Degrees from U. of Hard Knocks a Matter of Success

--The university in Philippi, W. Va., has some unusual requirements. Degree candidates never have to take a written test or attend a lecture. Instead, the 45 people about to be honored by the University of Hard Knocks must have succeeded in life without benefit of a college degree. And, another departure from academic tradition: The “students” at next weekend’s commencement will be waited upon by the presidents of colleges in the state, including Marshall University, West Virginia Wesleyan and Salem College, according to local publisher Jim Comstock, founder of the “university.” “I’m sure it’s going to be a ball,” said Marshall President Dale Nitzschke, one of those who have agreed to wait tables at the graduation. “I’m really looking forward to it.” Nitzschke has a doctorate, but he said he supports the program because it “shows there is another way to succeed.” Hard Knocks alumni include U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater (R-Ariz.), Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) and the late Ray Kroc, developer of the McDonald’s restaurant chain. All of them trooped to Philippi in past years to receive their degrees. This year’s graduation-day speaker, Chicago millionaire W. Clement Stone, didn’t make it through high school. Graduates pay a single “tuition” fee of $100 and annual dues of $25.

--What do you get when you combine television exercise personality Richard Simmons and 2,000 exercise fanatics? An entry in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest outdoor aerobics exercise class, of course. Simmons, who led the one-hour workout at the opening of a $12-million health-care center in suburban Englewood, Colo., is on a tour promoting his new book for handicapped people, “Reach for Fitness: A Special Book of Exercises for the Physically Challenged.” “Aerobics can lengthen the lives of the physically challenged, just like everyone else,” Simmons said. Nina Bondarook, vice president of Del Calzo & Associates, who staged the assault on the world record, said: “It looks like we’ve set a record, but the certification process will take a couple of weeks.”

--You’ve probably heard of homing pigeons, but what about a homing car? Margaret Henderson left her 1980 Oldsmobile running at the curb as she delivered some tomato plants to a friend who lives a block away in Detroit. The car apparently slipped into reverse and took off, continued backing along the street and through an intersection, but missed other cars. The Olds finally came to a stop by hitting a tree in front of the house where it started. “Everybody thinks it’s a miracle,” Henderson said.