Auburn University - Glomerata Yearbook (Auburn, AL)

Page 17 text:

 Qreater Auburn means Qreater Alabama The dream of a Greater Auburn which has been so long cherished with apparently such little promise of realization, now bids fair to be attained. As a result of the Campaign conducted for a million dollar fund for new buildings and equipment at the Alabama Polytechnic Institute, indications are now that the people of Alabama are ready to give Auburn greater support than the institution has ever enjoyed in the past. The first fruits of the subscriptions secured during the Greater Auburn Campaign are apparent in the form of the Charles Coleman Thach dormitory costing slightly more than $100,000.00 now being constructed across the campus from the .Main Building. The second result will be the construction of the Erskine Ramsay Engineering Hall, which will cost a minimum of $200,000 and possibly as much as $300,000.00 for the building alone. $50,000.00 In new equipment for the Engineering Department has already been received. Approximately $700,000.00 has been subscribed in the campaign and other structures will be added as funds from this source become available through the payment of the pledges from time to time in the future. But what is considered of even greater benefit to the college than the money already secured and to be paid in on pledges in the future is the creation of a strong sentiment throughout the State for a Greater Auburn through state taxation. The people of Alabama, thanks to the remarkably successful campaign of publicity conducted in connection with the campaign, have come to realize that Auburn Is one of the greatest assets of the State, not alone in educational lines but as the leader in training Alabama boys and grls to develop the industrial and agricultural resources. Never in Auburn’s history has the institution been so popular and never have the people been so determined to see that it has the proper support to enable it to do the work it can for the advancement of the State. The Campaign was launched in January 1922 after the preliminary financing had been guaranteed in Auburn and Opelika. John V. Denson. President of the Auburn Alumni Association took an active part in assisting President Dowell in getting the townspeople and those connected with the college to make up this fund which was necessary before the campaign could be launched. Chas. F. DeBardeleben, one of the most prominent and successful of the Auburn Alumni, accepted the position of General Chairman of the Campaign and has held that position since the Campaign began. The driving power and enthusiasm, together with the great executive ability of Mr. DeBardeleben. have been the greatest factors in the success of the movement. In recognition of his service to Auburn, the Alumni unanimously elected him President of the Association at the annual meeting at Commencement, 1922. Former Governor B. B. Comer, a true and tried friend of Auburn, served throughout the campaign as Honorary Chairman and in addition gave $10,000.00 in cash to the fund. The most successful feature of the campaign was very favorable publicity given the Alabama Polytechnic Institute. All the newspapers of the State rendered assistance in this cause, but Victor H. Hanson. Publisher of the Birmingham News, and his newspaper belongs the credit of having set a pace never before equalled in Alabama. Mr. Hanson not alone startled the State with a page editorial and two pages of news matter in one issue, all without cost to Auburn, but he rendered valuable aid in soliciting subscriptions of others. He also gave to Auburn the Birmingham News broadcasting station, the finest radio outfit in the South, and one of the most powerful in use within the United States. To Mr. Erskine Ramsay. Birmingham capitalist, engineer, inventor and philanthropist belongs the honor of having given to Auburn the largest single gift ever made to a state institution in Alabama. The donation of $100,000.00 which was matched by Alumni and friends of the college with a like amount, making $200,000.00, will be used in constructing an engineering hall at Auburn to cost a minimum of $200,000.00. which the trustees will call Erskine Ramsay Engineering Hall. [15]

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DR. SPRIGIIT DOWKLL. President of Aibikn. Since assuming I In Presidency of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute two years ago. he has launched a bold campaign for a Greater Auburn, which has the united support of all the Alumni and friends of higher education in Alabama. He has enhanced the prestige of the Alabama Polytechnic Institute, and has united the Alumni into a militant, working organization. 1141

Page 18 text:

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