Bruno E. Jacob
Encyclopedia
Bruno Ernst Jacob was a professor at Ripon College
in Wisconsin and founder of the National Forensic League
. He served as the League's Executive Secretary from 1925 until his retirement in 1969. Karl Mundt, who is best remembered as a Senator from South Dakota
, was the League's President from 1932 until 1971.
, the youngest of four boys. He graduated from Manitowoc High School in 1918 and earned a B.A. in Economics from Ripon College
in 1922. After graduation, he went on to teach Social Studies at Ripon College
and coach debate at Chippewa Falls High School
. Later, he taught as an Assistant Professor of Speech at Ripon College
.
As a college student, Jacob compiled a vest-pocket handbook entitled Suggestions for the Debater which achieved national circulation. This handbook led indirectly to the founding of the National Forensic League
in 1925.
Bruno E. Jacob is also a founding member of Phi Kappa Pi, a local fraternity at Ripon College.
became the dominant interest in Bruno Jacob's life. In the early years his problem was to keep the League alive, but by 1969, when he retired, the problem had become that of trying to hold the number of chapters down to 1200 and at the same time adequately serve the affiliated schools. Because of the demands of the National Forensic League
activities, Jacob resigned his teaching position at Ripon College
in 1950 in order to devote himself full-time to the League. In 1953 the volume of work created by the expansion of the League required the addition of another full-time staff member and a third member was added a few years later. Prior to these additions, Jacob had managed the entire business of running this national organization with nothing more than part-time office help from students at Ripon College
and some volunteer help from members of his family.
Upon his retirement in 1969, the League presented him with a new automobile and a trip around the world. Lester M. Tucker was elected as his successor as Executive Secretary, and Jacob was named Secretary Emeritus.
In 1978, Jacob named the first eleven members of the NFL (National Forensic League) Hall of Fame. At this same event, the league inducted Jacob by acclamation.
A trophy known as the Bruno E. Jacob Award is given at the close of each national tournament to the participating school which has accumulated largest number of tournament points throughout the school year.
Beginning in 1946, Jacob decided to visit every county seat
in every state, and to document his accomplishment he decided to mail himself a postcard from each one. It took him almost 25 years, but by 1970 he had been to all 3,100 counties (parishes in Louisiana
) and collected a postcard from each one complete with a postmark noting when he visited. Alaska
does not have any counties and therefore no county seats, but instead has administrative districts called boroughs.
He was once asked why anyone would attempt such a project? His reply, "I love to travel, but it's no fun without a destination." Over the years he drove well over 1,000,000 miles. In just the first six years of his retirement, he put almost 300,000 miles on the car he had been given as a retirement gift.
In addition to traveling around the United States, his journeys took him to all the western European countries, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Africa.
Ripon College (Wisconsin)
Ripon College is a liberal arts college in Ripon, Wisconsin, USA. It offers small class sizes and intensive mentoring to students. Ripon has a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa--one of the nation's most prestigious honor societies. Alumni have high rates of success in the workforce as well as acceptance...
in Wisconsin and founder of the National Forensic League
National Forensic League
The National Forensic League is a non-partisan, non-profit educational honor society established to encourage and motivate American high school students to participate in and become proficient in the forensic arts: debate, public speaking and interpretation. NFL is the America's oldest and largest...
. He served as the League's Executive Secretary from 1925 until his retirement in 1969. Karl Mundt, who is best remembered as a Senator from South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
, was the League's President from 1932 until 1971.
Biography
Jacob was born in Valders, WisconsinValders, Wisconsin
Valders is a village in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 948 at the 2000 census.-Geology:The village is known within the state for its dolomitic limestone quarry, which produces building rock, harbor rock and gravel . Gray Woodfordian Drift soil is also described as...
, the youngest of four boys. He graduated from Manitowoc High School in 1918 and earned a B.A. in Economics from Ripon College
Ripon College (Wisconsin)
Ripon College is a liberal arts college in Ripon, Wisconsin, USA. It offers small class sizes and intensive mentoring to students. Ripon has a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa--one of the nation's most prestigious honor societies. Alumni have high rates of success in the workforce as well as acceptance...
in 1922. After graduation, he went on to teach Social Studies at Ripon College
Ripon College (Wisconsin)
Ripon College is a liberal arts college in Ripon, Wisconsin, USA. It offers small class sizes and intensive mentoring to students. Ripon has a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa--one of the nation's most prestigious honor societies. Alumni have high rates of success in the workforce as well as acceptance...
and coach debate at Chippewa Falls High School
Chippewa Falls High School
Chippewa Falls High School is a public high school located in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. It is also referred to as "Chi-Hi". Chi-Hi has been among the top in the state when it comes to academics. The school is also known for its athletics and marching band. The school belongs to the Big Rivers...
