Fort Hays State University - Reveille Yearbook (Hays, KS)

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William A. Lewis, B. S., A. B. f LL. D. President Head of the Kansas State Teachers College since 1914

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W. Y. Morgan, Hutchinson, Chairman B. C. Culp, Beloit C. M. Harger, Abilene C. B. Merrtam, Topeka G. S. Spencer, Sedan E. W. Evans, Wichita M. G. Vincent, Kansas City Mrs. J. S. Patrick, Satanta W. E. Ireland, Yates Center Hays Teachers College HE history of Hays Teachers College, preceded by fifty years of JL struggle for possession of the plains, has not always been a story of uninterrupted progress. We are now harvesting where brave pioneers have sown. The annals of the past contain the names of many men who have written the stirring history on these Western Kansas Plains. Their names and romances are the priceless traditions of this School. Old Fort Hays was one of the line of military posts established soon after the Civil War to protect construction camps of the Union Pacific Railroad and the pioneers who had pushed their way westward. It was first located on Big Creek about fifteen miles southeast of the present location and it was then called Fort Fletcher. A disastrous flood destroyed the Post in June, 1867. There are many visible marks of this old fort that can still b e seen. The building foundations, rifle pits, and barbecue ovens are easily traced. After the destruction of this fort a higher site was selected where two buildings still remain, about one mile south of the present city of Hays. Hays was founded in 1867 and its industrial and social interests were intimately bound up with the life of the Fort. The Fort Hays Military Post was abandoned in 1889 and various plans were suggested for the disposal of the land comprising the reserva- tion. Homesteaders realized its value and were anxious to file on it, but the far-sighted pioneer saw a better future for this ground and suggested that it be used for public purposes. Finally in March, 1900, an act was passed by congress granting the land to the state to be used for a State Normal School, an experiment station for the Agricultural College, and a public park. The Normal School was started in 1902 with William S. Picken as principal and two teachers. Since that time the faculty has increased to fifty-seven members. Dr. William Alexander Lewis succeeded Picken in August, 1913, and is still guiding the destinies of Our School. Page 13

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Calling to the Students HE power of forts and regiments was required to control A the haughty, stern-spirited Red Man. Fort Hays is our re- minder of the unconquerable spirit which ruled the Plains. It is fitting and proper that the land, which once served the nation’s soldiers as a home while they were winning the Plains for cultiva- tion, should now serve the State of Kansas in educating her young men and women to live a life of high service and happy citizenship. The Fort Hays Kansas Normal School is surrounded with a halo of tradition. Men whose indomitable spirit made them the heroes of our nation, have tramped over our campus and bivouacked on the banks of our lake, and have cooked their meager meals on camp-fires replenished from our woods. Their spirits are calling in bugle-notes to our boys and girls. Their example sets before us a lesson of superb courage, of true comradeship, of clean lives, of unselfish devotion to their people, to their state, and to their nation. The senior has marched on the parade-grounds of unconquerable spirits, has picnicked on the camp-ground of indomitable warriors, has breathed the air of the Plains expanse, and has the same field of vision over which have looked the greatest men of our nation. With such a heritage and such a presence, the senior and the alumnus must live a life of splendid service and the undergraduate has for his goal a life of high ambition.” The above quotation was written by President Lewis to the students of 1914. The same facts apply to the K. S. T. C. student of today. We are proud of our Alma Mater and its heritage. Page IS 2b