Extra Credit Questions

[Rob Wick]

Wayne Temple, or "Doc" as he is affectionately known, is quite a character. He contacted me after hearing that I was going to present my paper on Sandburg and Randall and sent me an article he wrote on Randall. He read over my paper and kept me from making some mistakes. We spoke at length about Randall and Sandburg during the conference and he sat in on my presentation.

He was Randall's last research assistant, and if I'm not mistaken, he is one of only two students of Randall still living.

Doc was the person who informed Sandburg that Randall was near death and asked him to visit Randall one last time. He said that Ruth Painter Randall was furious with him for telling Sandburg, as Randall was trying to hide his illness from people, although I imagine Sandburg's last visit with Randall did much for Randall's spirits.

Doc, who is still working, is chief deputy director of the Illinois State Archives. He is 88. Here's an article on him.