Charles F. [L.] Coughlin. (1930). In Gordon Lyon (Ed.). The Jack Rabbit. (p. 173). Brookings, SD: The Class of 1930, South Dakota State College.

***Briggs Library call number: S537 .S6A52 1930***
***The Jack Rabbit is the South Dakota State College student yearbook.***
***The complete text of this article is presented below.***

The donor, Charles F. [L.] Coughlin, of the stately and beautiful campanile now being erected on the campus of the South Dakota State College was born at Carthage, South Dakota on November 10, 1885. He completed his common and high school work at that place.

Entering the South Dakota State College in the fall of 1905, he graduated from the course in Electrical Engineering in June, 1909. While in college he held high rank as a student and belonged to the "you show me" type that does not accept a statement as true because apparently made be accepted authority. This characteristic of thinking for himself and having to be shown the facts undoubtedly has been of real value to him in his remarkable business career.

Mr. Coughlin had a natural love for sports and during his college days was one of the very best athletes that ever attended State College. He starred in football, basketball, track and baseball. This love of sport still remains and each Hobo Day finds him an interested spectator as well as an enthusiastic fan for the team representing his Alma Mater.

In March, 1910, he started to work for the Briggs-Stratton Co. of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, little dreaming of his future close connection with that company. The following September he went to Purdue University and was an instructor in Mechanical Engineering until June of the following year. From Purdue he returned to the Briggs-Stratton Co. and remained until September, 1918, when he went to the Ladish Drop Forge Co. at Cudahy, Wisconsin, as its General Manager. His management of the affairs of this company was an outstanding success. He remained with them until called back in August, 1922, to the Briggs-Stratton Co. as its Vice-President, Treasurer and General Manager. He added new vitality to the company and under his management its growth has been almost phenomenal.

State College, its faculty, students and friends are proud of this successful and loyal alumnus. A letter from him says, "I forget what the Campanile was going to cost when we started and I am sure we are going to forget what it costs when it is finished if it pleases my old friends and does some good for the student body." A noble sentiment expressed with no thought of being quoted.

Every friend of State College joins in sincere thanks to Mr. Coughlin for this outstanding mark of his generosity, thoughtfulness and affection for his Alma Mater.

Note: Mr. Coughlin's middle initial was erroneously indicated as "F" in this 1930 Jack Rabbit tribute. Charles L. Coughlin was his name.

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