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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 19, 1976)
aaiiy neorasKan Johnny Carson still calls her 'Mom;' former Figi housemother is a tradition , By Kim Shepherd Although she left her position as Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji) fraternity housemother nearly 14 years ago, Mrs. Lee Minier is still "mom" to more than 1,000 men. Mrs. Minier's picture hangs inthe living room of the Fiji house, and members are aware of the services she per formed in her 25 years as their housemother. - "She's known as our housemother always," Rick Plooster, a Fiji, said. "She was here so long and did so much good." . Plooster, a senior from Crawford majoring in micro biology, said the Fijis have kept in contact with Mrs. - Minier since her retirement in 1962. She is asked to Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, the Rose Formal and has a standing invitation to dinner. . "I'm sort of a tradition," said 88-year-old Mrs. Minier. Plooster said she was more of a legend in her own time. Fiji members are told of the contributions Mrs. Minier made while housemother and of the continuing work she does for their chapter. "She means more the longer you are here," said Plooster. "You appreciate her even more." Johnny Carson Plooster said he is amazed by the way she learns the names of the house members. Mien he sees her, he said, she always greets him by name. Many Fiji alumni also have kept in close contact with Mrs. Minier. One of her more famous "boys" is Johnny Carson, who has had her as a guest on his Tonight Show twice. Mrs. Minier says he still calls her to check up on her. Others keep in touch by writing or stopping in to see her at Lincoln's Hovland-Swanson Dept. Store. After retiring from the Fiji house, Mrs. Minier was not ready to quit working, she said. She currently works full time with her daughter in her gift shop at Hovland Swanson. ' It is here that Fiji alumni come to visit her. Mrs. Minier -described one football Saturday when many men stopped in to see her. - "A gentleman was seated near the shop," Mrs. Minier said, "and he saw all, these men coming in and saying 'Hi mom to me. After awhile he came over and said, 'Excuse -me ma'am, but are you the mother of all these fine young men?"' ' Insurance business If being a mother includes planning all the meals, doing the mending, teaching courtesy and etiquette, set ting the tables and tying yards and yards of bow ties, yes, she's their mother. . - Mrs. Minier. accomplished many tilings besides the rou tine tasks during her tenure in the Fiji house, including running an insurance business 80 miles away in Oakland, Nebr. With the consent of the university, Mrs. Minier would leave for Oakland every Tuesday and return on Friday. , . It was because of Mrs. Minier that the Fiji house was able to be the only fraternity to stay open during World War II. The alumni said the chapter, with its two actives and 16 pledges, could remain open if they could convince Mrs. Minier to stay. During the war, Mrs. Minier said she kept in contact with her fraternity sons through a newsletter, "Bull Session Echoes from Mom's Room," that was read by Fijis throughout Europe. War correspondent Ernie Pyle found some Fijis reading the newsletter in a foxhole in France and wrote a column about it. He later referred to it in a book he wrote about the war. Certificate of appreciation Mrs. Minier received many honors as a result of her work as a housemother. In 1962, then NU President Clif ford Hardin presented her with a. "Certificate of Apprecia tion" from the university for her twenty-five years of service. Hardin told Mrs. Minier that this was the first document of its kind to be presented and possibly would be the only one, she said. In 1963, Mrs. Minier was honored-as a Distinguished Nebraskan by the Comhusker, the university yearbook. , Mrs. Minier is the only person ever to receive this award who was not a member of either the student body or the faculty. For her counseling and influence upon young college men; she was commissioned an admiral in the mythical Nebraska Navy on Oct. 30, 1963. Mrs. Minier