Georgia Southern University - Reflector Yearbook (Statesboro, GA)

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and girls now useful citizens of several states. Some of the most useful men and women in Georgia today are graduates of our school during those years. T could ni it close this record without giving due recognition to the men who made my administration and the school possible. No school ever had a nobler or more unselfish Board of Trustees than ours. As president of the board, Hon. J. Randolph Anderson of Savannah never failed the school. Eve was truly the school ' s best friend. His board members were, lion. S. L. Moore of Statesboro, Dr. W. F. Peacock of Vidalia, Hon. J. R. Miller of Statesboro, Hon. Ben Alex- ander of Reidsville, Hon. J. 11. Evans of Sylvania, and Hon. A. W. Palmer of Millen. I can newer forget these men. they made possible the education of hun- dreds of farmer boys and girls in that good school. In addition to thorough training and valuable discipline our school by real ex- periment work in scientific farming did splendid work. )ur boys on the farms actually learned -oils and plant life and plant food. They actually bred corn, cotton, and other crops and saw proof of its value. It revolutionized farming in Georgia- I mean those district Agricultural and Mechanical Schools and the State College at Athens. They produced results needed at that period of Georgia history. I could write pages, but space prohibits. May heaven smile upon the school in its new and large field of work. E. C. J. Dickens, Lake City, Florida.

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PIONEER YEARS 1909 to 1914 ODESTLY stated hut my active connection w ith the First District Agricul- i J- tural and Mechanical School dates hack three years prior to my election as president of the school itself. Governor Joseph M. Terrell had promised Georgia to establish an Industrial or Farm School in each congressional district. 1 had a newspaper at Vidalia, which was in truth an educational defender. The legislature was slow to pass the hill in 1906. At Governor Terrell ' s request I made a speech before the joint com- mittee of the two houses. The bill later became a law. The Governor did me the kindness to name me a member of the first Board of Trustees. The spirit of the great men of Statesboro and Bulloch count v led to a gift of buildings and lands. We opened the school by wisely electing that scholar, patriot, and C hristian gentleman, J. W alter Hendricks, as the first principal. 1 ever held Professor Hendricks in highest esteem and as years have gone by I honor him more and more. His work was pioneer work. It was difficult to get a faculty trained for that special work, but he succeeded. It was more difficult to get a desirable student body. Designed for the farmer boys and girls the parents too often said, You cannot teach my boy how to farm or my daughter home econom- ics any better than 1 can. There was the problem. But the school did. Professor Hendricks called to his assistance real men and women whose worth and high character I shall cherish to my last days. Pardon my naming a few. [ want to place flowers before those go to their graves. Three great teachers, Professor Frank M. Rowan (who succeeded myself). I never knew a truer teacher than Rowan. The same is true of Otto T. Harper. Then a noble woman and I pause to pay her just tribute for her work among the girls in home economics. I refer to Miss Estelle Bazemore, who is today a national character in her field. These three worked with Professor Hendricks and with me during my stay from 1909 to 1914. Growth came before the state ever provided enough cash to support a school of any size. I was called to the presidency unexpectedly following the resignation of Professor Hendricks. By 1910 students came in such numbers that it taxed our capacity, faculty, and funds. We had to enlarge without due financial pro- vision. Noblv my faculty toiled with me. The size and character of the student body was a joy to me in my increasing labors. I thank God today for my boys

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REMINISCENCES OF THE FIRST DISTRICT A. M. SCHOOL, STATESBORO, GEORGIA The Period 1915 to 1920 MY FIRST thought of teaching at the First District A. M. School was when Dr. EC. G. Matheson, President of Georgia Tech, wrote to me at Jonesboro, Tennessee, w here 1 was superintending a cotton mill, asking if I would be available for a position at Stateshoro. Replying affirmatively. Professor J. . Hendricks visited me and I was engaged to teach mathematics and mechanics. On a cold, blustery, wintry daw January I, 190X, Mr. Hendricks met me at the depot in the surrey. When we drove out to the school I looked over the poor sand hill with scrub oak and pine bushes growing on it and was not particu- larly impressed. The school grounds were unkept, and the fields beyond had num- bers of recently pulled pine stumps scattered over them. School opened February 5, rcjoS with fifteen students in attendance. We had with us at this opening the Hoard of Trustees and many of the influential people of the town and county. Classes started the next day with Mr. Hendricks teach- ing English and physics; Mr. Harper agriculture, chemistry, and biology; Miss Josephine Schiffer, home economics; and my subjects were mathematics and mechanics. During vacation 1 was given a mule and buggy and started out on a canvassing trip for students. My territory was part of Bulloch, all of Screven, Effingham, Chatham, and Bryan counties. We had no pre-arranged plans but 1 ju c t drove through the country asking for boys and girls that were prepared for the sixth grade and above. I spent the night where dusk found me. Every one was hos- pitable and I look back with a great deal of pleasure n those evenings spent in these homes. The fall term opened in September with a creditable enrollment. Several new teachers had been added to our faculty. Literary societies were organized. The Training Home was established where girls were taught to cook, keep house, and entertain. This training was continued until 1920. The method of punishment in those days was one hour ' s work for one demerit and this usually meant one stump dug by hand for the boys for each hour. The penalty for smoking was five hours. Mr. Hendricks resigned at the end of the first school year and Mr. E. C. J. Dickens, a member of the Board of Trustees, was elected to take his place. We regretted to see Mr. Hendricks leave as he was held in high esteem by his teachers and students. Mr. Dickens immediately started an advertising campaign in the papers of the district for students, and consequently the fall term of 1909 opened with an increased attendance. Many students were given jobs around the school to help pay their way. For six years I had charge of the boys ' dormitory and the discipline connected