Ben Graf Henneke
Encyclopedia
Ben Graf Henneke was the president of the University of Tulsa
("TU"), in Tulsa, Oklahoma
,
United States
, from 1958 to 1967. A professor of speech and theatre, he wrote an early textbook on radio announcing, and was instrumental in the creation of the university's radio station, KWGS
. Henneke also wrote the TU fight song
when he was an undergraduate student at the school. Henneke has been cited as one of the most influential figures in the university's history.
. After graduating from Tulsa Central High School
, he enrolled at the University of Tulsa in 1931, with plans to become a journalist. In 1932, as a sophomore
in the College of Arts and Sciences, Henneke entered a contest, sponsored by a local clothing store, for a new fight song for the school's athletic teams, the Tulsa Golden Hurricane
. Henneke won the contest and a $25 prize. He had not written a song before; he later said that the opening sounds of his composition were inspired by the sounds his family's Hoover
vacuum cleaner
made when he performed his household chores. His winning entry, "Hurricane Spirit Song" (now also commonly known as the "Hurricane Fight Song"), remains in use today.
Henneke graduated in 1935 with a bachelor's degree in English, and later received a master's degree in theatre from the University of Iowa
and a doctorate in speech from the University of Illinois.
after graduation, Henneke instead began teaching speech and theater at TU in 1936. He created a radio quiz show
, "Going to College," which aired nationally from 1945 to 1952. Henneke was instrumental in the founding of a radio station for the university, which commenced operations in 1948 as KWGS, its initials in honor of Tulsa oilman William G. Skelly, who supplied the funding.
Henneke's textbook, the Radio Announcer's Handbook first published in 1949 and revised in 1959, was reportedly the first textbook on radio announcing. He also wrote another textbook, Reading Aloud Effectively.
Henneke became academic vice president of the university in 1953, and was named its 16th president in 1958. He was the first TU alumnus to become president of the university. He was credited with upgrading the TU's faculty and academic reputation: during his tenure the university established new doctoral programs, increased the proportion of faculty with doctorates, started new publications including Petroleum Abstracts and the James Joyce Quarterly
, developed a North Campus center for petroleum engineering
research, and expanded many other facilities. Henneke also initiated the university's efforts to obtain a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa; after it was chartered in 1989, Henneke was inducted as an alumni member in 1991. Also during his presidency, the university received a $34 million gift from the estate of Tulsa philanthropist J.A. Chapman, which greatly improved the school's previously difficult finances.
After his tenure as president, Henneke returned to teaching in 1967 as a professor of humanities. He retired in 1979, having spent almost half a century at TU as a student or faculty member. He was named TU's "president emeritus" in 1982. He continued to write and teach extensively, including numerous articles, a weekly column in the Tulsa Tribune
, and a radio lecture series on KWGS. In 1990 he published a biography of 19th century actress and theatrical manager Laura Keene
, best known for her production of the play Our American Cousin
, which Abraham Lincoln
was watching on the evening of his assassination
at Ford's Theatre
. One reviewer of this book commented that it would "rectify shoddy theatre history" and "re-inscribe" Keene's place in that history. Henneke also published a book-length poem entitled A Ravenna Mosaic.
Henneke married Ellen Eaves in 1940; she died in 2004. Also in 2004, his 90th birthday was honored with a proclamation by Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry
naming it "Dr. Ben Graf Henneke Day". After Henneke's death in 2009, current TU president Steadman Upham
commented, "No one has had a greater impact on the University of Tulsa than Ben Henneke."
University of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa is a private university awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. It is currently ranked 75th among doctoral degree granting universities in the nation by US News and World Report and is listed as one of the "Best 366 Colleges" by...
("TU"), in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
,
United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, from 1958 to 1967. A professor of speech and theatre, he wrote an early textbook on radio announcing, and was instrumental in the creation of the university's radio station, KWGS
KWGS
KWGS 89.5 FM is a National Public Radio station in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The station was Oklahoma's first FM radio station and is one of two stations operated by the University of Tulsa. The station was established in 1947 through the initiative of TU speech professor Ben Graf Henneke, later president...
