Walt's, the Ko-Op and Ike's Little Campus - Forever linked in EIU Hangout History.

These articles are about Ike Kennard and the Little Campus Cafe. Pardon the omission of some words - the scanned documents were cut off on one side in some places, leaving me to guess at or omit words where I had no clue.

(Feb. 9, 1949) “Ike Kennard - - King of Campus, Hamburger, Pinball Machine.” Eastern State News; p3.

http://thekeep.eiu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&context=den_1949_feb

Such notable patrons as Max Reed, junior class press, Ralph Everson, “Jug” Stabler, and others were lounging at the far end of the bar trying to carry on a conversation while Husmann’s commands to “hold that order; we’re out of plates” etc.

Ivan Kennard, who is your host at the Little Campus . . . (lights) a Kool, and we went in the kitchen of the Little Campus just before the evening rush. Ike switched from “hots” to Kools because “fewer people want ‘em even if guys like you aren’t particular.”

“It’s a little chilly in here isn’t it,” I remarked, forgetting that I had left myself wide open for a wise remark. “Like to keep the help moving,” he answered as I winced.   . . . we took time out so that Ike could turn on an extra light . . . Cox, who wanted to examine his profile which had obviously altered during the course of the evening.

“Ike” spent three years at Eastern (1940-43) before he was so . . . interrupted by World War II. After a three-year hitch in the Navy, he came back and re-opened the Ko-Op which had been idle. Eighteen months and 45,000 hamburgers later, he picked up his gear and moved down the street to the “big time.” He had previously managed the Little Campus for one quarter while Walt Warmouth was in Chicago.

When asked to compare the job running the Ko-Op with that at the Little Campus, he answered that there wasn’t a whole lot of difference.

“On the average, the girls are as easy to wait on as the boys,” . . . to the next question. “In . . . a few of the fellows will try to give me a hard time.”

Those who try to match wisecracks with Ike are in the minority, but they are usually disposed of by one of his comebacks. Brad Frazier’s . . . of ordering a hamburger . . . “fry one” but Pat Brown’s . . . out and blitz it” takes the cake. (Coffee with cream to your outsiders who aren’t yet with it.”)

This immediately brought up the question as to what kind of customer the faculty member is. “I save a little cream since they’re all black, coffee drinkers,” he remarked matter-of-factly. “And,” he added quickly, “I hear all the latest dope on football quarterbacking from Mr. Plath.”

When asked to compare Jo’s cooking (his wife’s) with that which he and his associates whip up at the Campus, he immediately asked, “Will Jo read the paper?” He decided it was best not to say anything on that one, but evidently he prefers his own victuals to his wife’s since he eats two meals a day at the Campus.

Ike is generally recognized as the campus pin ball king. A few have accused him of operating a hidden “tilt” button when others are behind the flippers.

When Ike plays the machine, the Campus resembles a combination neon light plant and chime testing factory. Bulbs flash on and off, bells ring, and bonus buttons work overtime. He rattles, pounds, and shakes it until the machine pleads for mercy, and then he cracks it again.

With a little encouragement form the smoke and coke crowd, Ike will manipulate seven filled glasses in one hand, which in Ike’s words is “three more than Hudson can carry with one less broken one.”

There is a rumor to the effect that he once won a small wager by performing this feat.

In a half a dozen words, Ike is a fugitive from the law of averages.

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A few years later, another EIU News article focussed on Ike:

(Nov. 21, 1951). “Ike’s an Eastern Tradition; Versatile With Fingers and Wit.” Eastern State News, p6.

http://thekeep.eiu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1002&context=den_1951_nov

Glass! T-Juice a pair - - make it three! Ham sand, choc glass. I have two rolls working. One over light! One with and one without. Yes, that’s “Ike” Kennard over at the Little Campus. And it really isn’t crazy - - he’s just calling orders in “Campus code” which he uses the strange-sounding names.

Ike, (Whose real name is Ivan Schrodt Kennard) is as much a part of Eastern as are Old Main, the circle, and freshman assemblies. In the run of a day many a student and faculty member trundle their obese figures for the daily (or, in some instances, hourly) cup of coffee or tea.

“Coffee is still the best seller, but tea is gaining ground as the school drink since coffee has gone up to seven cents,” says Ike.

“I’m positive I’ve never drunk over 25 cups of coffee in my life. I never did drink a cup till I went to the Navy. I never drink tea.”

Ike spent three years at Eastern (’40-’43) before he went into the Navy in ’43. After his stint of three years with Uncle Sam, he returned and opened the Ko-Op, which had been vacant. After 18 months he got the urge to migrate to the west, so he took over the Little Campus and has been there ever since.

Working in the Campus when he was a student, he knows the ups and downs of the place, both as employee and manager. He usually spends 13 hours a day on the job between 7 a.m. and 11:30 p.m.

