Gustavus Adolphus College - Gustavian Yearbook (St Peter, MN)

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,M v aff M f 41. Ll, ,:,- 1 . A r ff 1 i'7i e I VF gg. f W V li.-'if ,. ' ' i J, ' The famous bust of Gustavus Adolphus a replzca o which stands in the college triangle was executed zn Nuremberg in 1632 by the German sculptor Hans van der Putt. AZIN G out from College Hill into the valley, where the languid Minnesota flows on to its rendezvous with the Mississippi, stands the bronze bust of a regally garbed man. As befits a conqueror, he wears a crown of laurel. In the granite pedestal on which he rests are in- scribed the words, NGUSTAVUS ADOLPH US, 1594 - 1632 Long ago his eyes beheld less tranquil sights - the storm and strife of war - soldiers armed with pikes and swords struggling hand to hand - the shock of charging men on horse-back - the smoke of muskets and cannon hanging like a pall over dead and dying men. Today they view a peaceful college campus far from the scenes of his triumphs. Fresh-faced students, not soldiers and statesmen, surround him now. They scurry by, books under arm, or tarry to chat. For some, his tiny nook is a trysting place. They call themselves Gusties', and, in the casual fashion of students, refer to him affectionately as Old Gus, ignoring the chronological fact that, even at the time of his death, he was not old. His place on the campus in an atmosphere of culture and learning is ap- propriate. He was always a vigorous exponent of education, regarding it as the life-blood of any nation. During his reign the present school system of Sweden was established. It was he who breathed new life into the University of Uppsala by initiating educational reforms and undergirding it with his gift of the hereditary Gustavian estates. 2

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DEDICATION CARL E. SJOSTRAND RAND and most distinguished was the career of Carl Evald Sjostrand in the service of Gustavus Adolphus College. When he departed this life on March 16, 1961, one of the longest careers in the history of the College came to a close. His entire life had been de- voted to Christian Higher Education. After graduating from the Gustavus School of Commerce in 1904, he taught at Luther College, Wahoo, Ne- braska, for two years, for fifteen years he was associated with North Star College, Warren, Minnesota, serving as its president from 1916-23. In that year he became Treasurer and Business Manager of Gustavus Adolphus College. He held both positions until 1943, continued on as Treas- urer until 196O and served, during the last year and a half, as Assistant to the President. He had major responsibility in every fund-raising effort for the Col- lege within the Church during all that time. The total funds raised un- der his supervision approaches two million dollars. Among the present facilities of the College for which he would have to be given a large measure of credit are the present Student Union, the Library, and the College Church. It is appropriate that the cross on the top of the Spire has been made a memorial to him. No one has contributed more to plant- ing the Cross on that lofty eminence. He was an active and dedicated lay worker in the Church - in his own congregation, in the Churchmen's organization, and in the Church at large. He was everybody's friend, not least the friend of those who had had to reckon with his exacting demands. One of the most remarkable things about him was the way in which the general public's apprecia- tion of him and his services continued to grow year after year. He was a careful and able administrator, with meticulous care for details and with his goals and objectives always clear. WVC salute the memory of a great and good man, who knew that his first loyalty was to his Lord, who drew heavily on the resources of grace and power available to the man of faith, and who served his Lord by faithful service to his fellowmen. Edgar M. Carlson 4