Book about CSC history coming soon

Marshall has drawn upon those resources for a new pictorial history about the college’s first 100 years, which is in production and due to hit bookshelves in late spring or early summer.

Marshall, who served more than three decades as CSC’s director of information and sports information, spent much of the last year writing and compiling material for the project, which was built from a similar book he wrote for the institution’s 75th anniversary. The production of “Chadron State College: A Century of Service” has been among his many projects for CSC since stepping down from his director’s post in 2006.

In addition to the book’s extensive historical content, its glossy pages and many color photos are expected to make it an attractive “coffee table” piece. The book gives a decade-by-decade account of the institution’s past, from its humble beginnings to present.

The CSC book is one of two large publications that Marshall, the 2010 Chadron Record Citizen of the Year, has completed in the past 12 months. He also finished work last year on a book of Chadron history for the community’s 125th anniversary. Both books have been labors of love for his hometown and alma mater.

Marshall spent countless hours in completing the CSC book, but said it would have been a lot more of a challenge without having the first book as a starting point. The new book didn’t require a lot of “new” research, considering Marshall had compiled the last 25 years while covering CSC news and sports. He said interviews with alumni and former employees during that time helped him build on information about the institution’s early years.

Marshall said he did his best to include information about CSC’s most important developments, and hopes that the college’s most significant history is included the book’s 240 pages. In order to meet the publisher’s guidelines, thousands of words were cut from his original manuscript. Stories submitted from alumni were not included because of space restrictions, but are being incorporated to the CSC website.

Marshall noted that he received editing and proofreading assistance from many people during the book's creation, including Dr. George Griffith, Sharon Jones, his wife Peggy and his coworkers in CSC information services.

“I often wonder if I have everything in it that needs to be there,” he said. “You hate to leave anything important out.”

Marshall said the 75^th anniversary book has been a valuable tool for him during his work the past 25 years, and he hopes the new book will be an equally helpful resource for future generations. Many are eagerly awaiting its arrival.

“This publication will stand as a lasting legacy for the centennial and serve as an invaluable resource for countless people in coming years,” said Dr. Janie Park, CSC president. “We are extremely fortunate to have someone around with Con’s writing ability and knowledge of the institution.”

The book is being printed by Donning Company Publishers of Virginia Beach, Va. Copies may be purchased in advance by downloading the order form at the centennial website, www.csc.edu/centennial.