. Henneke also wrote the TU fight song
Fight song
A fight song is primarily an American and Canadian sports term, referring to a song associated with a team. In both professional and amateur sports, fight songs are a popular way for fans to cheer for their team...
when he was an undergraduate student at the school. Henneke has been cited as one of the most influential figures in the university's history.
Early life and education
Henneke was born in St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. After graduating from Tulsa Central High School
Central High School (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
Central High School is the oldest high school in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was founded in 1906 as Tulsa High School, and located in downtown Tulsa until 1976. The school now has a campus in northwest Tulsa. Tulsa Central is part of the Tulsa Public Schools, Oklahoma's largest school district, and is a...
, he enrolled at the University of Tulsa in 1931, with plans to become a journalist. In 1932, as a sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
in the College of Arts and Sciences, Henneke entered a contest, sponsored by a local clothing store, for a new fight song for the school's athletic teams, the Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Tulsa Golden Hurricane
Tulsa Golden Hurricane athletics programs include the extramural and intramural sports team of the University of Tulsa. These teams are referred to as the Tulsa Golden Hurricane...
. Henneke won the contest and a $25 prize. He had not written a song before; he later said that the opening sounds of his composition were inspired by the sounds his family's Hoover
The Hoover Company
The Hoover Company started out as an American floor care manufacturer based in North Canton, Ohio. It also established a major base in the United Kingdom and for most of the early-and-mid-20th century, it dominated the electric vacuum cleaner industry, to the point where the "hoover" brand name...
vacuum cleaner
Vacuum cleaner
A vacuum cleaner, commonly referred to as a "vacuum," is a device that uses an air pump to create a partial vacuum to suck up dust and dirt, usually from floors, and optionally from other surfaces as well. The dirt is collected by either a dustbag or a cyclone for later disposal...
made when he performed his household chores. His winning entry, "Hurricane Spirit Song" (now also commonly known as the "Hurricane Fight Song"), remains in use today.
Henneke graduated in 1935 with a bachelor's degree in English, and later received a master's degree in theatre from the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
and a doctorate in speech from the University of Illinois.
Academic career
Offered a job with the Tulsa WorldTulsa World
Tulsa World is the daily newspaper for the city of Tulsa, Oklahoma, is the primary newspaper for the northeastern and eastern portions of Oklahoma, and is the second-most widely circulated newspaper in the state, after The Oklahoman. It was founded in 1905 and remains an independent newspaper,...
after graduation, Henneke instead began teaching speech and theater at TU in 1936. He created a radio quiz show
Quiz Show
Quiz Show is a 1994 American historical drama film produced and directed by Robert Redford. Adapted by Paul Attanasio from Richard Goodwin's memoir Remembering America, the film is based upon the Twenty One quiz show scandal of the 1950s...
, "Going to College," which aired nationally from 1945 to 1952. Henneke was instrumental in the founding of a radio station for the university, which commenced operations in 1948 as KWGS, its initials in honor of Tulsa oilman William G. Skelly, who supplied the funding.
Henneke's textbook, the Radio Announcer's Handbook first published in 1949 and revised in 1959, was reportedly the first textbook on radio announcing. He also wrote another textbook, Reading Aloud Effectively.
Henneke became academic vice president of the university in 1953, and was named its 16th president in 1958. He was the first TU alumnus to become president of the university. He was credited with upgrading the TU's faculty and academic reputation: during his tenure the university established new doctoral programs, increased the proportion of faculty with doctorates, started new publications including Petroleum Abstracts and the James Joyce Quarterly
James Joyce Quarterly
The James Joyce Quarterly is a peer-reviewed academic journal that was established in 1963 that covers critical and theoretical work focusing on the life, writing, and reception of James Joyce...
