Kemper Military School - Yearbook (Boonville, MO)

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I lin igttuvratirk 11 KEMPER PAST AND PRESENT HE Kemper Military School has two distinct periods iniits existence, hrst from the founding of the school in 1844 until 1885, when the military feature was added by Col. T. A. Johnston, our present superintendent, and the second period extends from that date to the present day. The military department passed through various unsettled stages until Major NV. R. Dunton took charge. His successor was Lieut. C. H. Cabannis, retired. In 1906, Col. XV. F. H. Godson came to assume the position of com- mandant. He was succeeded by our present coinmandant Capt. ul. H. Parker, of the U. S. Infantry. Ill Under skillful guidance this department has made rapid advance- ment which is due largely to the excellent period of administration it passed through in the hands of Col. Godson, who while not an infantry officer was in every respect a competent man along that line. During the past ten years the main building has been enlarged twice, a gym- nasium built, barracks erected. an electric light plant installed, 1 new athletic held graded and new rifle range built. Ill Col. Parker has taken up the work where Col. Godson left it and has added a great deal to the already established routine especially in matter of guard duty. Ill The Academic Department of the school has attained at the present time as high a standard as any preparatory school in the United States. Since record has been kept of the regular graduating class, which has been done since about 1867, there haye been about two hundred and fifty graduates, among whom are such men as Ex-Gow ernor Lon Y. Stephens of Missouri. Ex-Mayor llrown of Lincoln. Nebraska, Ex-Mayor lf. R. Taylor of San Francisco, and many promi- nent men. The department has been enlarged and made a great deal more efficient, especially since 1899 in which year came Major A. M. Hitch, our present principal. The next year saw the addition of a complete business course of which Capt. G. T. lloyce was in charge. At present Capt. A. D. llates is the head of the Commer- cial Department and has proved himself extremely efficient. The Manual Training Department has been enlarged and is now one of the best equipped in the state, under the charge of Capt. G. T. Royce. The school enrollment has doubled itself twice since 1890. A higher

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COLORS AND COLOR GUARD.

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12 'ilivmpvr ilmilitarg Svrhnnl standard is required for all instructorsg no teacher is hired that has not been through some college or university. IH' Col. T. A. Johnston is the man to whom most, if not all, of the credit is due for the high standing and efficiency of the school. He came as a student to Kemper Family School in 1869, graduating in two years with a very high standing. He was then employed by Mr. Kemper as a teacher and continued his service until 1872 when he went to the University of Missouri as a student and graduated, taking the A. B. Degree. The next year he was awarded his A. M. by the same uniyersity. Upon graduating from Missouri he retuned to Kemper and taught until the death of Mr. Kemper. March 9, 1881. He then took charge of the school in the same capacity which he holds at the present time. An old graduate if interviewed would tell you that the Colonel is the same stern military man now that he was then, a man who possesses the rare qualities of being an eager listener, of see- ing both the serious and humorous sides of life, of always abiding by the most advantageous methods, of always being eager and willing to assist in what is right and of being just in his decisions. -A STUDENT OF ENG1.1sH H.