Ko-Op Konnections: 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.