Illinois State Normal University - Index Yearbook (Normal, IL)

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Tin mcmoriam 1 John W. Cook John Vlilliston Cook was born in Oneida County, N. Y., April 20, 18-1-1, and died in Chicago, July 15, 1922. This span of seventy-eight years is more wonderful for its progressive achievements than any other equal period of time in history, and In-obably the most significant and noblest achievement of this period was the establishment of a system of American educa- tion based upon the principle that it is a necessary function and moral duty of a free state to educate all the children of all the people by taxation of all the wealth of the state. Early in life Mr. Cook became an enthusiastic and devoted champion of public education, and to this great cause he gave his whole life with singular loyalty and almost ceaseless labor. Mr. Cook's school education ended with graduation from Normal University in 1865: 1 . but he continued his higher education all his life while in service, and niore than earned the honors of the M.A. and the LL.D. degrees which were conferred upon him. His fifty-four years of educational work were spent in three places: One year at Brimiield, twenty-four as teacher and nine as president here at Normal University, and twenty as president of the State Normal School Qnow Teachers Collegej at De Kalb. As editor, writer, lecturer, and leader in educational organizations, he exerted a wide intiuence upon the educational thought and practice of his time. Few men have rendered an educational service so long, so extensive, and so valuable in its excellence and influence. His life was a demonstration of one of his favorite ideas, namely, he that would lose his life for the common good shall save it. XYonderful paradox! A life lost in sacrifice for the common welfare thereby gains a sure and noble immortality. VVhat elements combined to make so remarkable a. personality? Space permits bare mention of only a few of his more striking traits. He was teeming with creative energy, and he loved to use his energies to produce good and reasonable results. He was a lover of justice, and had the courage of his convictions. He was ai true friend, and had he been obliged to choose between having a friend and being a friend, he would have promptly chosen to be a friend. He was a lover of peace, but if he had to tight, no knight of chivalry could boast of more valiant and honorable battle. But more than to ally other one thing, perhaps, Mr. Cook 's telling influence was due to his rare skill and power as a teacher. Many men and women under his inspiring and disciplinary touch have felt themselves liberated from the limitations of crude or erroneous thinking and expression, and started upon a. higher level of rational and ethical self-realization and social efficiency. Even at the age of seventy-eight years, a11d worn out by the increasing cares of a normal- school executive in Illinois at that time, he hoped to continue his educational work by lecturing and by writing a history of normal schools in Illinois, but a nervous breakdown came soon after he retired from the presidency of the Normal School at De Kalb in the summer of 1919. He never fully recovered, and so was unable to carry out his cherished plans for futher educa- tional work. Founders Day celebration for 1923 was in honor of Mr. Cook. Dr. C. A. McMurry, '76, and Mrs. Henrietta Pitts Martin, '98, were the leading speakers. J. Dickey Templeton, '73, and Hon. Jesse Black, '96, also spoke. President Felmley announced that a movement was well started to secure an oil painting of Ex-President Cook to place in the office. This will be a memorial gift largely from the men and women who graduated from the I. S. N. U. during the presidency of Mr. Cook. It will be an honor to the donors as well as to the man whose life it memorializes.

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DAVID FELMLEY, LL.D., L.H.D fID.B.K. K.A.H. P1'c.sidc1zt