On the Thursday of June 11, 1923 a new society was born known as the "O" men's club organize. Only letter men were eligible to be members even though women were receiving letters since 1918 until that current time. The women's "O" was smaller than the men initially because it was felt by some that women did not put as much effort into athletics and also thought that women were still in a period of proving themselves and not well standardized. However, men had been receiving letters since at least 1903.

Another athlete with her "O", 1922-1923

In November of 1923, former "O" men, among others, gathered with the Oshkosh Normal School football team champions of Wisconsin in the all-normal conference for a celebration. During 1923, the "O" club was rated as one of the strongest clubs in school for a period of time. The original roster of the "O" club had forty-four names on it, which was first organized in the days of Robert "Bob" Kolf, Milt Wilson, and others.

June of 1928 was a time of reorganization of the "O" club. The organization lagged until this year when Richard "Eck" Erdlitz, one of the charter members who returned to school, became motivated to revive the organization. It was then stated that the purpose of the "O" club organization is to promote good, clean athletics; to encourage good fellowship; and to boost the Oshkosh College in every way possible.

In March of 1954, the "O" club was reorganized again after being inactive since WWII. It was comprised of Oshkosh State College athletes who had won major or minor monograms. Kolf was the group's advisor.

In December of 1959, Oshkosh State College once again reorganized the "O" club. It was open to athletes who had earned major letters in the various sports offered at Oshkosh State. Kolf, who was the athletic director, aided the reorganization. The club promoted Ron Dibelius, a member of the basketball team, as a candidate for the "ugly man" contest, conducted annually by OSC to raise funds for charitable purposes.

In 1962, the "O" Club was comprised of athletes who had earned major monograms for participation in football, basketball, baseball, track, tennis, and golf. On May 15, 1962 an announcement was made that the OSC "O" Club was to host a bratwurst festival with a contest where a queen would receive a crown. This was an event that they had been doing since 1960. January 14, 1963 the "O" Club participated in the Winter Carnival.

In a letter addressed to Robert Kolf on August 19, 1970, the National "O" Club, Inc. was officially established. Attorney James J. Williamson wrote the bylaws, filed them with the State of Wisconsin, and did the registration without charge. At this time, there was an inauguration of an athletic Hall of Fame for Wisconsin State University - Oshkosh by the National "O" Club. It was also decided at this time to begin getting names and addresses of past "O" men. In June of 1996, the bylaws were revised and this seems to be the most current information on the National "O" Club, Inc. To be a member, one has to have earned an athletic award (or equivalent) at UW-Oshkosh and be interested in promotion of the purposes of the corporation. A 1998 National "O" Club brochure states that the club assists with the intercollegiate athletic program and National Championship Awards, has created and sponsors the Hall of Fame, co-sponsors the Senior Awards banquet, and many other projects. The evolution of the National "O" Club seems to be a continuing process and outstanding accomplishment for UW Oshkosh.

• The newspaper clippings of 1962 began to write the name as the "O" Club.
  
  
• When did women officially become accepted to the "O" club? National "O" Club?
  
  
• What happened during the periods between reorganizing?
  
  
• Who decided to call it the National "O" Club, Inc.?
  
  
• Why was it called the National "O" Club, Inc.?

References

Akin, R . (Revised Bylaws [Article IV. Sec. 1]. p 2., 1996).

Kitzman, E. W. (Personal communication to Robert Kolf, 1971)

NATIONAL O CLUB UW-OSHKOSH TITANS. (1998). 1998 National "O" Club Board of Directors; National "O" Club Apparel and Merchandise; Pledge Card. [Brochure].

Oshkosh State Teachers College. (1946). 75th Anniversary Bulletin 1871-1946. 42 No. 175 (p.52)

Quiver. (1905, 1918, & 1923).

From the Polk Library archives: newspaper clippings in multi-scrapbooks: May 3, 1919; Nov. 26, 1923; June 2, 1928; March 25, 1954; Dec. 2, 1959; May 15, 1962; Jan. 14, 1963; & May 11, 1964.