At Age 16 and 6 feet 5, I was the tallest person in my hometown Paola, KS. At KU, I only knew one other person that was taller. My height didn't bother me, but getting clothes to fit ws a problem. My pants and my coat sleeves were always too short and my size in shoes and shirts hard to find. Tall girls had similar problems finding clothes. And it was very embarrassing, if you were a girl, to be taller than your male classmates .Not having played basketball, I first recognized being tall as something special when I discovered the Skyliners Club in Kansas City. The men had to be 6'4" and the women 5"10". In 1947, as president of the club, with other members, I attended the first tall people's clubs convention in Hollywood--where I met my first wife Rosemary. I became one of the organizers and first president of what is now known as Tall Clubs International.
NOW there are hundreds of men at KU taller than 6'5". Girls over 6 feet are everywhere. Clothes for the tall are easy to find. I have concluded that now it's smart to be tall. You are a member of an elite group.
Tom Corbin, one of America's leading sculptors, living here in Kansas City, has glamorized and immortalized the tall human through his creation of elongated bronze figures. One of his monumental works--located at Pittsburg State University--is pictured here.
2 comments:
Great sculptures!
And yes, the world has finally realized, as in all other animal and plant life, bigger is better and tall is tops!
Of course, the smaller forms of life will always find this upsetting so they must do whatever they can to bring the superior ones down.
That other comment HAD to be from Syl!!
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