Friends University: A Legacy of Notable Alumni
Friends University, a private, nondenominational Christian institution in Wichita, Kansas, has a rich history dating back to its founding in 1898. Originally established as Garfield University in 1886, the main building was later donated to the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) by James Davis, a St. Louis businessman. While the university's foundation is rooted in Christian values, its leadership transitioned to an independent board of trustees in the 1930s, fostering a diverse and inclusive environment. Over the years, Friends University has produced a remarkable array of alumni who have made significant contributions in various fields, leaving an indelible mark on their communities and beyond.
The Foundation: From Garfield University to Friends University
The story of Friends University begins with Garfield University, an ambitious endeavor by the Christian Churches of Kansas to establish a Christian college in the Wichita area. Led by W.B. Hendryx, Garfield University opened its doors in 1887, boasting the largest single building used for educational purposes west of the Mississippi River at the time. The university experienced initial success, enrolling 500 students in its first year and 1,070 in its second. However, financial difficulties forced Garfield University to close in 1890 after graduating its first and only senior class.
Despite its closure, the vision for a Christian college in Wichita persisted. In 1892, the school was reorganized and reopened as Garfield Central Memorial University. Unfortunately, financial challenges continued to plague the institution, leading to its eventual acquisition by Edgar Harding of Boston. Harding sought a buyer for the property, and James Davis, a Quaker from St. Louis, answered the call. Davis, proclaiming his intention to "buy a college and give it to the Quakers with his first million dollars," purchased the property on March 31, 1898.
With Davis's generous donation, Friends University was established. Representatives were called in May of that year for a called meeting of the Kansas Yearly Meeting of Friends, because Davis wanted classes to begin that autumn and the meeting was not scheduled until October. The university opened its doors with 53 students, offering classes in Literature, History, Mathematics, Astronomy, Bible, German, Elocution, and oratory. President Stanley articulated his vision for the university, emphasizing the importance of producing loyal citizens who would contribute to the betterment of society.
Academic and Athletic Excellence
Friends University has a long-standing tradition of academic and athletic excellence. The Friends Art Department has a strong reputation in the Wichita area for producing professional contemporary artists, and it is also home to the Epsilon Rho chapter of the Kappa Pi International Honorary Art Fraternity. The university's athletic teams, known as the Falcons, compete in 23 intercollegiate varsity sports. The Friends University Athletic Hall of Fame, located in the Garvey Gymnasium, honors 85 inductees, including athletes, coaches, and supporters who have made significant contributions to the university's athletic programs.
Read also: Evolving Friendship Dynamics
Notable Alumni: Champions in Athletics
Friends University has produced numerous outstanding athletes who have excelled in their respective sports. These alumni have not only achieved success on the field but have also demonstrated leadership, sportsmanship, and a commitment to their communities.
Doug Bacon: A standout football and baseball player for the Falcons from 1972-75. Bacon was an All-KCAC performer in 1975, throwing for 854 yards and five touchdowns and rushing for 200 yards and nine scores. He later served as an assistant football and baseball coach, contributing to the Falcons' undefeated KCAC season and conference championship in 1976.
Anthony Evans: A four-year letter winner for the Falcon men's basketball team from 1987-90. Evans was a three-time all-conference, all-district, and all-defensive team selection, contributing to three straight KCAC championship-winning teams. He finished his career as the Falcons' all-time leader in steals and second in assists.
Chris Long: A 1992 Friends University graduate who played baseball, basketball, and football. Long lettered in all three sports and was a member of the 1987 KCAC Championship Basketball team. In 1987, he was named NAIA All-American Honorable Mention Defensive Back and KCAC First Team Defensive Back.
Larry Peckham: A 1959 Friends University graduate who was a four-year starter in basketball and baseball. After graduating, Peckham taught and coached for 23 years and was the youth director at the Salina YMCA for six years.
Read also: Newtown Friends School Overview
Mary Duling: Played four years on the women’s soccer team from 2003 to 2006 before graduating magna cum laude in 2007. In 2003, she was named the Newcomer of the Year. In 2005, Duling was a Team Captain, First Team All-Conference Selection and KCAC Goalkeeper of the Year. She was also a First Team All-Region selection. Duling repeated the All-Conference, Goalkeeper of the Year and All-Region selection her senior season in 2006 when she recorded 65 saves and three shutouts. She was also the Physical Education Major of the Year recipient and the Champion of Character award winner for Friends University. Duling was on the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll all four years and was a Daktronics Scholar-Athlete her junior and senior seasons.