, developed a North Campus center for petroleum engineering
Petroleum engineering
Petroleum engineering is an engineering discipline concerned with the activities related to the production of hydrocarbons, which can be either crude oil or natural gas. Subsurface activities are deemed to fall within the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry, which are the activities of...
research, and expanded many other facilities. Henneke also initiated the university's efforts to obtain a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa; after it was chartered in 1989, Henneke was inducted as an alumni member in 1991. Also during his presidency, the university received a $34 million gift from the estate of Tulsa philanthropist J.A. Chapman, which greatly improved the school's previously difficult finances.
After his tenure as president, Henneke returned to teaching in 1967 as a professor of humanities. He retired in 1979, having spent almost half a century at TU as a student or faculty member. He was named TU's "president emeritus" in 1982. He continued to write and teach extensively, including numerous articles, a weekly column in the Tulsa Tribune
Tulsa Tribune
The Tulsa Tribune was an afternoon daily newspaper published in Tulsa, Oklahoma from 1919 to 1992. Owned and run by three generations of the Jones family, the Tribune closed in 1992 after the termination of its joint operating agreement with the morning Tulsa World.-Antecedents:In 1895, a group of...
, and a radio lecture series on KWGS. In 1990 he published a biography of 19th century actress and theatrical manager Laura Keene
Laura Keene
Laura Keene was a British-born American stage actress and manager. In her twenty-year career, she became known as the first powerful female manager in New York.-Early life:...
, best known for her production of the play Our American Cousin
Our American Cousin
Our American Cousin is an 1858 play in three acts by English playwright Tom Taylor. The play is a farce whose plot is based on the introduction of an awkward, boorish but honest American, Asa Trenchard, to his aristocratic English relatives when he goes to England to claim the family estate...
, which Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
was watching on the evening of his assassination
Abraham Lincoln assassination
The assassination of United States President Abraham Lincoln took place on Good Friday, April 14, 1865, as the American Civil War was drawing to a close. The assassination occurred five days after the commanding General of the Army of Northern Virginia, Robert E. Lee, and his battered Army of...
at Ford's Theatre
Ford's Theatre
Ford's Theatre is a historic theater in Washington, D.C., used for various stage performances beginning in the 1860s. It is also the site of the assassination of U.S. President Abraham Lincoln on April 14, 1865...
. One reviewer of this book commented that it would "rectify shoddy theatre history" and "re-inscribe" Keene's place in that history. Henneke also published a book-length poem entitled A Ravenna Mosaic.
Henneke married Ellen Eaves in 1940; she died in 2004. Also in 2004, his 90th birthday was honored with a proclamation by Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry
Brad Henry
Charles Bradford "Brad" Henry was the 26th Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected governor in 2002...
naming it "Dr. Ben Graf Henneke Day". After Henneke's death in 2009, current TU president Steadman Upham
Steadman Upham
Steadman Upham was named president of The University of Tulsa in June 2004, after having served for six years as president of Claremont Graduate University...
commented, "No one has had a greater impact on the University of Tulsa than Ben Henneke."
External links
- Ben Graf Henneke: Celebrating over 70 years at the University of Tulsa at University of TulsaUniversity of TulsaThe University of Tulsa is a private university awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. It is currently ranked 75th among doctoral degree granting universities in the nation by US News and World Report and is listed as one of the "Best 366 Colleges" by...
website (retrieved November 16, 2009). - President Emeritus Ben Henneke, 1914-2009 at University of TulsaUniversity of TulsaThe University of Tulsa is a private university awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. It is currently ranked 75th among doctoral degree granting universities in the nation by US News and World Report and is listed as one of the "Best 366 Colleges" by...
website (retrieved November 16, 2009). - Voices of Oklahoma interview with Dr. Ben G. Henneke. First person interview conducted with Dr. Ben G. Henneke on September 10, 2009. Original audio and transcript archived with Voices of Oklahoma oral history project.