said she was asked by the national officers of Phi Gamma Delta to write a handbook for house mothers, and did it in only three weeks. The handbook, which is in its third printing, was dis tributed to more than 84 chapters in three months. The Fijis have had many requests for copies of it from other fraternities and sororities, she said. After all the honors and compliments she has received, Mrs. Minier maintains that .her experiences as a house mother did her more good than she did others. "Living with them (the boys) benefited me," she said. Mrs. Minier said through her work as a hqusemother she has developed many close friendships that have endured the years. - I ' J . -. Ai . . :. . .AKyr V - '-? f -4 ' V V i. . ... n : i 4 ". . A A J Photo by Tarry Ganaetnom Mrs. Lee Minier, 88, was housemother for Phi Gamma Delta from 1937 to 1962. She has received the Distinguished Nebraskan Award and was named admiral in the mythical Nebraska Navy. . daily ftabraslian Editor-in-chief: Vines Boucher, New Editor: Lori Demo, Managing Editor: Randy Gordon, Associate News Editors: Gina Hills and Rex Seline, Layout Editor: Michele Schmal, Night News Editor.- Randy Blauvelt, Arts and Entertainment Editor: Diane Wanek, Sports Editors: Dennis Onnen and Pete' Wegman, Third Dimension Editor: Theresa Forsman, Photo Chief: Ted Kirk. Copy Editors: Pete Mason,' Stephanie Noonan, Mary Kay Roth, Nancy Stohs and Matt Truell. News Assistant: Jim Kay. Editorial Assistant: Sue Kalina. Business Manager: Jerri Haussler, Advertising Manager: Mary Ann Myers, Production Manager: Kitty Policky. Second Class Postage paid at Lincoln, Neb. 68588. Address: The Daily Nebraskan, Nebraska Union 34, 14th and R Streets, Lincoln, Neb., 68588.' Phone: (402) 472 2588. Copyright 1976, The Daily Nebraskan. Material may be re printed without permission if attributed to the Daily Nebraskan, except material covered by a not he copyright. bill jeEPWBL Big Jj Cafe Legislative Hearings Committees, statehoute "hearing room assignments, bills to be heard Friday and their sponsors are as follows. Hearings start at 1:30 pxn. unless otherwise noted. Agriculture and Environment, Room 2230 LB 29 (Ag. Comm.) Relating to liens; to chance provisions relating to the priority as prescribed. Constitutional Revision and Recreation, Supreme Court Hearing Room 2414 LE31 (Dvorak t Relating to game and fish; provide for a habitat stamp. LG937 (An&mon) Relating to fMOTM. -.. H . provide for establishment of recreational trails In state. Labor, Supreme Court Hearing Room 2414, 12:30p.m. LB1001 (Xtfty at Gov. RaqJ Relating to employment security; to revise the period of disqualification applicable , to individuels claiming unemployment benefits. Miscellaneous Subjects, Room 1013 LB701 Pworakl Creates a new class of on-stde license for alcoholic liquors. US 3432 (Misc. Sub.) Relating to liquors; provides that persons 16-years-old or older may sell beer and dispose of alcoholic containers in the course of thalr employment l.B S22 i'.Urtih) Relating to' alcoholic liquors; provide for lesuatKie of Cfess C license to State Board of Agriculture. t2S31 (DCmp) Renting to liquors; provides when eJcoho!!c liquor may be dispensed. Corns and enjQy homecooked meals at down horn prices at the Big G Cafe. Wa serve breakfast, lunch and dinner to welcome students. Good food and a good atmosphere. OPEN 24 HOURS 840 West O 9 s e) s . I BID 08 K hoot Call 8 ma mss - "wrj rp , rm i .i M - -r.- Mii.. n LEiSS &kholl Relating liquors; redefine hotel. to t I VVhen you lay down a big hunk of money for mountain boots, you should get more than the latest fad. At Bivouac you do. You get the quality of Raichle boots as only the Swiss can make them. And you get a no-blister fit from Bivouac specialists who actually know something about mountains and boots. If you're climbing Mt. Everest, we can fit you in boots to do it. But if you spend most of your time hiking around town, ,we recommend a more sensible boot that costs less. Come to Bivouac and see our Raichle Colorado Mountain Boots at $57.50. Other models to suit your needs. Other prices to fit your pocketbook. .. ort& t 4tf " J ' 11 mtvr mww f-ik. . .i 1225 Q Gunny's