Birmingham Southern College - Southern Accent Yearbook (Birmingham, AL)

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PRESIDENT RUSH Qg ' RESIDENT Chark-s Andrew Hush was liorn in Macon County, Alabama, fl] B W n October 31, 1862. His father being an itinerant Methodist preacher, Charles WjS received his ])rimary education in the schools available in the places where KBs= C::J the jireacher ' s home was located. At the age of seventeen he entered Qs ? a 3 .Southern I ' niversity. A year and a half later he was forced to withdraw from college on account of a lack of funds. Returning in the latter half of the session of 1884-5 he received the A. H. degree from this institution in June, 188(i. He did most of the work for the A. M. degree subsequently, while a student in graduate work. In 1910 the degree of D. D. was conferred by his Alma Mater. While in college he was a mendjer of the Belles I.ettres literary society and of the Sigma Epsilon fraternity. He was also one of the founders of the S. I ' , monthly, the Review and Bulletin. In January, 1887, he was married to Miss Rosalind Roebuck of Birmingham. Previous to his marriage Dr. Rush was, in 188.5, admitted to the Alabama Annual ' Conference. Since that time he has filled idl kinds of a]i])ointnients in the bomids of the Conference. iVlthough most of his life has been spent in the active ministry. President Rush is not without experience as an educator. For two years — 1891- ' 94 — he was President of the Montgomery District High School, with notable success. During the past twenty years, while active in the jiastorate and presiding eldership, he has been a positive factor in the work and policy of Southern University as a member of its Board of Trustees. On August 3, IQH, Dr. Rush was elected President of S. U. He has taken hold of this new field of work with an experienced hand. As a college president. Dr. Rush exhibits a many sidedness that makes him partic- ularly fitted for his position. He is a keen observer of human nature, and his understand- ing of student life makes him an appreciative sympathizer and a kindly adviser to all with whom he comes in contact. Dr. Rush contends that he is not a member of the faculty and consequently feels a deep sympathy for the unfortunate student who incurs the ire of that terrible conclave. Southern University is indeed to be congratulated in obtaining, for her executi ' e head, a man so well fitted for the position and so able to place her among our leading educa- tional institutions, where she of a right belongs. AVith President Rush at the helm the future is extremely bright for the college. 14

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I{ Al.l ' .Klll V. GKKENE. U.S., B.O. I ' riiicipiil Fittiiin- School. B, S., Aulmrii, 1S )2; 1!. O., Mii(kTl ' .iU, 1890; liistnictdi- : l )iitgoincry Oi.strict Iligli School, lH!)l- )j; Kiifnuhi District High School, 1903-04; Principal Sinitherii I ' liivcisity Fitting School, 1911— W. Cl.AUliNCE WU.lUliX, A.B. First Assistiiiit in S. U. Fitting School. A. B.. Southern University. 1910; President of Monndville High School; Professor in S. U. F. S., 1913— .Mri ' FOUU .M. .MATllKWS. Second Assistant S. I ' . l ' itting Scliool. A. 1?.. Southern I ' niversily, 191.J. 13

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CLASS OF 1861 From Joseph Atkinson, A.M., M.D., Class of 1861: The old live in the past. See the aged eteran as he luiUs on the steep declivity of time witli JKilf averted face reading the volume of life liackward like a Hebrew book. Is it any v. ' onder your corres])ondent asks himself ' Where are the friends of my youth? ' The echo comes ba:ck from the voiceless grave- yards of Tennessee and the silent burying grounds of Virginia. I have been in active practice forty-nine years and am in my seventy-sixth year. J. Atkinson. J. ATKINSON W. J. Spillman, San Antonio, Tex. One of the two oldest living alumni, born in 1841. He writes: As you will see from the catalogue there were only two who had degrees conferred in the Class of 1861, Joe Atkinson and my.self. The last time I heard from him, lie was prac- ticing medicine in Louisiana. He married a Greensboro lady the day after we received onr diplomas, and I had the pleasure of attending his marriage. He survived the war. . bout two weeks after graduating, I joined the 2nd Ala- bama Regiment and served with it until its en- listment expired, re-enlisting tlie following spring with the 35th Mississippi Regiment and served with it in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi until the war closed. I was wounded at the battle of Corinth and captured after the siege of Vicksburg. My life since has been devoted to school work in Mississipjii and Texas, serving as President or filling chairs in various institutions. Three years since, owing to increasing age and jihysical infirmity, T retired from work. ' i(h best wishes, W. J. SHII.LMAN. W. J. SPILLMAN 17