Culver Military Academy - Roll Call Yearbook (Culver, IN)

Page 32 text:

the presidential inaugurations in 1913 and 1914, the Black Horse Troop, the personal escort of Vice-President Marshall, established firmly its enviable reputation. Then came the world war. Culver men — alumni, faculty and cadets — flocked to the colors. Thirteen hundred alumni and students, together with half a hundred of the faculty, participated in the gigantic struggle. Culver ' s service flag, with its fifty- five gold stars, is a mute testimony to the fact that this school teaches men to live and die for their country. With the signing of the armistice came the return of General (then Colonel) Gig- nilliat and other officers on whom the institution greatly depended. A new era of activity ensued. Two new barracks were built — Chateau-Thierry and Argonne. Con- struction was started on the Memorial Library. The old battalion gave way to the regiment. The Black Horse Troop and the Culver Battery were organized as sepa- rate units. Culver, ever in the vanguard, established an aviation school. The Culver Legion, always guarding the interests of the cadets, founded the Cadet Club of the Culver Legion from the remains of the old Service Club. In 1921, the school was honored by the visit of General Payot. On December 9 of the same year, Colonel L. R. Gignilliat was promoted to the rank of brigadier- general. This was a fitting recognition of the superintendent ' s great work in the training and education of boys. In 1922, this school was visited by General Pershing. The corps put up an excel- lent appearance, and our distinguished guest was very favorably impressed. In December of this year, the recreation building was totally destroyed by fire. This building was the scene of the commencement exercises in former years, and once had been the riding hall and home of the Black Horse Troop. Old Culver men all over the states were saddened at the destruction of a building which had once been the center of many happy events. The New . partment

Page 31 text:

with Colonels Glascock and Greiner as the keystone. Dur- ing this span of fifteen years, the carpenter shop, arsenal, gymnasium and the old riding hall were erected. In 1905, Culver won the gold medal at the Louisiana Purchase Expo- sition, and in 1906, Culver was for the first time desig- nated as an Honor School by the War Department. This year was the one in which the famous Black Horse Troop DinicMii.N hf loganspokt Gau was purchased and developed. In 1909, one of the most prominent landscape gardeners in America, aided by a tremendous budget, began the improvement of the grounds, which resulted in Culver ' s having one of the most beautiful campuses in the United States. Then the trustees decided on a Greater Culver program. In accordance with this policy, the mess hall, open air barracks, the new riding hall, the swimming pool and the administration buildings were built. In 1911, Culver suffered her second great loss when Colonel Fleet, the superin- tendent, died. Colonel Fleet was a man of great ability and was dearly beloved by the corps. Major Gignilliat became superintendent then, and today occupies that same important position. In 1914, ninety Culver cadets assisted in the saving of one thousand people during the Logansport flood. The generous townspeople of this young city showed their appreciation of this deed by presenting to the academy The Logansport Gate. At

Page 33 text:

' ' • Mk ' iiiW ' iiff ' y3lffit :i7 ' ' L ' : ' . gT ' ' ?? ' V ' ' ' ' ; w