The story of Alice, Don and McCook Junior College

(As part of McCook Community College’s 100-year celebration this weekend we highlight the role McCook Junior College had on two 1954 graduates.)

ALICE HIATT, was an education major when she began her freshman year at McCook Junior College in the fall of 1952. She was from McCook. Her aunt was in the first class at MJC, and an uncle had also attended MJC.

“The economics of getting a start to college at home was the main reason I decided on MJC,” she said. “We just didn’t have the money to go four years at the University, so it made a lot more sense to save money and go to college at home.”

Her dad was a pharmacist, but she didn’t really want to take all the science needed for that profession – plus she just didn’t see herself as someone who would count out pills for the rest of her life. A friend of the family was in speech pathology and that seemed interesting to Alice.

She took full advantage of the college opportunity and became a member of the 10-person College Senate both years and by a popular vote was elected the organization’s president her sophomore year. The senate was responsible for several duties on campus including the operation of the snack bar on the second floor of McMillen Hall, where the most expensive item they sold was 10 cents. The group also ran concessions at football and basketball games, sponsored and decorated for the Christmas and Spring Proms. Alice also introduced the speakers invited to the MJC for convocation periods.

“I remember for student senate I had to get to McMillen Hall early enough in the morning to have the coffee brewed and ready in advance of the 8 a.m. classes,” she said.

Her favorite class was history and political science with Helen Storms. She also enjoyed working in the library (then housed in McMillen Hall) with Flora Dutcher.

She was also a member of the MJC Women’s Organization, pep club and choir. She was part of the Chieftain staff as a freshman and in the “Preview Players,” a new club on campus for students with an interest in dramatics. They staged the Victorian thriller “Angel Street.”

The Women’s Organization hosted “many social and constructive gatherings,” including a tea for the juniors at Alice’s home. Also, a caroling party which included the highly anticipated “revealing” of Mystery Sisters, and the group sponsored a Sadie Hawkins’ Day dance, and dances after the football and basketball games.

Alice fondly remembers cheering with the pep club at sporting events and traveling with the choir to neighboring towns to promote the college, its music program and to recruit students.

“I remember one time I believe we were traveling to Danbury in the spring. It was raining, the road wasn’t paved and our bus got stuck,” she said. “Well, the guys got out and had to push the bus. Mud splattered all over their choir robes, but we continued on to the performance.”

She graduated in 1954 and set off for Kearney to continue her goal of becoming a speech therapist.

WHEN DON HARPST went to college in the fall of 1952 from his hometown of Cambridge, he made a couple stops along the way. To help finance college, he taxied a teacher from Cambridge each day to the Red Willow School east of McCook, then picked up four students there and continued on to McCook for classes.

Don came from a newspaper family in Cambridge and was interested in the family business at a young age.

“When it came time for college I knew I wanted to study journalism and it just made more sense to do the first two years close by in McCook,” he said.

He declared journalism as his major and as a freshman he became the editor of “The Thunderbird,” the college newspaper which was published every two weeks. He continued that both years as well as being part of the “Chieftain” yearbook staff.

Don was also a member and secretary-treasurer of Circle K, the Kiwanis service club on campus which sponsored a hayrack ride, a skating party at Medicine Creek Dam and a card party as well as after-game dances in the gymnasium, True Hall. He played clarinet in the pep band and was in the French Club and the MJC Men’s Organization – which provided means for social integration of the men on campus. That group also sponsored after-game dances and organized a casino party with an old west theme.

“I don’t remember ever missing a dance,” he said. “If there was a dance, I’d always be there.”

His favorite teachers were his journalism teacher Ilene Rosenberg and E.P. Baruth who taught business classes.

“I felt McCook was a wonderful opportunity to get started with the college experience close to home and gave me a chance to get involved. It was a perfect transition from a small-town high school to a big city university experience,” said Don.

He said with smaller classes, MJC students were more involved with their instructors and the instructors with you.

“It was a really quality education,” he said.

He also graduated from MJC in 1954 and went on to study journalism at the University of Missouri receiving his degree in January of 1957.

ALICE AND DON, THE COUPLE: After returning home in early 1957, Don ran his family’s newspaper in Curtis and was the editor. A short time later, he was assigned to take a family picture of the new owners of the drug store in Cambridge – the Hiatts, whose daughter Alice was home from Kearney to help her parents move and set up the new store. By then she’d become a speech therapist and immediately recognized the photographer.

“Well hello Don,” Alice laughed. “He was back in the area and most of his Cambridge friends had left or had married, so when I came back from Kearney to visit my folks, he finally asked me out on a date,” she said.

As best as they both recall, they probably first knew of each other as freshmen when they were in a smaller English or literature class. Alice noticed Don passing notes to the girl next to her in shorthand – apparently trying to set up some double dates. Don eventually felt comfortable enough with Alice that he asked her if she wanted to go on a double date.

“It was a small enough class I figured he’d eventually get around to asking me out, but he never did,” Alice said. “Instead, he set me up with other guys… so I guess technically we spent time with each other on dates in college – but not with each other.”

Alice recalls that Don became known for throwing great parties – many of them at his parent’s home in Cambridge where they had a pool table in the basement.

“I remember in college, friends would ask me ‘Are you invited to Don Harpst’s party and can you get me invited,’” she recalls. “Well, no – I never get invited.”

THEY WERE MARRIED June 5, 1959, and lived in Curtis, where he ran the newspaper and she worked as a language arts teacher for six, seventh and eighth graders. That lasted one semester before Alice became pregnant and stayed home to raise their family.

After the youngest child went to school she became a teacher’s aide. Don became involved in health care in Curtis because a doctor was retiring and he was part of a community effort to build a new clinic in Curtis. In 1977 they moved to Cambridge. His mom was administrator in Cambridge and Don shifted his career. When his mother retired, Don became Hospital Administrator from 1982-87. He became the Administrator at Hillcrest Nursing Home in 1987 where he retired in 1998.

In retirement and even before, the Harpsts are known as community-minded leaders and philanthropists.

“We both had parents that were involved in the community, so we learned at a young age how important it is to be an active part of the community,” said Alice, who also believes that MJC is where her leadership training really began.

 “I was able to see leadership examples through my parents early on, but college was my first real opportunity to start putting leadership skills to practice,” said Don.  “When you look back and appreciate all that was done for you, you realize that giving back to whatever community you are a part of that this is one way to express your appreciation.”

Don and Alice plan to be in the Heritage Days Parade with the MCC Float as well as attending the Alumni Banquet Saturday night at East Campus (from 5:30-7:30 p.m.).

If you haven’t already done so and plan to attend the Alumni Banquet, please RSVP to Heather Harvie at 345-8120 or email harvieh@mpcc.edu. To find out more about the weekend schedule, please check out the "100th Celebration Weekend" on the MPCC website at: https://www.mpcc.edu/mcc_100_years.php