Everyone loves a mystery,and <strong>the</strong> readers of <strong>Rockhurst</strong>magazine are noexception. “Accordingto <strong>Rockhurst</strong> Lore” onpage 13 of <strong>the</strong> fall 2005issue — which told a story about astudent who traveled all <strong>the</strong> way fromGermany on a boat to attend <strong>Rockhurst</strong>and was, unbeknownst to <strong>the</strong>administration, a woman — elicitednumerous reader responses.Many people knew that a studentfrom Germany, Friederun Behrens,did attend <strong>Rockhurst</strong> in <strong>the</strong> 1950s,and some swore her arrival was justas described. However, a little investigativework found Friederun, nowFriederun Boone, living not far fromKansas City and willing to set <strong>the</strong>record straight.“I didn’t come over on a boat,”Boone said, “I came on a plane.”And, by <strong>the</strong> time she enrolledat <strong>Rockhurst</strong>, she already had beenliving in Kansas City for a while. Shecame to live with her great-uncle andhis wife and to improve her Englishwhile finishing high school at BishopHogan. Boone said she enrolled ina <strong>Rockhurst</strong> biology class in <strong>the</strong> summerof 1952 and was allowed to enter<strong>the</strong> regular daytime division.“We started class at 6:30 or 7 a.m.during <strong>the</strong> summer and quit by noonto avoid <strong>the</strong> heat,” Boone recalls.She said she chose a double majorin chemistry and biology with <strong>the</strong>intention of becoming a doctor.<strong>Rockhurst</strong> faculty were helpfulwith her endeavors, Boone recalled.“Perhaps <strong>the</strong>y considered it quitea challenge — here’s this female andshe’s not good at English. Maybe wecan help her be successful.”Being one of very few women on<strong>the</strong> <strong>Rockhurst</strong> campus during thattime doesn’t seem to have causedany major problems for Boone. Sheremembers being allowed to takerefuge when necessary in a first-floorlounge used by <strong>the</strong> female stafferswho worked in <strong>the</strong> office of <strong>the</strong> Rev.Joseph Gough, S.J., dean of <strong>the</strong> college.She also recalls getting alongwell with her fellow students, enjoyingtypical activities such as pilingin someone’s car on a Friday for aWinstead’s grilled cheese that servedas an alternative to <strong>the</strong> cafeteria fish.Following her graduation from<strong>Rockhurst</strong> in 1956, she attendedCreighton Medical School for oneyear, but said she couldn’t afford tocontinue.When Friederun Booneattended <strong>Rockhurst</strong>,<strong>the</strong> chemistry labswere in Conway hall.Instead, she put her chemistrydegree to use at Colgate Palmolive,where she worked in <strong>the</strong> qualityassurance lab until her retirementin 1991.Today Boone makes her homewith her husband on a Turney, Mo.,farm, where she helps with <strong>the</strong> businessside of <strong>the</strong>ir small cattle operation.She said she enjoys workingin <strong>the</strong>ir large garden, quilting andvisiting with her three grown childrenand three grandchildren.But why did <strong>Rockhurst</strong> break <strong>the</strong>rules and allow her to attend? Onealumnus writer to <strong>the</strong> magazinespeculated that her great-uncle knewFr. Gough and asked him to intercedeand allow <strong>the</strong> Jesuits to keep an eyeon her.“Probably, yes, <strong>the</strong> Jesuits did keepan eye on me,” said Boone, “but Idon’t know why Fr. Gough madean exception. I think <strong>the</strong>y took thatsecret to <strong>the</strong> grave.”Some things will remain a mysteryafter all.16 RockhuRst4spRinG 2006
