ASU Retirees Association (ASURA) Video History Project Interviews

Marilyn Wurzburger, Hayden Library Special Collections Librarian, was hired as an ASU Library cataloguer in 1960. The early part of the interview covers growing up in Illinois, participating in the Pillsbury Bakeoff and being a CBS tele-visitor reporter. Marilyn describes working in both Matthews and Hayden Libraries under a variety of head librarians. Marilyn talks about the creation of six Special Collections (see notes below for more details): Kelmscott Press, Batchelor Press, Doris & Marc Patten Herbal Books, Fritz Scholder, and Helmut Gernsheim. The interview wraps up with a discussion of some disappointments and highlights of Marilyn’s career.

Connie McNeill came to ASU in the summer of 1976 as head of the payroll project and retired in the summer of 2006 as the West Campus Assistant Vice Provost for Information Technology. Interesting stories include:
1) her role in developing both academic and administrative computing services on the Tempe and West Campuses
2) bringing PC’s onto the Tempe Campus
3) the “Space Wars”
4) short stories about Roland Haden and Darel Eschbach

An interview with Clyde Parker, Technical Director of ASU's Gammage Auditorium. Clyde describes his coming to ASU in 1961 as a Education major and beginning as a stage hand at Gammage Auditorium when it opened in 1964. He went on to become Technical Director. He describes memorable events at the Auditorium and on the campus. The interview was conducted by Colleen Jennings Roggensack, Executive Director for ASU Gammage and Associate Vice President Cultural Affairs for ASU.

Video History interview with Ellamae Branstetter, College of Nursing. Ella discusses helping set up the Nursing program with two others in 1957 and later setting up the Master's Degree Program. Ella grew up in Oklahoma and eventually got her nursing BS degree in 1944. She worked as a nurse in various locations, including stints with Indian Services Hospital and Visiting Nurse Service in Arizona. She earned her Master’s Degree in 1957 and her PHD in 1967. During her tenure at ASU Ella taught classes, founded and was director of a clinic in Scottsdale, and one summer helped train Bolivian Peace Corps Volunteers. Ella felt strongly that nurses needed a broad education and she was a strong advocate of advanced broad learning for nurses

Doug Anderson came to ASU in the summer of 1979 and joined the newly formed College of Public Programs. He left ASU as the Director of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Important ASU stories include:
1) the birth of the COLLEGE OF PUBLIC PROGRAMS,
2) the Tempe Campus SIZE and working ENVIRONMENT in 1979.
3) the naming of the WALTER CRONKITE School of Journalism and Mass Communications, and
4) the importance of the 1987 accreditation as a turning point for the School of Journalism and Mass Communications

Dr. J. Russell Nelson came to ASU in 1981 to be University President and he retired in 1989. He was born in Oregon but grew up in California and Utah. He received his PhD from UCLA and proceeded to teach at the University of Minnesota. He honed his administrative skills at the University of Colorado. When he arrived at ASU he was given the task of moving the university to a research university. In the interview he talks about the lack of teaching space and the effort required to reorient the faculties’ focus. Nelson spoke at length about several buildings, Hayden Library and the Nelson Fine Arts Center. There is discussion about getting around the Regents to get funding for the West Campus and the effort required to clean up the athletic department.

Destined to be the third generation working at the Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co., the Cleveland born and raised boy who got kicked out of High School 5 times before graduating, became a key founder of not only Channel 8 but also the ASU Retirees Association! Bob Ellis speaks very candidly about his life growing up in Cleveland, military service and then student at Arizona State College as a secondary education major with an emphasis in speech and drama; his first job at KOY and how he married his boss, his biggest influence in his career. Bob was an on-air personality at KOY. He was lured to come to ASU to help start a new television station that would become Channel 8 (KAET). In his interview, he tells stories of the beginnings of Channel and how it grew from being a place for “tele-courses” to a member of the PBS family. He also tells of another contribution he made to ASU – one of the founders of the ASU Retirees Association!

Robert (Coach) Fleming was Professor of Music, Associate Director of Bands, and Director of Marching Band from 1974-2002, Coach Fleming grew up in a music family playing the flute. He briefly taught in high school, before moving to the University of Tennessee at Martin where he was band director for seven years. The interview touches on numerous topics and stories including winning the Sudler Trophy, performing at the 1991 Midwest Band Orchestra Clinic, conducting at Carnegie Hall, both ASU Rose Bowl appearance, etc. The interview ends with various discussions of the importance of the Band as a family

Joe Schabacker came to ASU in 1963 after being at the University of Wisconsin and UCLA. When he came to ASU, he was chair of the Management Department in the College of Business. Two years later he became the Vice President for Special Services at ASU. He was well known for his achievements in gymnastics. He was an administrator, professor, writer, management consultant and public speaker. He served as Colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve for 33 years. He provided valuable guidance in the establishment of ASU West. One of the highlights of his career was when he was asked by President Durham at the last minute to speak to a large crowd of people who had come to ASU to hear Barry Goldwater (but Goldwater's plane was delayed) Joe then gave a speech as a substitute for Barry Goldwater. He served ASU for 25 years and retired in 1988.