For Dale Crawford, having hundreds of college students for neighbors is no big deal.

“Oh, we like it here, we really do,” Crawford said, referring to himself and his wife Emma May Crawford.

Crawford and his wife live at 308 Seventh St. located just west of the Horn and Markham Apartments and behind the New Living Center.

Born and raised about 12 miles west of Baldwin City, Crawford entered Baker University in 1941 where he joined the Kappa Sigma fraternity while studying to be a veterinarian. After two years, Crawford transferred to Kansas State University to finish his degree.

Crawford then moved back to Baldwin City and opened his own veterinarian practice which he owned for 25 years.

Now retired, Crawford still puts his veterinary skills to good use with the seven or eight cats that are often seen frequenting his home.

“We used to buy big, old chicken thighs to cook and feed the cats, but then one morning Emma May said the chicken bit had to stop,” Crawford said. “So, from then on I’ve just bought them cat food.”

Baker students have come to know him from his cats, too.

“Me and my friend always make a point to greet him when he’s outside with his cats,” junior Hayes Farwell said. “He’s the man, we love that guy.”

Even though Crawford lives so close to a college campus he says the noisiest thing he hears is the garbage truck.

“Oh this house is so insulated we don’t hear a thing,” Crawford said.

In addition to maintaining his home by himself, 87-year-old Crawford stays active by taking care of the 250 acres of land he owns southeast of Baldwin City.

“I go up there every morning and all I have to do is get out of the car and there’s workers saying come do this, come do that,” Crawford said.

Without any children, Crawford has pursued several hobbies including flying airplanes, making movies and collecting National Geographic magazines.

“I have every single issue since 1972, except one,” Crawford said. “For some reason I let somebody borrow it and never got it back.”

Crawford even had a job in Texas flying airplanes for a few years.

“I was always crazy about airplanes,” Crawford said. “When I was in high school I took flying lessons at Ottawa and got my pilot’s license two weeks before high school graduation.”

Crawford’s energy and generally happy demeanor has drawn attention from many Baker students.

“I’ve talked to him a couple times in passing,” junior Colter Scott said. “He’s always really kind to all of us.”