Kansas State University - Royal Purple Yearbook (Manhattan, KS)

Page 16 text:

Our President ERNEST R. XICHOLS is a native of New England. He was born in the town of Farmington, Connecticut, Init while yet a youth moved to Iowa where he received his education in the schools of the state. He obtained his first degree, that of Bachelor of Didactics, from the State Normal. After this he taught a few years, then entered the State University from which he graduated in 1887 with the degree of Bachelor of Science. After his graduation he became an instructor in mathematics at the University, which position he held until 1890, when he accepted the Professorship of Physics at K. S. A. C. Upon the resignation of President Thos. E. Will he was selected as Acting Presi- dent, and later, in 1899, became President. At the time President Nichols assumed control K. S. A. C. was small and practically unknown even within the borders of the state. Politics had dominated its government and had played a large part in the choosing of the board of instruction. The College had for years been suffering from want of funds and in general it was a crippled institution in several ways, of which the President took charge in 1899. A look backward over the ten years since that time shows a wonderful development. The College has grown by leajxs and bounds. The enrollment has almost been trebled. Building upon building has been added to the city on the hill, until today K. S. A. C. is the foremost college of its kind in the world. We do not mean to be understood as attributing all this wonderful growth to President Nichols, but a good share is due to his guidance and wise foresight. The extent of his incessant labor, of the trials and diffi- culties which he encountered and the patience and forbearance required will perhaps never be known. He was always in sympathy with and encouraged all worthy student enterprises, and although his finnness in what he believed to l)e the right in his dealings with students often brought the latter to grief, it was all for the best in the end. President Nichols ' resignation, which was tendered to the Board of Regents a year ago, will take effect July 1, 1909. It is probable that he will be asked to remain for at least a year longer. Whether or not he will remain the class of ' 09 have only the kindliest feelings and deejjest regard for their President under whose supervision they s]ient four of the happiest vears of their lives.