Kevin Ten Eyck: A 2009 and 2015 Friends University graduate, played soccer at Friends University for three years. He received numerous KCAC and NAIA accolades, including NAIA All-American, 2006 KCAC Newcomer of the Year and 2007 NAIA First Team All-Region. He was named First Team All-KCAC every year that he competed. Eyck has played for the Wichita Wings and Wichita B-52s and currently plays for FC Wichita. He made the NPSL All-League First XI in 2015 during FC Wichita’s inaugural season.
Dan Kontz: Played on the Falcon football team from 2004 to 2006 before graduating in 2007. His career statistics include 273 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, 10 blocked punts, six interceptions, two fumble recoveries, two defensive touchdowns, two blocked kicks and two rushing touchdowns. He was an All-KCAC First Team selection all three years.
Errol Logue: A 1963 Friends University graduate, competed in track and cross country during college for all four years. In the 1959 KCAC cross country season, he remained undefeated. After college, he coached cross country and track for 40 years. He has twice been voted Coach of the Year by the Kansas State High School Cross Country Coaches Association.
Jon Qualls: Was a pitcher for the Falcon baseball team from 2004 to when he graduated in 2006. In 2004, he was a Second Team All-KCAC selection. In 2005, he advanced to the All-KCAC First Team, going 12-2 with a 3.14 ERA, throwing seven complete games in 13 starts on the way to being an NAIA All-American selection. In 2006, Qualls was the MVP of the National Baseball Congress Tournament, held annually at Lawrence-Dumont Stadium in downtown Wichita.
Read also: Exploring Sandy Spring Friends School
Megan VinZant: A 2009 Friends University graduate, competed in basketball and softball from 2006 to 2009. She earned numerous awards, including All-KCAC team honors in basketball each year. She was also an NAIA Scholar Athlete, KCAC First Team Pitcher (2006), KCAC First Team Shortstop and Player of the Year (2007), KCAC First Team and Player of the Year (2008), and KCAC First Team Third Baseman (2009). Throughout her softball career, VinZant ranked No. 1 in the KCAC in 13 categories.
Notable Alumni: Leaders and Achievers
Friends University alumni have also distinguished themselves in various professional fields, demonstrating leadership, innovation, and a commitment to service.
Joe Zimmerman: A 2011 Friends University graduate, served as Friends University’s athletic director for 12 years. Under his direction, the Athletic Department doubled in size (from 200 to 400 student athletes), won 47 championships and had over 450 NAIA Scholar Athletes.
Clark Hay: Graduating in 1963 Clark Hay began his coaching career as the head coach of football, basketball, and track at Overbrook High School.
Larry Williams: Selected three times as All-KCAC performer for the Falcons in 1971, 1972 & 1973 as a defensive player, Larry was also selected as Most Valuable Player of the Mineral Water Bowl in 1972. Larry is a 1974 graduate of Friends University with a Bachelor of Arts in Art Education and has taught in the Nickerson school district where he also coached football and wrestling for three years. Moving to Wichita Larry has served as an educator in the USD 259 school district for 22 years at the junior high level and ten years at the high school level.
Tim Schwegler: A 1983 graduate of Friends University Tim earned All-Conference awards in men’s basketball and was voted defensive player of the year in 1981. Since his time at Friends University Tim has served as head men’s basketball coach at Mineral Area Community College for 19 years.
Kirk Tester: Since 2004 Kirk has lived in Oklahoma with his family where he has continued to teach and coach in both Bixby and Pryor school districts.
