Central Methodist University - Ragout Yearbook (Fayette, MO)

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N69T',,k A 1 A ,,!' fif4Sm X K X f A my QR A i ' i A G V553 A a In memory or my E Professor william D. Koo Q Y fl. m. r u V 3 - HMMMMMIAIAB Bonn IN CALLAWAY COUNTY, mlssoum 1855 . DIED IN COLUMBIA, Mlssounl, MARCH 2 1903 1 . EMBER OF CENTRAL COLLEGE FACULTY 1895-190 fn- Y Q Y 4 r YYY ix : li! y - K When the telegram was re- ceived announcing the death of Prof. Key the Faculty and stu- dents held meetings and after passing resolutions and suspend- ing all regular college exercises arranged for representation at the funeral. Professors Smith, Webb, Baskett and lWillar, and students, VV. J. Osborn and VV. DI. Alexander took the train for Columbia and Were present when the last sad rites were performed. The quiet service at the home of Dr. E. A. Allen Was con- . ow, ducted by the lllethodist pastor, Rev. S. P. Cresap, assisted by Rev. F. lllarvin and Rev. A. C. lVfillar. ' The pall bearers were mem- bers of the faculty of the State University. Beautiful 'flowers from faculty and students of Central College were significant of his character and their love. The following tributes from colleagues and friends present a true picture of his life and char- acter. -

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English, won ample recognition and was adopted by strong schools. As a teacher of English and Modern Languages in secondary school and in college' he ranked deservedly high. He had all the qualifica- tions of ga great teacher. He knew his sub ect thoroughly. He pre- sented it enthusiastically and forcibly. He loved his students and in- spired them with confidence in himself and interest 'in their work. So patient, so helpful, so tactful was he that the indifferent student was stimulated, the weak student strengthened, and the good student car- ried to the mountain top. . A A diligent student, and accurate scholar, a strong writer, and an in- spiring teacher, William H. Key was first and above everything else a noble man and a Christian gentleman. Tender and gentle as a woman he was the embodiment of true courage. With keen insight he an- alyzed character and understood motive. With his delicately sensitive nature he felt the injury without harboring momentary resentment. The soul of honor, he inspired others to respect him and to raise their moral standard., Sympathetic but not effusive, he bound ,men-by the genuineness of his interest. By judicious criticism he helped his stu- dents and friends to ust conceptions of themselves. By discriminating praise and recommendation he secured merited recognition for others without seeking it for himself. A Deliberately refusing tempting of- fers, he stood by his friends at the post of duty. Deeply philosophical and rigidly exacting in his demands upon the evidences of religion, he satisfied himself concerning the foundations of Christian faith and then rested implicitly on the living Christ. Tolerant of others he held himself firmly to a high standard of creed and life. . During the last year with the shadow of death daily drawing nearer he was cheerful and took a wholesome interest in the world about him. VVhen a few months before the end he was informed of his physician's opinion that his malady was incurable, he calmly expressed his readi- ness to go, but loving his friends and his work he resolutely fought the destroyer and with any vantage ground would have won. A braver fight for life I have never seen. When the final summons came he lay down as if for pleasant slumber and his ripened soul came into its inheritance. A ' I Born in 1855, near Fulton, Callaway county, securing his educa- tion in local schools and in Central College and Johns Hopkins Uni- versity, receiving the A. lVI. degree from Central, he was engaged in teaching, in Tennessee before finishing his college course, later in Neosho Collegiate Institute, then seven years as vice-president and 1 7 A