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Born on February 3, 1920, Howard S. "Howdy" Wilcox came to Indiana University as an undergraduate in 1938. After receiving his undergraduate degree, he served in the United States army until 1947. Wilcox opened his own public relations firm and was contacted by Indiana University in this capacity. His connections with Indiana University became increasingly tight as he became the executive director of the Indiana University Foundation and a long-standing member of the Indiana University board of trustees. In addition, Wilcox had the brainchild that resulted in the creation of the Little 500 and the scholarships it funds. He also speaks of his student days including his involvement with the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity and the Sphinx Club. Wilcox discusses his association with many influential figures including Herman B Wells, Elvis J. Stahr, Joseph Sutton, E. Ross Bartley, and Colonel Raymond L. Shoemaker.

Born in 1915, York Willbern joined the Indiana University faculty as a full professor in the department of political science in 1957. In this interview, he discusses his years at Indiana University, the administration under different Indiana University presidencies, and the impact of different phenomena on education in general and Indiana University specifically. These phenomena include World War II and the Cold War. Willbern also speaks of some of the controversies he has experienced at the university such as those involving faculty tenure, teaching versus research, and the regional campus system. In addition, he discusses the creation of the School of Public and Environmental Affairs, or SPEA, his involvement with it, and the IUPUI campus.