The H-SU Brand (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 56, No. 6, Ed. 1, Friday, September 18, 1970 Page: 3 of 4
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September 18 1970
H-SU BRAND
Page S
. V
Senior biology major finds
fekes as interesting hobby
)M
TW
2
By PAUL CARIKER
There is a variety of unusual
talents on this campus but the
most remarkable has to be Erick
Conrad's snake raising.
Erick is a senior biology major
from Colorado City. He and his
partner David Benson a high
school senior have been engaged
in their hobby for several years.
Erick has- been raising snakes
since the fifth grade. His first
snake was a hog nose. Now 8
hog noses and a Python later he
is raising a 15-pound Boa con-
strictor named Sandy.
Erick raises the snakes out of
interest in herpetology; his part-
ner raises them for the venom.
Venom from poisonous snakes is
used in the making of anti-toxins.
Erick has several interesting
tales to tell about his experiences
with snakes. One is that when
he was in seventh grade he picked
up an unidentified snake on the
Vid of a stick and carried it on
horseback for five miles.
Erick is very proud of his
snakes and names them after peo-
ple he knows. Sandy had the dis-
tinction of being namedp after a
girl Erick once knew. A Mexi-
can Boa that he has is named
Brenda after his sister.
Besides Sandy and Brenda
Erick has another favorite. This
unnamed snake is a 6-foot 3-
pound reticulate Python which us
ually matures to 30 feet and is
considered the world's largest
snake.
When asked if his snakes ever
bit him he replied philosophic-
tally "If you are ever bitten by a
snake its always your fault."
Actually he has been bitten sev-
eral times the latest being when
he picked up Sandy and caused
her to jump at him and bite him
in the mouth. Sandy was a birth-
day present for David.
Despite his rather touchy hobby
Erick manages to keep friends
around. Sometimes he has real
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DR. RAY JOHNSON
. opon for appointments
fun with them. Once when Sandy
got loose four of them panicked
and started to climb the book-
shelves and walls and armed
themselves with tennis rackets. In
spite of thej scares they are still
interested in his snakes.
Erick often goes rattlesnake
hunting in the desert on week-
ends. Rattlesnake hunting is a
co-ed sport. "Girls love to go
snake hunting" Erick claims.
"Most of them think that the
smaller snakes are cute even
though the big ones scare them."
Feeding isn't much of a prob-
lem with snakes. They usually
feed about once every two weeks.
The large snakes feed on rabbits
while the smaller ones feed on
mice and rats. Snakes can go as
long as ten and one-half months
without eating.
Watching a snake eat is really
fascinating. At one time Erick
had over twenty-six people just
to see his Mexican Boa consume
a mouse.
The snake goes through an in-
teresting ritual of movement be-
fore striking the prey which in
cidentally must be put in the cage
alive. The snake then quickly
strikes behind the jaw and
wraps itself around with the vic-
tim's head held in a position
where it can't bite. The snake
then squeezes the victim until it
is suffocated.
i (Continued on Page 4)
n
MISS VIRGINIA CROUNSE
. . . 'Outstanding Young Woman'
Miss Crounse on
high honors list
Students find Dr. Johnson
has good ear as counselor
By EDNA WHITMIRE
If you ever need someone to
talk to about a personal problem
school problem or other counsel-
ing and advice just call on Dr.
Ray Johnson new student coun-
selor. Dr. Johnson assistant professor
in psychology and religious educa-
tion is ready to talk to any stu-
dent and help him in any way he
can.
Dr. Johnson said "At first there
were only a few students coming
in to talk but now there are more
everyday. About half of those
that have come were freshmen."
Problems discussed so far have
ranged from personal and par-
ental problems to vocational problems.
Students wishing to talk with
Dr. Johnson should make an ap-
pointment with him by calling
Ext. 722. Dr. Johnson also car-
ries his appointment book with
him on campus in order that stu-
dents may make an appointment
when they see him. His office is
in Abilene Hall room A-2 first
floor.
Dr. Johnson received a B.A.
degree from Georgetown College
Georgetown Ky. He noted that
President Elwin Skiles was then
pastor of Georgetown Church.
He received his masters degree
in. Religious Education from
Southwestern Seminary and his
masters degree in music from
Southern Baptist Theological
Seminary in Louisville.
This May he received his Ed.D.
Miss Virginia Lee Crounse as-' cation Chairman of Texas
sistant professor of political
science for the past two years
has been named one of the Out-
in Psychology and Counseling
from New Orleans Baptist Theol-
ogical Seminary. Dr. Johnson has
served as Minister of Education at
Norman Okla. for ten years and
at Emanual Baptist Church in
Shawnee Okla.
He has worked in Dallas with
the Buckner Baptist Benevolences
doing marriage counseling and has
worked with mental patients at
Southeast Louisiana State Hos-
pital in Manderville La. He has
also worked at Southern Baptist
Hospital in New Orleans.
He and his wife Pat have three
children Pam 15; Cheryl 13; and
Cindy 11.
"I have really enjoyed talking
to the students" said Dr. Johnson
"and would be happy for any stu-
dent to come in at any time."
standing Young Women of Amer-
ica for 1970.
Miss Crounse daughter of Mr.
and Mrs.T.V. Crounse of Canyon
was chosen for her "outstanding
ability accomplishments and
service to her community coun-
try and profession."
Miss Crounse was valedictorian
of her Canyon High School grad-
uating class and received the first
Special Honors degree ever
granted by West Texas State Uni-
versity. While attending West
Texas State she was active in
honor professional and social
organizations was listed in Who's
Who Among Students in Amer-
ican Universities and Colleges
and in 1966 was named the Out-
standing Delta Zeta Sorority Edu-
She received her M.A. degree
from Texas Tech University
where she held a teaching assist-
antship and graduate fellowship
and was a member of Phi Kappa
Phi and Pi Sigma Alpha National
honor fraternities. She has also
done postgraduate work at Tech.
Miss Crounse taught one year
at Caprock High School in Ama-
rillo and then joined the H-SU
faculty. She is presently assistant
professor of political science and
has recently served as acting
chairman of the Political Science
Department.
LOST! Overhead Projector
black table model. Serial No.
131. This projector is missing
from Abilene Hall 307. Please
call ext 717 or 718 and ask lo
speak to CapL Wyro or Sgi.
Ketcham.
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NAVY FLIGHT APTITUDE TEST
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YOUR AVIATION OFFICER INFORMATION
TEAM WILL BE ON CAMPUS:
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Mr
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DATE:
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21-22 SEPTEMBER 70
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TIME:
FIACE:'
330 - 4:00
STUDENT CENTER
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The H-SU Brand (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 56, No. 6, Ed. 1, Friday, September 18, 1970, newspaper, September 18, 1970; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth98748/m1/3/: accessed May 7, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Hardin-Simmons University Library.