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Good to see you writing again.

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Thank you for your work on the BSU history.

Warren was a good historian and a very good fly fishing instructor. I am definitely missing his insights and discussions on Muncie to changes in fly fishing here or out west.

Thank you for your first drafts of Muncie history.

Ps I am enjoying the Merlin program that you introduced me to. Great resource! Thanks again.

Bill

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Nice to see you're writing again, Seth.

As for Ferguson, I don't think the problem was Rick Hall. He may have been carrying messages for Tom Bracken, but I don't think Rick was the micromanager.

Tom had plans for the old Cintas building. He even bought up half a city block for green space to surround his underground parking garage for Cornerstone after he took down the Cintas "eyesore."

Paul Ferguson thought he was the President and made decisions contrary to Tom's wishes when he supported the City's Madjax project with John Fallon. ;)

Anyway, BSU has the perfect "yes man" with Geoffrey Mearns.

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Thanks, Todd. I think Rick Hall has much more influence in governing Ball State than Tom Bracken ever had. Hall is a longtime trustee and a two-time board chair including current board chair. He was talked about as a candidate for president and acted like one after Ferguson was ousted. Rick has a lot of pull with the governor. He’s probably why there are three BSU alumni athletes on the board currently including him. He’s also why his ex bball teammate Paris McCurdy has a high-paying job at BSU today. As I reported several years ago concerning the disputes between Hall and Ferguson : “” Hall "on occasion lobbied for the hiring of a favored candidate," often in conflict with cabinet members and even when "the information at hand would suggest the favored candidate is not a good choice for Ball State." Multiple sources have told The Star Press one of those candidates was Paris McCurdy, Hall's former teammate on the nationally ranked Cardinal basketball team captained by Hall in 1989. The sources say McCurdy was turned down for two jobs during the Ferguson administration. Recently, he was hired into a newly created $80,000 position.”” ALSO, I don’t think there is even a Ball family member on the current board, an indication perhaps of the family’s either lack of interest in serving or lack of influence

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