Bruno E. Jacob

Class of 1922: National Forensic League

The National Forensic League, now called the National Speech and Debate Association, was founded on the Ripon College campus in 1925. It is the nation’s oldest and largest high school debate and speech honor society, encouraging and motivating students to participate in and become proficient in the forensic arts: debate, public speaking and interpretation.

Bruno Ernst Jacob, Class of 1922, and later a longtime assistant professor of speech at Ripon College, founded the League. The first national tournament was held at Ripon College in 1931, with 49 schools from 17 states competing. The association has since enrolled more than 1.4 million members representing all 50 states, U.S. territories and several foreign countries.

Jacob was born Sept, 9, 1899, in Valders, Manitowoc County, Wisconsin. “Forensic interest (was) the chief consideration in choosing my college and so I came to Ripon,” he said. “We had at the time a brilliant coterie of forensic luminaries whose association made the work extremely worthwhile and a source of lasting friendships.” They included actor Spencer Tracy, Class of 1924.

Jacob earned his degree in economics and was an active student debater. He was one of the first graduates to be commissioned a second lieutenant through Ripon’s ROTC program. As a student, he created a handbook, “Suggestions for the Debater,” which led to the founding of the National Forensic League.

He received a master’s degree in speech from the University of Denver. He taught social studies and coached debate at Chippewa Falls High School in Wisconsin before returning to Ripon College as an assistant professor of speech. From 1930 until his retirement in 1969, he worked closely with the Committee on Discussion and Debate of the National University Extension Association and with the T.M. Association Committee to promote the growth of speech and debate across the country.

As a teacher, he was described in the Crimson: “Quiet and seldom seen around the campus, Prof. Jacob is still one of the best-known speech instructors in the Midwest.”

In 1950, he committed full time as executive secretary of the National Forensic League, directing it for three years with only office help from Ripon College students and his family, then adding a full-time staff member in 1953. He retired in 1969 after serving the League for 43 years. He was one of the first members inducted into the association’s Hall of Fame in 1978.

He received Ripon’s Distinguished Alumni Citation in 1972.

He was well-traveled, visiting every county in every state, all the Western European countries, Australia, New Zealand and Africa.

He died Jan. 5, 1979, at age 79.