Fairmont State University - Mound Yearbook (Fairmont, WV)

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Mrs. Emory F. McKinney Librarian Library Science, West Virginia University; Assistant Librarian, West Virginia Unversity, 1912 ; Fairmont Public Library, 1912-13 ; Pres- ent position since September, 1913. 28

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Aubrey W. Martin Public School Music Student West Virginia Conference Seminary, Buckhannon, W. Va., 1903 ; Graduate Music Department, Broaddus Institute, Clarksburg, W. Va., 1906 ; Artist pupil of Joseph-Baernstein Regneas ; Concert and recital season, 1907; Superintendent Simpson District Schools, 1909-1910; Pres- ent position since April 1, 1911. 27

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Miss Mary Coplin To write a tribute to Miss Coplin is diffi- cult; for, to catch and note the characteristics of any individual, is not easy ; but to catch and note the qualities that distinguish a fine spirit, is al- most impossible. Then, too, Miss Coplin would not wish for the worn phrases or the fulsome flat- tery that we so often use to honor those who have left us. Miss Coplin had had unusual preparation for her work of teaching English. In a very real sense, it began in her home; for her home was one where books, and the things of the spirit, were a part of the daily life. This work of prep- aration was continued by means of preparatory school work at Broaddus, undergraduate college work at the State University, and graduate work at Columbia University. At Columbia she re- ceived the degree of A.M. in 1909, and was far along the road toward the Ph.D. degree. In addi- tion to unusual scholastic attainments, Miss Coplin brought to her work in the Normal School, the experience gained from several years of teaching; for she had held similar positions in the Mannington High School, the Morgantown High School and the Glenville Normal School. Some of the other qualities that distin- guished Miss Coplin can only be mentioned. She read widely and thoughtfully in her own field of English, and in many other fields of knowledge. She hated sham and show and superficiality, and knew these when she met them. Her mind, too, was one that saw the good in people, books and life, without missing the bad, and saw the bad in these without missing the good. Finally, Mis3 Coplin was a teacher who did influence her stu- dents for good, not by trying to be popular, but by silently living the best, from day to day, and appealing to the best in her students. When many of us, who were her colleagues, have become little but a remembered name to those we taught, Miss Coplin ' s example will be a growing, living force, felt in all their lives. Very unexpected by most of her friends came Miss Coplin ' s death, just before the opening of the present school year. With breaking hearts, her family and friends buried her near the home of her childhood, and thus there went from us one whose life was infinitely worth while to have lived and to have known. mm scam 29