Gopher Gold: Legendary Figures, Brilliant Blunders, and Amazing Feats at the University of Minnesota

Each year, more than ten thousand of the Midwest's brightest take to the stage in cap and gown, armed with the knowledge, relationships, and lasting memories that could only come from an education at the University of Minnesota. Each of these graduates has been shaped by—and all have shaped—a rich collective history reaching back more than 150 years. In Gopher Gold, students, families, alumni, faculty, and staff are invited to experience their history firsthand through stories of the glorious moments and awe-inspiring missteps that have made the U of M.

First-year medical student Ruth Boynton, struck with influenza in the 1918 pandemic, is treated at the brand-new Student Health Service that would later bear her name. Fred Davies, a graduate in mining, discovers oil in Saudi Arabia, and global politics is forever changed. President Folwell, defending the front gates of his home from a campus prank, is charged with assault and battery when a student is shot. An underdog football team wages a rousing battle to beat the famous Red Grange and the Illini in the inaugural game at Memorial Stadium.

Author Tim Brady delves into little-known corners of the university's past to showcase the wealth of talent and ability that this landmark institution has and has given back to the world.