Gladys Walker: Was a student athlete at Friends University from1981 to 1984…graduating from Friends with a degree in Business Administration and Management. Gladys participated in the sports of Volleyball and Softball. Earning a varsity letter as a two-sport athlete each of her four years. Her efforts on the Volleyball court also earned her All-Conference honors as she was selected All-KCAC honorable mention her freshman year and then selected to the all-KCAC team as a sophomore, junior and senior. Her leadership skills were recognized as she was selected Captain of the Volleyball team her junior and senior year. When the spring sport season rolled around Gladys turned her efforts to the softball diamond. Once again her skills earned her All-KCAC honors each of her four years as a player and as in Volleyball the Softball program elected her team captain her senior year. Since her time as a student athlete Gladys has been devoted to the development of youth in the community. Gladys has sponsored and coached youth volleyball in the Wichita High School Junior League and has coached softball in the Wichita West Urban League working primarily with teenagers. Gladys has been a sponsor in the Wichita Big Brothers & Big Sisters program, served as Women’s Ministry Teen Coordinator for Central States Conference SDA in Kansas City, KS. Gladys currently serves as an Executive on the board of directors for the Urban League of Kansas non-profit organization here in Wichita, KS. Gladys is the Contracts and Human Resource Development Manager for the Transtecs, an organization which provides Engineering and Management Services to the Federal Government and the Department of Defense.
Dave Rineberg: Dave attended Friends University from 1985 to 1989. As a student athlete Dave participated in baseball, basketball and tennis. As a starter on the basketball team during his junior and senior year’s Dave’s quickness, hustle and determination were key elements to some very successful Falcon teams. As a senior Dave led the team in steals and assists which earned him recognition as a 1st team All-KCAC player. Friends University did not have tennis as a sport during Dave’s freshman year, hence the reason he spent the season playing baseball for the Falcons. During the next three years Friends University launched the tennis program and was anchored by Dave’s stellar play as a leader and member of the team. Dave was the number one single’s and double’s player for Friends University tennis during his sophomore, junior and senior years. During his senior year Dave did not lose a single match and was named All-KCAC. After graduating from Friends University Dave played on the ATP men’s tennis tour from 1989 to 1991. Dave his been a successful tennis coach as noted by his accomplishments of coaching two of the best players in women’s tennis, Venus and Serena Williams from 1992 to 1999. Through his experience of coaching both athletes Dave has authored several sport-related books. For the past 15 years Dave has operated his own tennis training academy in Deerfield Beach Florida. He has launched more players onto the tennis tour in the last 10 years than any other american coach. Dave continues to write as he publishes a monthly tennis article and is a re-occurring guest analyst on NBC and ESPN.
Ronald Wessler: Director of culture, entertainment and recreation for Sedgwick County. Has provided volunteer leadership for a variety of community organizations and has served on numerous boards including the Urban League, the National American Red Cross Board of Governors, and the Wichita Area Chamber of Commerce.
Philip Rognlie: Worked at Pizza Hut for 27 years in senior leadership positions in the areas of research and development, concept development, customer satisfaction, field training and operations.
Klivans, Laura: Klivans, Laura (December 15, 2014). "Six months in, new schools head Antwan Wilson pushing his 'roadmap' for a challenged district". Oakland North.
Dr. Nick Schroeder: serves as the new assistant professor of music and program director of jazz but has been with Friends since 2016 as an adjunct brass improvisation instructor. He received his Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas and both a Master of Music in Jazz Studies and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Jazz Performance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Schroeder is a freelance trumpet player, the jazz band director at Washburn University Summer Jazz Combo Camp, a bandleader at Salt City Big Band and has performed with notable groups such as The Rat Pack, The Temptations, The Four Tops and Guy Lombardo Orchestra to name a few.
Historical Highlights: Shaping the University's Identity
Throughout its history, Friends University has experienced significant milestones that have shaped its identity and mission.
- 1934: David Morton Edwards became the third president of Friends University, implementing a "Bold Ten Year Program" to address financial challenges stemming from the Great Depression.
- 1936: The Edmund Stanley Gymnasium was remodeled to increase seating capacity to 500.
- 1939: Friends University initiated its first radio broadcast over KFH.
- 1940: The YMCA and YWCA, organizations that had a significant influence on the university and its students, celebrated their 43rd anniversary.
- World War II Era: Pacifist students at Friends University contributed to the war effort through relief efforts.
- 1949: The Singing Quakers celebrated their 25th anniversary under the direction of Fred C. Mayer.
- 1952: Lloyd Silas Cressman was inaugurated as the sixth president of Friends University.
- 1953: Hoyt Field, a newly rebuilt athletic field named after Fred N. Hoyt, was dedicated.
- 1957: Groundbreaking ceremonies were held for two new dormitories.
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