Ike very seldom misses a football game and never misses a basketball game. Baseball is popular with him, too. “I go to a lot of high school games around. I invariably run into some kids I know (at least I know their faces, if not their names) at almost every ball game.

In a short time after school starts in the fall he knows a large majority of the kids in school to speak to them. But he frankly admits he knows the real names of very few. “Just too many people.”

The faculty members regard Ike as a favorite. Several congregate over a cup of coffee one or more times a day at the tables in front. One may hear anything from old coins to football to international affairs discussed. The daily meeting has become such a tradition the faculty have nicknamed it the faculty seminar.

Dr. Glenn Seymour claims that he is the oldest customer of the Campus, as he has been going over for that coffee nearly every day for 20 years. He drinks it black as do most of the instructors. “I always keep a little cream there,” says Ike.

One morning all the familiar faces were late at the tables out front except that of Dr. Seymour. When Ike asked the prof what the punishment would be for being late to seminar, he merely answered, “None - - they just missed the first part of the speech I prepared!”

“My favorite customer is one who knows what he wants”, says Ike. “When using the grill eggs are the easiest thing to make for there’s practically no (missing on ?) them.”

When asked why the clock at the Campus is always five minutes fast, he answered, “It’s been like that ever since I’ve been here. It helps to get people to class on time, especially the faculty.”

Ike hails from Mt. Carmel. He’s married and has three kids. I cook once in a while at home, but usually my wife Jo does it. I nearly always take over when we have sandwiches, and a lot of the time I make coffee, even if I don’t drink it. Once in a while I’ll take the family to the Campus to eat. Boy do those kids love milk shakes!’

Yes, Ike is almost an Eastern tradition. But he’ll never (change ?) he’ll always be yelling at (kids he?) knew who were his customer and he’ll always be jus’ plain “Ike.”

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Obituary at EIU's Hall of Fame:

CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois Athletic Hall of Fame member Ike Kennard passed away over the weekend in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Kennard was a member of the Panthers first Athletic Hall of Fame Class in 1982.  This past year the Lantz Arena Club Room was officially dedicated in his honor.  Kennard was 93.

EIU HALL OF FAME BIO

Ike Kennard was one of Eastern Illinois most active boosters providing financial and personal support for the Panther athletic program since World War II. 

After three years of military service, Ike returned to Charleston in 1946 and operated the Ko-op restaurant for one year before purchasing the Little Campus in 1948. He later developed the University Village shopping center. 

During the 1950's and 1960's Kennard employed well over 100 student-athletes. This during a period prior to the existence of scholarships when the athletic department was in need of financial assistance for its students. 

Also during this time Ike was among the initial group of citizens, forerunners to the well-established Panther Club, who actively raised private monies for the support of the program. 

For several years he was a well-known basketball official in the old Illinois and Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, and often teamed with Tom Katsimpalis and Walt Elmore to referee high school basketball. 

A graduate of Mt. Carmel High School, he was an all-around athlete participating in football, basketball and baseball earning all-conference honors in basketball.

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Ike's obituary can be read at
https://ko-op.blogspot.com/2015/04/ivan-s-kennard-march-29-1922-april-4.html

Walt Warmoth's Story - Part 2

This article contains some of the same or similar information with others posted before; however it also covers a little new ground.

(February 21, 1964). “Walt’s Boys Succeed . . .” Eastern State News, p. 3.

http://thekeep.eiu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1005&context=den_1964_feb

As far as college “hangouts” Eastern takes a backseat to none. Many students find that Walt’s, the Ko-Op and Little Campus provide good places to while away their their leisure hours before, between and after classes. Evenings are no different. Many a coke date has been spent at one of these “hangouts.”

A history of Walt’s, the Ko-Op and Little Campus also consists of a history of Walter Warmoth, better known to Eastern students as Walt.

Walt came to Charleston 1935 on an inventory trip for Walgreen’s Drug Store. He returned in 1937 and opened the Little Campus where he had worked during his school days at Eastern. With increased enrollment, he soon found it necessary to build and additional room to accommodate his patrons.

In 1939, Walt further expand his business by buying the Ko-Op. The Ko-Op had been a grocery store, but it was not long before it was converted into a popular Eastern “hangout” serving sandwiches, fountain goods and hot meals.

When Lincoln and Douglas halls were built, Walt recognized the need for another “hangout.” In 1953 Walt’s expanded. For the 1st year the additional room in Walt’s was used for dancing, but the following year tables were placed in the room to accommodate more students.

Ivan “Ike” Kennard became the proprietor of Little Campus in 1948. “Ike” had worked for Walt in 1940 at the Ko-Op.

