Robert Stanley Mauck ‘48, Roll #711

In 1953 1 first met Bob Mauck ’48 and his father, Stan ’16. at the Beta House at 54 W. Lincoln. While I don’t remember  that exact meeting, it was probably a brief introduction at the 100th celebration of Theta chapter on the OWU campus.

Later, I became much better acquainted with both Bob and his father as they helped me   immensely  in  carrying out  my responsibilities as chapter treasurer. “They made sure I dotted all the ” i’s” and crossed   all the ” t’s” in ensuring that our chapter finances were sound.

Bob Mauck, raised in Columbus, Ohio, graduated  from Columbus  North High School, ’42. Bob’s  uncles on his mother’s  side were  OWU Phi Gams, and during his high school years  they put  a Phi Gam pledge pin on Bob. Needless to say, that didn’t go over well with Stan and soon thereafter, upon entering OWU  Stan saw to it that the Phi Gam  pledge pin was as a thing of the past and was replaced by the Beta pin. It was a sore point around Bob’s house for some time! Bob Was initiated into Beta Theta Pi, roll #711 (Yes, Bob,I looked it up!).

Bob Mauck entered  OWU in 1942 but was soon called to the Army Air Corps  during WWII. He served   for  two years  as a crew member (navigator) on the old C-47, affectionately referred  to as the “Gooney Bird”. During the war Bob saw combat in the European theater of operations, including troop, drops at Normandy during the D-Day allied invasion in June 1944. He also served in southern  France, dropping  paratroopers and gliders into Bastogne, France. In the past several years, Evelyn and Bob have revisited the area and had very pleasant  visits with the French citizens.  After the war, his father, Stan, and Bo Littick returned to the site of their undergraduate days and  led the renovation of 54 W. Lincoln. They raised the funds to fix up a rather run-down house badly in need of considerable repair. Also, they added  the dormitory on the Northeast  corner, which slept about 20 of the brothers.  Following Bob’s discharge from the Air Corps in 1945, he returned to the OWU campus where the first coed he met in the registration line was his future wife, Evelyn Long (sister of Tom ’51, Al and Bill Long ’51).

They have two sons, Robert Allen and Andy, and one daughter. CiCi. In addition to his father, Bob’s brother Don is a Beta from OWU class of ’49. Al Long lived in Alaska untill his death. Tom Long, an engineer with  Bell Labs, is retired and living in Atlanta, but continues an active engineering role in working with Bob’s son Andy in an “executive luxury  land-cruiser vehicle development venture” with headquarters in Columbus. Bill Long is retired from Inland Container and lives in Indianapolis, Ind. Bob’s cherished  memories of OWU include his personal  sports highlight as a hurdler and pole vaulter on the OWU track team. The “pinnacle”  for him came when running hurdle against Harrison Dillard (later Olympic Champion and world record holder) during an intercollegiate meet in Cleveland. His picture even made the Cleveland Plain Dealer showing him jumping the last  hurdle while Dilland was crossing the finish line! Later, Dillard was to win the 100 meters at the ’48 Olympics and the hurdles in the ’52 Olympics! While Bob ‘tried football  under Coach George Gauthier, one clash with the late ”hard nose” Bob Brendinger ’44 — one of the most prominent  Beta  athletics — finished Bob “s attempt at the body contact sport!  Later, Bob Brentlinger bacame a doctor and practiced in Texas. Another of the Beta foo ball star was Wayne “packy” McFarland ’49, who now resides in Nen comerstown, Ohio. where he serves the mayor.

Fond memories also include “Momma Linn,”Who had been housemother for the Beta for a number of years before Bob arrived on campus in 1942. He particularly recalled the wonderful way  she had as  “mother  to the brothers. “I still see her in the parlor, in  front of the fire place , greeting visitor  chaperoning parties and attending to the good manners  of her boys,” recalled Bob. “she was with us for all meals and social events and had her own private space and “girls room”- on the northeast Comer of the first  floor.”(As best we could determine Momma linn was housemother from the mid ’30s through the early -60s.)

Recollections of OWU included dormitory hours for the codes ( that’s why Bob dated a “(town girl”). No smoking at all on campus was the rule until changed through student pressure. Also, ‘Drinks” were worn by freshmen. quonst left  over  from the war years were still visible around campus and at athletic fields near the hospital. Chapel was  required “even’ day” and spring fever day was introduced his senior ear! The Brown jug had just opened on Sandusky Street and was a hot spot for the students along with Allen’s Roadhouse on South rt23. The Surrey was not yet open. An integral part of campus social life was the OWU campus Dance Band. Fondly remembered arc pictures of some of OWD’s  outstanding athletes displayed at the entrance to Buns dining rooms (although no longer displayed. we are told the pictures are stored in the attic store room  of the current Buns).

Bob further reminsced of some chapter differences before and after World War II .. after the war the chapter had grow in size considerably and the brothers were much more serious students — excellent athletes but also very much serious students.

After graduation, Bob worked  for two  years in the admissions office for- Howard Shipps and traveled throughout the country, particularly in the East. to encourage enrollment at Delaware. Infact, it was during this period that a great influx of eastern students armed on the OWD campus and have continued coming ever since. Later, he joined his father in establishing businesses which porvided financial services for the medical community. During his career, he was joined in his business by other Beta brothers including Hank Hubbard ’49 and Fred Pocock, son of jack Pocock ’47.

Following his retirement in 1987, Bob and his wife   enjoyed  tennis as well as travling throughout the world, having stepped on seven continents, counting their latest trip to Antarctica ifs where he Spent almost three Week trekking over the ice while living in a ship nearby. Their travels have included rafting the Alonce River in Sumatra and camping out in sleeping bags in New guinea.On mans of their travels, he and Evelyn are joined by  long-standing OWU Beta brothers and their wives, including Hal Fasnaugh ’48, Hugh Troth ’48 and Eddy O’DAY’51. Bob is an accomplished amateur Photographer of some renown  and has won  numureouss shown his work on numerous accasions to interested groups . Bob and Evelyn live at 380 Medick Way, Worthington, OH 43085, telephone 614-885-7743. Bob has served his fraternity for many years in many ways and for him our  thanks . He received special recognition from OWU in 1994 (along with Meribeth Eiken graham) for outstanding leadership service and support of the Greek system at Ohio Wesleyan. Bob Mauck represents the best of Beta and typities one the many reasons we can all be proud of our fraternity hentage. We all say to Bob, “thank God you’re a Beta ”

Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of articles thc editor is planning for future issues the ‘Theta Data featuring Beta alumni. Make sure you look for future articles and see who is tapped for the next “hot seat” ! Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.’)

Bob Mauck’s  brothers-in-law and father-in law (L-R) Tom,Bill, Al and “pap” long as  identified by Bob Mauck.(Note: the Editor would bave guessed the man on the right as the late Coach Gautbier.).