I was looking through some images I scanned quite a while ago but never used and this one jumped right out at me. First off, that’s George Brown in the background, between the two cars at left. It isn’t every day you see someone being saluted while GRB is off to the side. Second, do you see where this is? It’s the front of the gym, with absolutely nothing–nothing at all–across the road. That’s really empty:
Then I started to think about who these guys were. It turns out to be a visit in February, 1957 from Admiral Arleigh Burke (see here), who was then Chief of Naval Operations. I’m wondering if those doing the saluting might be members of the Rice NROTC. They certainly look young enough.
Here’s another shot, this one of Burke visiting in Lovett Hall with Mr. Brown and then-provost Carey Croneis (I’d guess that President Houston must have been out of town):
A quick check of the Thresher reveals the reasons for Burke’s visit. I’ll give you all of both pages just for a taste of life at Rice in the eventful spring of 1957:
Bonus: Speaking as someone who has pushed and pulled heavily laden carts all over campus I can say that this new ramp into Rayzor Hall will be a boon to anyone or anything on wheels.
