University of Central Oklahoma - Bronze Book Yearbook (Edmond, OK)

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r BRONTE President Thatcher — a gentleman of great energy, marked ability, more than average scholarship and high ideals — felt it his dut to resign at the close of that session because of poor health, and former State Superintendent of Public Instruction in Kansas, George W. Winans, was elected as his successor. Mr. Tatcher, however, remained as professor of mathematics. President Winans ' term only lasted one year and he was followed by Professor Wil- liams of Texas, who resigned at the close of the session of 1894-95. Naturally, such frequent changes operated to the serious disadvantage of the school. In July of that year Edmund Dandridge Murdaugh succeeded to the pres- idency, holding that office for seven years Upon his accession the faculty was enlarged, the Course of study re-or- ganized, the campus laid out, trees set, and the wings to the original building erected. Si ion the school was known far and wide for its high standards, strong faculty, thorough scholarship and excellent training. Naturally this redounded its advantage. Upon his resignation president after president came, the school gradually enlarging and extending its influence as the territory — later the state — de- veloped. The summer term, first opened in the territory, was extended both in time and in curriculum and thousands filled the halls where only a few years before hundreds had worked and studied. The Legislature abolished the original quarter-mill levy, always a varying amount, made larger and definite appropriations more nearly commensurate with the needs of the school, added new buildings, placed it under the charge of the newly instituted Board of Education instead of a small board of regents, and the name was changed to Central State Normal School — five other similar institutions having been created meanwhile. Edmond, the seat of the school, grew in the meantime from a prairie vil- lage of five hundred or six hundred to a city of the first class, and today embraces within its limits not les than four thousand inhabitants with palatial homes excellent public schools and beautiful churches. Today Central is known throughout the educational circles of the union for its high standards, splendid ideals, strong faculty, thousands of alumni, po- tent influence and tremendous enrollment, ranking in the last respect among the two or three largest Normal Schools ,,f our country. Its graduates by thousands have filled places o1 honor and trust as lawyers, physicians, min- isters of the gospel, members of the legislature, as business men and as state builders in every walk of life, especially as teachers in district schools, as city and county superintendents, principals and heads of departments in hign schools and even as professors in universities. L Ele ii I920 2 J

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