Readers RespondNew TraditionsI have always extolled to my wifeand daughters <strong>the</strong> merits of a Jesuiteducation. As my daughters nearedhigh school age, I regretted that <strong>the</strong>rewere no Jesuit schools available inour area, Marin County, just northof San Francisco. Then, in 1993,St. Ignatius, <strong>the</strong> Jesuit high school inSan Francisco, opened its enrollmentto girls, and one of my daughters wasadmitted to <strong>the</strong> school. St. Ignatiushad been an all-male school for morethan 150 years, and it was a pleasureto watch my daughter set new traditionsfor that school. I am sure that<strong>the</strong> first women admitted to <strong>Rockhurst</strong>College had <strong>the</strong> same enjoyment, butI regret that <strong>Rockhurst</strong> High Schoolhas not yet changed.Thanks for reminding meabout Frieda.Robert Kuchem, ’61My wife and I enjoyed <strong>the</strong> cover of<strong>the</strong> fall 2005 <strong>Rockhurst</strong> magazine.We wish college students today stilldressed that nicely!James Buche, ’57Women PioneersI was just finishing my secondyear of college (one at Creighton<strong>University</strong> and one at <strong>the</strong> <strong>University</strong>of Nebraska at Omaha) when my parentsattended a college fair with mybro<strong>the</strong>rs at St. Albert High School inCouncil Bluffs, Iowa. My dad broughthome a brochure from <strong>Rockhurst</strong> andsuggested that I apply to be one of<strong>the</strong> first women to attend and live oncampus. We visited <strong>the</strong> campus and Iwas immediately taken by its intimatesize and also by <strong>the</strong> fact that I wouldnot be in classes with 300 – 400 studentseach. Like Jan Holland Stacy’sfa<strong>the</strong>r, my fa<strong>the</strong>r did point out to me<strong>the</strong> ratio of men to women and toldme to make careful choices.We women were definitely pioneersat <strong>Rockhurst</strong> and I am happyto say that we enjoyed every minuteof it. When we first arrived, we wereadvised that <strong>the</strong>re were nine men oncampus for every woman enrolled.I am sure that Fr. Freeman wasoverwhelmed by so many of us butseemed to take us in stride unless wechallenged him in class. We certainlyhad our favorite instructors, andFr. Freeman, Fr. Blumeyer andFr. Wheeler were at <strong>the</strong> top of <strong>the</strong> listfor most of us.Karen Knudsen Trame ’72Cover StoryI was shown a copy of <strong>the</strong><strong>Rockhurst</strong> magazine front cover andmy friend asked me if I ever went to<strong>Rockhurst</strong>, since I actually graduatedfrom Saint Louis <strong>University</strong> in 1970.I said that I had attended summerschool and she <strong>the</strong>n showed me <strong>the</strong>picture! It took me back some yearsand I can tell you that <strong>the</strong> <strong>Rockhurst</strong>guys were extremely polite and treatedwe few women like royalty.I graduated from Bishop MiegeHigh School in 1966. My fa<strong>the</strong>r,Frank Dugan, attended <strong>Rockhurst</strong>High School and later Notre Damebefore his death in 1949. Many ofmy cousins and <strong>the</strong>ir children haveattended <strong>Rockhurst</strong> (Reardons andDugans). I now live in Colorado withmy husband, Bert, who runs his ownarchitectural firm and my three children,Shannon, Ryan and BrendanChisholm. Yes, I am <strong>the</strong> girl on <strong>the</strong>front cover, Patty Dugan. My marriedname is Chisholm and I am a specialeducation teacher in Black Hawk, Colo.The man standing next to me in<strong>the</strong> picture is Melvin Lavery, who alsoattended Bishop Miege and was goingto <strong>Rockhurst</strong> at <strong>the</strong> time. He was twoyears ahead of me in school.Patty Dugan Chisholmeditors note: Mel Lavery, ’68, is amember of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Rockhurst</strong> <strong>University</strong>Regents and is director of private realestate at Hallmark Cards Inc. He’spictured on page 9 of <strong>the</strong> fall 2005issue, on <strong>the</strong> right and wearing awhite shirt and dark slacks.Speaking of Firsts…Along <strong>the</strong> course of time, a groupof girls headed by Jan Schultehenrich,’74, asked me to help <strong>the</strong>m form aclub bowling team. Although notsanctioned by <strong>the</strong> NAIA, <strong>the</strong> girls’team joined <strong>the</strong> MO-KAN conferenceand it was <strong>the</strong> first women’s intercollegiatesport at <strong>Rockhurst</strong> College(<strong>the</strong>n). After four years of captaining<strong>the</strong> team, Jan received a varsity sportsletter “R,” <strong>the</strong> first woman to achievethat goal.Joseph Rydzel, Ph.D.Professor Emeritus of History(<strong>Rockhurst</strong> College, 1947-85)RockhuRst4spRinG 2006 1