to follow an idea and establish a dream, we truly dedicate this and all forthcoming issues of the Nabor Nubbins."

Two major events during the year were held to celebrate the anniversary. The first was a somewhat local observance. It was a Founders' Day Open House held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, April 26, 1964, at the Illinois Chapter House, 811 W. Oregon, Urbana, Ill. Those attending represented members and alumni of Nabor House and their parents, University faculty members, representatives of other organized houses, friends, and other interested persons.

The second event was a special observance coordinated with Homecoming on Oct. 10, 1964, when more alums could participate in celebrating the anniversary. The homecoming banquet was held at the Inman Hotel in Champaign with the program centered around the 25th anniversary. Three of the founders--Burdette Lutz, Walt Parks, and Sam Ridlen--were joined by 85 others for the occasion. Dr. Karl Gardner, Associate Dean of the College of Agriculture, spoke on "Where We Have Been and Where We Are Going." The founders present discussed "Twenty-Five Years of Education, Cooperation, and Recreation and Its Future." Adding to the enjoyment and fun was the presentation by five actives and pledges of two musical numbers, "Are You Glad You Are in Nabor House?" and "I Used My Noodle When I Sold My Poodle."

Past the Thirtieth

A Founders' Day observance of the thirtieth anniversary was bypassed in 1969 because they Loy-Reinerd Memorial Library dedication was to be held later in the year. At the dedication on Nov. 1, 1969, Fraternity President Dale E. Ruckman, '59, opened the dedication program with remarks titled, "Thirty Years of History and Achievement." Following his remarks, Earl R. Swanson, '43, unveiled a handsome founders plaque to be hung in the Loy-Reinerd Memorial Library.

Dr. Orville G. Bentley, Dean of the College of Agriculture, spoke of his pleasure in working with students and that he was impressed by the caliber of leadership exhibited by Nabors on campus. He encouraged the Fraternity to continue providing the type of student environment which helps students develop education, leadership, and personal qualities which are so important in our society. An honorary member and long time friend of Nabor House, Dr. R.W. Bartlett, told of working with Garrett Loy and other early members of the house when the problems of acquiring property and continuing the group were encountered.

Onto the Fortieth

Homecoming on Oct. 6, 1979, took on an added dimension as the Fraternity celebrated "40 years of excellence and achievement" and recalled the five men who gave the organization existence on April 29, 1939. More than 160 people assembled at the Champaign Ramada Inn Convention Center. Special guests included Dean Orville G. Bentley and Associate Deans John R. Campbell and William N. Thompson, all from the College of Agriculture. The actives and pledges presented a slide show, "40 Years of Nabor House." Senetor Kennth G. McMillian, '66 1/2, addressed the group, reviewing the elements that have made Nabor House the unique type of fraternity that it is. Arien R. Speckman, '56, Fraternity President, closed our the evening as he presented Sam Ridlen with an inscribed chrome platter, expressing the Fraternity's appreciation for his contributions over the 40 years.

Now the Golden One

It was 1989. Fifty years had gone by. Golden years! Golden symbolizing fifty. Golden for the harvest produced by cooperation, education, and recreation in a fraternal Christian environment. These 50 years were celebrated July 14-16, 1989, at the Champaign Chancellor Hotel and Convention Center.

Participation in MIA

Nabor House became active in the Men's Independent Association (MIA) just after the house was reactivated following the ward. MIA was a student governance and activities organization for independent men's housing groups. While the exact date that Nabor House became a member has not been established, the house did receive a certificate in 1948 certifying that it was a member.

Nabors were represented on the MIA Council, and a number of them became officers. Harold F. Reetz, Jr., '70, served as president. John L. Duewer, '52 1/2, was treasurer and later became vice-president, as did David L. Grieve, '65, and Patrick J. McMullen, '70. John Duewer, Donald W. Jones, '55 1/2, and Melvin J. Schlueter, '55, were delegates from the U of I to National Independent Student Association conventions. Undoubtedly, other Nabors were active in MIA, too, but available records to done provide additional information.

MIA made possible many activities for independent men, including recognition of scholarship achievements, intramural sports competition, and activity awards. Nabor House participated extensively in all areas and gained considerable recognition in all of them. 

In the 1960s, directions were changed in MIA, and Nabors became concerned about some of thesse changes and inadequacies being encountered. Then, in the fall of 1969, MIA and the Women's Independent Student Association (WISA) merged under the name of Independent Housing Association. Interest in the orgqnization continued to decline in Nabor House, and within a short time participation was discontinued. Today, Nabor House is a Private Certified Housing option.