Clinton High School - Clintonian Yearbook (Clinton, IA)

Page 6 text:

. ,549 For Twenty-iour Years The evening paper of january 25, 1941 carried the news of the death of W. J. Yourd. Several thousand people in the city read the announce- ment and slowly looked up from their copy of the news, thinking back through the years to the time they were in high school. Those who could remember as far back as 1917 recalled that it was the year Mr. Yourd had come to Clinton as the new principal of the high school. Then the readers counted up the years from 1917 to 1941, and found the answer to be twenty-four. Twenty-four years spent in the guid- ing of young people. Some would think this a futile effort on the part of one man, but not Mr. Yourd. To him, each new pupil was a separate Principal W. J. Yourd ' 1886 - 1941 individu l with likeable qualities which chuld be brought out in due time by patience and understanding. William John Yourd was born Jan- uary 23 vania, tl: Caroline Followi vanian ville co received He the 1886, in Pittsburg, Pennsyl- e son of William Robert and Johanna Garlow Yourd. graduation from a Pennsyl- gh school. he attended Mary- ege, Tennessee, where he his bachelor of arts degree. did graduate work at the Universlilies of Iowa, Nebraska and Chicago- From 1910 to 1913 he taught in Tennessee schools. He served as principa' of Fullerton, Nebraska high school f om 1913 to 1915, and in Hol- ridge, ebraska from 1915 to 1917.

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The IQLLI Clintonian ' Since this is a book about you students, we, the staff, have tried to include within its pages every phase of school activities at C. H. S. After you who are pictured in this yearbook have graduated from high school, this annual will serve as a permanent record of the achievements gained during four years of your education.

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. . Our AI m Mutt: Clint In He Lived, He Laughed He Uncfersl-ood On june S. 1016. Mr. Yourd was married in Fullerton, Nebraska. to Miss Nettie Sara l.a Grange. The following year the Yourds moved to Clinton where Mr. Yourd assumed his duties as principal of C. H. S. From the first year to the twenty-fourth year Mr. Yourd had the respect and admiration of the teachers. students. and parents. Because he was the father of three children, he knew and understood young people. He was regarded not only as the principal by the students. but also as a friend with whom they could chat informally, and one to whom they could take their worries and be sure of sound advice. The teachers also spoke of him not as their superior but as one of their associates. To them he was always a real person. Parents found his cooperation invaluable in the guiding of their children. Mr. Yourd possessed an inner sense of wisdom by which he could judge people for what they really were. To him sincerity was a necessity in the building of one's character. Hue set for himself highest Christian principles. and did not live his religion on Sunday only as many do. but practiced its doctrines every day of the week. All humane men, aside from having many of the characteristics of great- ness. have one quality in common-a sense of humor. Mr. Yourd possessed the droll, serious-faced type of humor that dispelled gloom in any situation. This quality endeared him even more to his teachers and students. The final services for Mr. Yourd were held in the First Congregational church. That he had an abundance of friends was evident in the crowds that filled the sanctuary. In the closing message the Reverend H. E. Harned voiced a fitting conclusion: School is out for john Yourd? No, it's just beginning. Lessons have been assigned. l'll see you tomorrow morning at 8:20, john. Ng wal. ar