Oglethorpe University - Yamacraw Yearbook (Atlanta, GA)

Page 33 text:

TKe Opportunity of Tke Lowry Sckool of Banking idC ommerce By J. H. Porter Director of Loivry National Dank HMHMHi Colonel Robert J. Lowry was born in Greenville ' Tennes- H| H see, when that little town was linked with the rest of the W 1 1 ■ ' ' orlcl by stage coach onlj He never attended school after Wte, ,- ' the age of twelve years, but went into business. He came to M Atlanta just before the Civil War and with his father es- HHr ., M tablished a wholesale grocery business known as W. M. R. HNI j H -T. Lowry, which evolved into a private bank, and later into Biv H THE LOWRY NATIOAL BANK, nationally known. Kek M Altliough universall.y successful — Colonel Lowry having been president of the AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIA- TION, the most powerful body of financiers in the world — he realized the ad- vantages that special training would afford in the field of banking and com- merce and was largely instrumental in the establishment of the AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF BANKING which affords an opportunity for special study to young bank clerks. It was with the idea that the youth of the South- desiring training of this kind, might be afforded, at home, an opportimity to fit themselves for the busi- ness of banking and commerce, thatMrs Emma Markham Lowrj his widow, left a bequest for the establishment of the THE ROBERT J. AND EMMA MARKHAM LOWRY SCHOOL OP BANKING AND COMMERCE at Ogle- thorpe University. It is intended the the curriculum of such a school shall furnish a foundation in English, Geographj Mathematices, Economics and Accounting, and a course in Business Law. It will be readily seen what advantage a specialized course of this kind will be to the yoimg b anker and business man and what a fitting memorial to the donors. Tiuenty-Three

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Tke Opportunity of Tke Lowry Sckool of Banking and. Commerce By Oscar Wells Presideni American Bankers Association No greater demand confronts American education today tlian that it apply an increasing part of its effort to develop- ing more exact understanding and a more scientific training and attitude among those who intend to devote themselves to business careers, whether on the finianical or on the com- mercial side. The intellectual requirements of business are fast rising in all directions to the Lowry School of Banking and Commerce to meet one of the great needs of the day, to jjerform great services not onlj- to those fortunate enough to participate in its courses but also to the general public, are immeasureable. It has been said that the distinguishing element of a profession are that it re- quires special training and the possession of demonstrated ability as pre-requis- ites to admission to its ranks, that all its members observe certain high and es- tablished standards in carrying on their work and that they constantly en- deavor to attain ever higher ideals and standards of service. In banking and commerce, consciously and unconsciously, these very elements are daily loom- ing larger and are giving business to an increasing degree the aspects of a profession. It is essential that into this development the best academic spirit be brought and developed along the lines of pi-actical success in the country ' s business activities. The Lowry School is therefore a sign of the progress and the aspirations of American business toda.v. Tiventy-Tivo

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Tke Opportunity of Tke Low ry Sckool of Banking and. Commerce By Charles E. Mitchell Presidciii of Natinnal City Bank- New York City I have a great reverence for that great banker of the South, Colonel Robert J. Lowery, who, in addition to his duties devoted a quarter century to the upbuilding of the American Bankers ' Association, — and for his wife, Emma ilarkham Lowry, who, upon her death, bequeathed her all for the establishment of this school of banking and com- merce. It is always a problem in a large industrial plant or bank- ing institution to give to the specialized worker a proper un- derstanding of the business as a whole and the relativity of the part played by his OAvn work. The necessar3 ' specialization leads to a cer- tain narrowness of view that is pitiful for all. The simplest remedy for this state of confusion would seem to be to give all power to some overhead author- ity, but this plan would never succeed. The only way is the education of the people to a better understanding of the voluntary system by which we work together to satisf.y our wants. We cannot abandon the voluntary sjstem. There is a great need for these schools in which commerce, industry and the various features of bu.siness are the special subjects of study. Knowing as I do the importance which the founder of this school, Colonel Lowry, attached to a sound banking and currencj ' sj ' stem. I do not doubt that the desire to estab- lish a permanent source of wholesome influence upon this subject was one of the dominant motives of this benefaction. Ticenfy-Fonr