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Mudslinging

Photo could be the grain of truth in "The Hillcrest Showers" legend

Judith “Judy” Kalbfleisch Kane (’73)

I always enjoy reading Madison, and the story in the Fall 2006 edition [the Madison Century department] about JMU’s urban legends caught my eye, in particular the one called “The Hillcrest Showers.”

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Could these “dirty Dukes,” above, be the inspiration behind an infamous Madison urban legend? Post spelunking, circa 1973, are (l-r) Stuart Mercer (’75), Bill Kane (’75), unidentified, Jeff Smith (’74) and Mike Smith (’74).

In fall 1972 I met my future husband, Bill Kane (’75). As a geology major, he and some friends enjoyed exploring the nearby caves. I was taking a photography class from Steve Zapton. I took this black and white picture when they returned to campus, just before the dining halls closed. They had no time for showers, so we all went to dinner, the guys in their muddy attire. Knowing that there is usually a grain of truth in any urban legend, it occurred to me that this could be the source of the legend of the Hillcrest Showers (a group of muddy men asking then-President Ronald E. Carrier’s wife, Edith, if they could use her shower).

Bill and I married in May 1975. He continued his education, earning master’s and Ph.D. degrees in civil engineering from Va. Tech. He taught civil engineering and engineering geology at the universities of Alabama-Huntsville, Tennessee and Pacific before starting his own engineering consulting business, KANE GeoTech Inc. in Stockton, Calif.

I graduated with a B.S. degree in biology in 1973 and received a B.S. in horticulture in 1979 from Va. Tech. I ran a small home-based herb growing business for 20 years before joining Bill as vice-president of our company.

Judy Kane (’73) with her husband, Bill (’75), in Geneva, Switzerland, in May 2006.

Judy Kane (’73) with her husband, Bill (’75), in Geneva, Switzerland, in May 2006.

P.S. In regards to another JMU myth, I remember running through the Madison tunnels one night, but encountered no murder or suicide victims.

Judith “Judy” Kalbfleisch Kane (’73)
Stockton, Calif.

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