It didn’t occur to me to ask my parents for help with my college expenses; they had done so much for me already. College is what I had been working and saving for with my newspaper job. Also, there were jobs to be had at college.

I lived in Joe Benton’s house. Joe had grown up in Sayre and had a singing career (he performed at the Metropolitan Opera). His operatic name was Guiseppi Bentonelli. He now lived quietly with his mother in Norman, the university town, and took in roomers.

My roommate was Duane Grover, a very large and somewhat athletic fellow; he was almost twice my size. We heard that there were jobs at the boarding place down the street; all you had to do was set the tables for lunch and clean up after the meal. You got paid a little and also got your own meal free. My large roommate and I went down to apply. The lady looked us over and said, “I’ll take the small one.” My first O.U. job. Duane and I frequently went to eat supper at a little restaurant nearby that specialized in grilled-cheese sandwiches for ten cents each. They were so small that I would order two or three at a time; Duane would order five or six. I’m sure that is what the boarding house lady had been concerned about when she chose the small one.

My other job, a night time telephone operator at the university switchboard, was more interesting. There were very few calls at that hour so I could spend my time studying, which I would have been doing otherwise but without pay.

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