In 1952, Larry Mizener, an Eastern graduate became the proprietor of he Ko-Op. He had also worked for Walt at the Ko-Op during his college years.

According to Walt, students were most interested in buying complete meals that would “fill them up” when Little Campus first opened, instead of buying odds and ends as they do today. Complete meals then cost 25 to 30 cents.

Little Campus received its best competition from another Eastern “hangout,” when the Panther Lair, then located on the corner where Lincoln Hall now stands, opened.

Walt recalled that the Panther Lair, then directed by Hobart F. Heller, present vice president of instruction, always seemed to undersell him. The present Panther Lair in the University Union is operated by Tim Mitchell, also a former employee of Walt.

Other former employees of Walt manage and own restaurants, snack-bars and cafeterias. At the present time, Walt knows of seven former employees who are connected with university snack-bars and cafeterias.

Walt has a great interest in Eastern students and enjoys working with them. “They’ve always been easy to deal with,” he said.

Walt also said the he’s “in the most pleasant business. My greatest appreciation is that I am able to associate with Eastern students and faculty.”

Walt feels that students today are “smarter” than when he went to school. “Whether it’s due to television or what, I don’t know but I think they’ve learned much since my school days,” he said.

Eastern “hangouts” are always busy, but busiest hours seem to be noon, late evenings and float periods. Sunday evenings, especially in the winter, tend to bring additional business, according to Walt.

The “hangouts” used to be busy during the entire evening, but now it seems that students don’t begin to come in until later. Walt attributes this change to the increase in activities for couples in the evening and to the availability of transportation to other places.

“The total traffic count for a night is not very different though,” he said.

EIU Campus Hangouts

I have been searching Eastern's online archives, The Keep, for information related to the Ko-Op. This posting is my first installment - an article written by Jack Ryan in October of 1957 in the Daily Eastern News. Note that I have not made any corrections, especially in punctuation - have tried to leave the article exactly as published. In the coming months, I will share other articles from the archives.

Ryan, Jack (Oct. 2, 1957). "Eastern’s Campus Hangouts". Daily Eastern News; p4.

In the everlasting tradition of college campus hangouts Eastern takes a backseat to no one. From sitting on the benches watching all the girls go by to jiving it up at a little campus jam session the student clientele spends its carefree hours of relaxation.

On three sides of the campus proper the students are accommodated by the Little Campus, Ko-Op, and Walts (commonly called the Open).

A history of the Ko-Op, Little Campus, and the Open consists also of the history of Walter Warmoth.

“Walt” bought the Little Campus in 1937, after having worked there during his school days. With the increase in enrollment, Walt soon had to build an additional room to accommodate its student patrons.

The converting of a grocery store to establish the Ko-Op soon followed, serving sandwiches, fountain goods, and hot meals.

When Lincoln and Douglas halls were erected, ‘Walt’ saw the need for one more “hangout” for the Eastern students, so, in 1953, he built the Open which has since become another favorite spot for the coke crowd to assemble.

Under the proprietorship of Ivan “Ike” Kennard, the “Little Campus” has become one of the most popular meeting places on campus. ‘Ike’ a navy pilot in the second world war, took over the “Little Campus” in 1948.

Also under the proprietorship of an Eastern graduate Larry Mizener, the Ko-Op is growing in popularity among Eastern students. Larry received his B.S. at Eastern and took over the Ko-Op in 1952.

Ivan S. Kennard, March 29, 1922 - April 4, 2015

Don Gher shared this information:

Obituary for Ivan S. Kennard
(Excerpted from Moore Funeral Homes, lots of great photos in the Tribute section)

Ivan (“Ike”) Kennard, 93, died Saturday, April 4, 2015, at his home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Ike was born on March 29, 1922, in Lawrence County, Illinois, to Ephraim Henry Kennard and Hattie Leora Schrodt. He married Joan King on April 23, 1943. She survives along with their daughter Marlys Fallen and husband Carl, Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Ike attended Eastern Illinois University and was a World War II Navy pilot and flight instructor. After the war, he returned to Charleston where he lived until September 2011 when he and Joan moved to Tulsa. Ike was the owner of "Ike's Little Campus" across the street from Eastern Illinois University. He was a longtime supporter of EIU.

Besides his wife and daughter, Ike is survived by his older brother Joseph Kennard, Coral Gables, Florida, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Phyllis Copeland, Kathryn Hacker, Elaine Mahon and Frances Brooks; and his brothers Hayes and Rex Kennard, and his sons Stephen Wayne Kennard and Michael King Kennard.

Click here for more from EIU: 
https://eiupanthers.com/news/2015/4/7/GEN_0407153229.aspx

03 Sept. 2018: more about Ike Kennard:
https://ko-op.blogspot.com/2018/09/walts-ko-op-and-ikes-little-campus.html