. Later, he taught as an Assistant Professor of Speech at Ripon College
Ripon College (Wisconsin)
Ripon College is a liberal arts college in Ripon, Wisconsin, USA. It offers small class sizes and intensive mentoring to students. Ripon has a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa--one of the nation's most prestigious honor societies. Alumni have high rates of success in the workforce as well as acceptance...
.
As a college student, Jacob compiled a vest-pocket handbook entitled Suggestions for the Debater which achieved national circulation. This handbook led indirectly to the founding of the National Forensic League
National Forensic League
The National Forensic League is a non-partisan, non-profit educational honor society established to encourage and motivate American high school students to participate in and become proficient in the forensic arts: debate, public speaking and interpretation. NFL is the America's oldest and largest...
in 1925.
Bruno E. Jacob is also a founding member of Phi Kappa Pi, a local fraternity at Ripon College.
The National Forensic League
From 1925, the National Forensic LeagueNational Forensic League
The National Forensic League is a non-partisan, non-profit educational honor society established to encourage and motivate American high school students to participate in and become proficient in the forensic arts: debate, public speaking and interpretation. NFL is the America's oldest and largest...
became the dominant interest in Bruno Jacob's life. In the early years his problem was to keep the League alive, but by 1969, when he retired, the problem had become that of trying to hold the number of chapters down to 1200 and at the same time adequately serve the affiliated schools. Because of the demands of the National Forensic League
National Forensic League
The National Forensic League is a non-partisan, non-profit educational honor society established to encourage and motivate American high school students to participate in and become proficient in the forensic arts: debate, public speaking and interpretation. NFL is the America's oldest and largest...
activities, Jacob resigned his teaching position at Ripon College
Ripon College (Wisconsin)
Ripon College is a liberal arts college in Ripon, Wisconsin, USA. It offers small class sizes and intensive mentoring to students. Ripon has a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa--one of the nation's most prestigious honor societies. Alumni have high rates of success in the workforce as well as acceptance...
in 1950 in order to devote himself full-time to the League. In 1953 the volume of work created by the expansion of the League required the addition of another full-time staff member and a third member was added a few years later. Prior to these additions, Jacob had managed the entire business of running this national organization with nothing more than part-time office help from students at Ripon College
Ripon College (Wisconsin)
Ripon College is a liberal arts college in Ripon, Wisconsin, USA. It offers small class sizes and intensive mentoring to students. Ripon has a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa--one of the nation's most prestigious honor societies. Alumni have high rates of success in the workforce as well as acceptance...
and some volunteer help from members of his family.
Upon his retirement in 1969, the League presented him with a new automobile and a trip around the world. Lester M. Tucker was elected as his successor as Executive Secretary, and Jacob was named Secretary Emeritus.
In 1978, Jacob named the first eleven members of the NFL (National Forensic League) Hall of Fame. At this same event, the league inducted Jacob by acclamation.
A trophy known as the Bruno E. Jacob Award is given at the close of each national tournament to the participating school which has accumulated largest number of tournament points throughout the school year.
A lifelong traveler
During his years as Executive Secretary, Jacob typically traveled about 20,000 miles a year, mostly by car since he enjoyed driving. Much of this was before the days of Interstate highways, and even when they became available he normally would avoid the Interstates in favor of the more scenic state highways and back roads.Beginning in 1946, Jacob decided to visit every county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
in every state, and to document his accomplishment he decided to mail himself a postcard from each one. It took him almost 25 years, but by 1970 he had been to all 3,100 counties (parishes in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
) and collected a postcard from each one complete with a postmark noting when he visited. Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
does not have any counties and therefore no county seats, but instead has administrative districts called boroughs.
He was once asked why anyone would attempt such a project? His reply, "I love to travel, but it's no fun without a destination." Over the years he drove well over 1,000,000 miles. In just the first six years of his retirement, he put almost 300,000 miles on the car he had been given as a retirement gift.
In addition to traveling around the United States, his journeys took him to all the western European countries, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Africa.