When World War II broke out, all the high schools and colleges went to a trimester schedule in order to help men complete education sooner and join the military. Jack finished high school in Jan 1944. He tried to enlist immediately, but was rejected on medical grounds due to his eye sight. He had already been accepted to Rice University School of Engineering and to play football, but it did not begin until Sept. he went to the newly opened Ubniversity Hof Houston to begin taking courses. In Sept he went to Rice to enroll. The Regtistrar, a "Red" McCanse, informed Jack, to his dismay, that none of the classes he had taken at U of H would be accepted by the prestiogious Rice. So he borrowed his father's car and drove the 150 miles to University of Texas. Instesd of going to the Registrats office, he went to the football coach, a man named Dana X Bible. Jack was tall and skinny but had played football at Lamar High School. The coach called the Registration office and glot him accepted to UT - with all of his transfer credits accepted. Thus he began his study of mechanical engineering. On Oct 29, 1944 his father died., His mother asked if he thought he could get through college by himself and he replied yes. He did not have as much faith as he displayed. He continued to play ball and study engineering. The next spring his grades were slipping. The Dean of the Engineering College, Mr Woolrich, called him to the office. He said that he was aware of the difficulties Jack was having at home. He peomised to help Jack get through school, but he had to withdraw from the football team because it was distracting him. So Jack did. Later two other Engineering professors also helped - Mr Short gave Jack a job grading papers, and Mr Eckhardt - the plant supervisor - gave him a job at the power plant. With this income Jack was able to complete college with a degree in mechanical engineering. Until his graduation in the spring of 1946, he shared a two room apartment over a flower shop on the main drag with a friend from high school, Tommie Whitehead and a new acquaintance, Herb Pointer. His first job was in New York City. Jack & Judy married In Feb 1947 and went to live in New York City.