Fairmont State University - Mound Yearbook (Fairmont, WV)

Page 10 text:

TO John Wesley Pence who, as Professor in Economics, is one of the outstanding educators in his field today, and who, as Dean of Men, is responsible to a large degree for the excellent type of male students sent forth into the world by Fairmont State Teachers College, the 1932 Mound is respectfully dedicated.

Page 12 text:

John Wesley Pence ■ ■ flp tP OHN WESLEY PENCE was born in Hamilton, 111., January 16, L897, Hi! ' youngest child in a family of six. At the early age i ' sixteen, he was graduated from Hamilton High School. He was valedictorian of his class and took part in various high school activities, including aseball and track. In the fall of 1913, he entered Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio, a Congre- gational college, from which he graduated in 1917, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree, hkiijihi cum laude. He was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and was extremely active in class and literary activities. In addition, he served as evening reference librarian in the Oberlin College library. In May, 1!)17, he enlisted in the United States Army, serving until May, 1919. He was overseas for one and a half years in Italy and France. With other members of his service unit, including Robert M. Hutchins, now presi- dent of the University of Chicago, he was awarded the Italian War Cross ( Croce cli Guerra ). In 1!)17, he married a fellow Oberlin student, Miss Helen Jones, of Sis- tersville, Y. Ya. The marriage took place November Hi, in Wheeling. To them have been horn two line young sons, Xed, aged twelve, and Hob, aged nine. Mr. Pence, recipient of the Carnegie Fellowship in International Law Award and Scholarship in Public Law, studied in Columbia University in 1917-1918. He was employed by the Cities Service Company in valuation work in Kansas City, Mo., ' and Bartlesville, Okla.. from 191!) ' to 1921. In the fall of 1921, he became head of the Department of Economics and History in Yankton College, Yankton, South Dakota, where he served until 1923. It was in this year that he received his Master of Arts degree from Oberlin College. The same year he became a member of the Department of Business Ad- ministration, Kansas City Municipal University, Kansas City, Mo., where he remained until 1920. During the summers of 1924, 1925 and L926, he was Guest Lecturer in Government in Central Missouri State Teachers College, Warrensburg, Mo. In HUM;, Mr. Pence came to what was then Fairmont State Normal School. He served as instructor until l!ll!S, when he also was s elected Dean of Men. In addition to serving as Dean of Men at this time, he is professor in Eco- nomics and Political Science and is recognized by other instructors in these fields as one of the outstanding instructors in the country. This most distinguished and versatile gentleman, of whom Fairmont State Teachers College is justly proud, is a member of the Masonic Lodge and the American Political Science Association.