Letter from John Bunn to Thornton Merriam (November 5, 1955)
Description:
This is 5-page hand-written letter from John Bunn, famous Springfield College Basketball Coach, to Thornton Merriam, Dean at Springfield College. There is also a bank deposit slip from the Union Trust Company of Springfield College that shows a salary dispute that he mentions in the letter. The letter is dated November 5, 1955 and the deposit slip is dated September 28, 1955. In the letter, he talks about his visit to Korea and his work to promote basketball and physical education in general, describes the food he is eating, and some of the alum that he has met. In some notes listed in a PS, he mentions a visiting head of the Dept. of Physical Education at Ehwa University in Seoul, who wanted to go to Springfield College, but somehow ended up at AIC instead, and how they need to work to fix that issue. John William Bunn (September 26, 1898 – August 13, 1979) was an American basketball coach and Springfield College faculty member. The Wellston, Ohio native played three seasons under Coach Phog Allen at University of Kansas while earning his bachelor’s degree (1917–1921). He later became an assistant to Allen for nine seasons (1921–1930). In 1930, he became men's basketball head coach at Stanford University, where he coached college all-time great Hank Luisetti. Bunn went on to coach at Springfield College (1946–1956) and Colorado State College (now the University of Northern Colorado; 1956–63). Bunn served as Chairman of the Basketball Hall of Fame from 1949 to 1963. On October 1, 1964, Bunn was inducted to the Basketball Hall of Fame as a contributor. For his contributions, the Basketball Hall of Fame annually presents an award in his name.
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