Northern Arizona University
College of Education
PO Box 5774
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5774
(928) 523-2611
College of Education
PO Box 5774
Flagstaff, AZ 86011-5774
(928) 523-2611
In 1935, Geraldine Emmett received an academic scholarship to attend Arizona State Teachers College. She graduated three years later with her Bachelor's degree in Education and returned to NAU in 1957 to complete a Master's in Education.
In a recent conversation, Ms. Emmett graciously shared one of her more humorous memories about her time spent at NAU. She begins her story by reminding us that, like today, Arizona State Teachers College's team mascot was the Lumberjack. Before each game, students would march to the fight song toting the axe around the field. "In the 1930's ASTC's greatest rival was ASTC from Tempe. Tempe had a larger enrollment, but we managed to beat them in football and basketball every once in a while. One time, some of their students came to Flagstaff to steal our Bronze Axe trophy that all of us honored. They thought this prank would deflate our pride and enhance their homecoming activities. The axe rested in a vault in the president's office. Four Tempe students came into the office, tied up the president's secretary, got into the vault and carried off the axe. An alarm went out to all college departments and school was closed. Students and some faculty members who owned cars loaded them up with helpers and took out after the axe-nabbers. They caught up with the culprits at Williams. In those days, there was no Black Canyon Highway. They had to go through Williams and Ashfork because this was the only road to Phoenix."
"The Tempe boys were brought back to Flagstaff and paraded through the town and campus with their heads shaved and their upper bodies painted green. They were cleaned up and fed and put aboard the train for Tempe, minus the axe. I understand they were met at the Tempe train station by many students and faculty members from Tempe ASTC and treated as royalty. Tempe celebrated the boys with a big parade and pep rally. It was all in fun, and no one was hurt. I had a curly lock from one of those boys for years in my scrap book and every time I looked at it, I smiled remembering how excited we all were."
Ms. Emmett retired in 1976 after 43 years in education. She is still active in the community and participated in the 2004 Democratic Convention as an honored guest and volunteer. Currently, Ms. Emmett resides in Prescott with her two sons, five grand children, and three great-grandchildren.
If you know a distinguished alum who would like to share a story about his or her career or experience at Northern Arizona University, please contact Laura Theimer at 928.523.8746 or email Laura.Theimer@nau.edu.
