Mississippi College - Tribesman Yearbook (Clinton, MS)

Page 8 text:

BetitcatetJ to 3foljn ISfttlltam Jkoliine rofepbor of Natural £g ctenceb in jHi.00i.0£ippi College a nian of practical tnisbom ; a teacljer, feinb anb 0 pmpati)etic ; a true frienb of tlje btubent; anb a Christian gentleman

Page 10 text:

JOHN WILLIAM PROVINE, Ph. D. by Pres. W. T. Lowrey. IS splendid specimen of strong, scholarly, efficient manhood, was born in Calhoun County, Mississippi, on the 1 9th day of June, in the year of 1 866. His father. Col. R. N. Provine, was one of the bravest and truest of the gallant Confederate soldiers who sacrificed much and risked every- thing during the dark days of the Civil War. Col. Provine is now one of the most successful and prosperous farmers in the South, and the sturdy subject of this sketch enjoyed the unspeakable advantage of being reared on the farm by a father who believed in industry, system and honor from the depth of his soul. With the best blood in his veins, excellent native ability and the best of home training, how could he fail to develop into a man worthy of the name. He did not fail. He secured his early education in the neighborhood schools near his home, and then entered the State University at Oxford. After completing his regular course there he was appointed Fellow in the department of Chemistry, where he worked two years and completed his Master’s Degree. Later, with Chemistry as his Major he spent two years in one of the great German Universities, where he secured the degree of Doctor ot Upon his return to America, he was elected Professor of Natural Sciences m Mississippi College. So vigorous, progressive and efficient did this young professor prove himself to be, that upon the resignation of President Venable, one year later, he was elected Chairman of the Faculty until a President could be secured In two years he so thoroughly won his way to the front that he was made President of the College. Atter one year of service as President, Dr. Provine saw that the financial and executive work of his office was forcing him to sacrifice his specialty as a Chemist, so he resigned the Presidency in order that he might devote his time more thoroughly to his work as the head of the Science department of the College. At the end of his first year’s connection with Mississippi College, he had the great good fortune to lead Miss Mary Sproles, of Jackson, Mississippi, to the marriage alter. This cultured and womanly daughter of the great Dr. H. F. Sproles, has been a true help-meet to her progressive and prominent husband. As President of Mississippi College, Dr. Provine attained enviable success. In addition to excellent service in other lines, he handled the finances of the institution ad- mirably and made very decided improvements on the buildings and campus. For these thirteen years since his resignation as President, he has been vigorously pushing his work as the head of our Science department. . If you will come to the College any year, seek out a score of the best students in the institution, and ask each one to name the three strongest and most effective teachers in the faculty, not one of them, I am sure, will fail to mention Dr. Provine among the three; in fact, you need not be surprised if a large majority of them name him first. Wherever Mississippi College graduates go they are proud to tell that they took their Chemistry under Dr. Provine, and they find everywhere that he is recognized as one of the leading teachers of Chemistry in the South. We would not swap him for anybody. Dr. Provine loves the soil. He also knows the soil and how to handle it. He owns an excellent farm within a half mile of the College, and finds his recreation in work. Watch him as he rides his splendid saddle mare out from the barn before sunrise in the 8