Session of 1999
SENATE RESOLUTION No. 1862
A Resolution congratulating and commending Veryl Switzer.
WHEREAS, Veryl Switzer, 66, a native of Nicodemus, graduate of Bogue High School, leg-
endary All-American athlete at Kansas State University during the 1950's, and former National
Football League record holder, is retiring after 30 years on the staff at Kansas State University;
and
WHEREAS, Mr. Switzer's athletic career started at Bogue High School where he played six-
man football (scoring at will) and was an all-state long jump and pole vault champion. He enrolled
at Kansas State University in 1950 to become only the university's third black student-athlete
and, during the 1952 football season, the only black football player in the conference. As a player
who played both on offense and defense, he was named to the All Big Seven first team for 1951,
1952 and 1953; he was named as an All-American, second team, in 1951 and 1952 and an All-
American, first team, in 1953. Additionally, he lettered in track three years and was the confer-
ence long jump champion in 1952. After graduation from Kansas State he was the first halfback
and fourth player selected by the 1954 National Football League. He was later inducted into the
K-State Hall of Fame and the Kansas All Sports Hall of Fame. He played five years of professional
football with the Green Bay Packers, Calgary Stampeders and Montreal Alouettes. He also spent
two and a half years as a lieutenant in the United States Air Force before spending 10 years in
the Chicago public school system as a classroom teacher and human relations coordinator; and
WHEREAS, Veryl Switzer returned to Kansas State University in 1969 and spent the next 30
years in various positions: Administrative Assistant to the Athletic Director and Coordinator of
Minority and Cultural Programs, Director for Minority Affairs, Co-Director for Affirmative Ac-
tion and Associate Dean for Minority Affairs, Associate Dean for Minority Affairs, Assistant Vice-
President for Student Affairs, Assistant Vice-President for Special Services, and Associate Di-
rector of Athletics/Assistant Vice-President for Institutional Advancement. He also served at
Kansas State University as Chair, KSU Advisory Committee on Minority Affairs; Member, KSU
Faculty Senate; Member, KSU Coordinating Committee for Handicapped Services; and Mem-
ber, KSU General Scholarship Committee. He performed valuable public service as Chairperson,
Kansas State University's Intercollegiate Athletic Council; President, USD #383 Board of Edu-
cation, Manhattan, Kansas; and Member and President of the Kansas Children's Service League;
and
WHEREAS, Veryl Switzer may not be fully retiring--he plans to help with the first-tee pro-
gram at K-State's Colbert Hills golf course teaching golf and life to disadvantaged kids: Now,
therefore,
Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Kansas: That we congratulate and commend Veryl
Switzer for his great career as an athlete and educator and for the positive influence he has had
on numberless student athletes and minority students at Kansas State University; and
Be it further resolved: That the Secretary of the Senate be directed to provide an enrolled
copy of this resolution to Veryl Switzer, 1412 Wreath Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502 and to
Kent Brown, Sports Information Director, Kansas State University, Bramlage Coliseum, 1800
College Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502.
Senate Resolution No. 1862 was sponsored by Senator Lana OleenI hereby certify that the above RESOLUTION originated in the SENATE,
and was adopted by that body
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