Texas A and M University - Aggieland Yearbook (College Station, TX)

Page 11 text:

r PRESIDENT H. H. HARRINGTON. The office of President of a moderq college is one that requires oq the part of the incumbent a rare combinatioq of gifts. He must hjave administrative ability, strength of character, tact, sympathy. He rqust know meq, as well as things; f]e rqust be a reader of character, as well as of books. He must know how to plaq, and how to execute. He rqust hiave power to persuade, and power to compel. He should be a rqan of broad educatioq and of liberal views; he should have strong opinions, and yet be free frorq prejudice. He rqust be a nqaster of details; l e must know fjow to n ake the wheels go ’round. If tys college be a technological institutioq, his early training should have beeq along scientific lines. If, by heredity, he f]as a predispositioq to science, so mucf] the better. And if f e is to preside over a Texas college, it is further the opinioq of THE LONG HORN that tys birth-place should have been somewhere in that fair land that lies ‘ betweeq the Potomac and the Rio Grande. And qow that we are on record oq the gen¬ eral question of the qualifications of a President, we feel that this College is to be con¬ gratulated that the power s that be fiave found for us a maq who possesses so rqany of them. They found f]im, too, right l ere at l]ome. HENRY Hill HARRINGTON was borq December 14, 1859, in Chickasaw County, Mississippi. He is the son of the late Dr. J. T. Harrington, a successful physician, frorq whom f]e doubtless inherited a fondness for scientific studies. He was graduated iq 1883 frorq the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Mississippi, and later received tys Master’s degree iq Science frorq the same institution. Having thus set upon f]im the seal of her approval, tys Alma Mater confirmed the act by nqaking hirq Assistant Profes¬ sor of Chemistry and Physics. While engaged iq this work, Professor Harringtoq vigor¬ ously prosecuted f]is studies, and spent several summers in special work in institutions having the best facilities for work iq Analytical Chemistry. His reputatioq as a teacher and as a chemist grew apace, and when, iq 1888, the C air of Chemistry and Mineral¬ ogy in this College became vacant, the Directors, witf] a large qumber to choose from, selected Professor Harringtoq for the place. Iq 1892 h|e rqarried Miss Florine Ross, daughter of the late L. S. Ross, soldier, statesman and knightly gentleman, at that time President of the College. Iq additioq to fjis duties as Professor, f]e f]ad those of Chemist to the Experiment Statioq and, since 1899, of State Chemist. The work of l]is department was highly effi¬ cient. He insisted oq good, h[ard work. Always well prepared l imself, he expected at least 7