Penn State University - La Vie Yearbook (University Park, PA)

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CE D LA via 19 The following, quoted from a letter written by one of the faculty at the time of President Atherton's proposed resignation, is typical of the expres- sions of warm personal regard which came from his fellow workers: My work would not have been as good as it is were it not directed by your better judg- ment, inspired by your enthusiastic faith in the college, and repeatedly pushed ahead by your determined courage. You have always done for me better than you promised and more than my desert. I hardly need say that, whatever your and my relation to the college, I shall con- tinue to look to your work for inspiration, and toward you With respect and sincere gratitude. Many of us appreciate the feeling of one who wrote: But whatever others have fastened to, I think the thing that to me more and more comes to stand out as single words are his 'Faithfully yoursf with which We are all familiar. They keep ringing down the days. SNOVV STATUE

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L . A D Gp L . 18 PENNSYLVANIA STATE COLLEGE .. tl L d arest memory of him is not as tl1e president, but as my I Gag grqtllilulliitsiriill iilwlziljiys bee a gratification to me that I was permitted to know him F1611 . zz- , . Qriaplilegrasiiiutimate personal way than was given to most undergraduates. I had occasion more - - ' d m self and other t tl ' kin of his warm Generous nature, both towar y ' 5, iliiiiriiliuthdxiiiincttd ofehisciife nidst have been,'iI-Ielpfulnessf The welfare of every man 1n col- dear to him and no one ever went to him for advice or help but came away with firelixeiiiarliligiieiiciatioii of his, interest and sympathy. In my own case I can say that, had he been mv father he could not have been more kind, and I have a very grateful remembrance of lns earnest arid willing efforts in my behalf, immediately succeeding my graduation. He had a ready sympathy with all forms of student life, and the development of. undergraduate activ- ities in athletic, literary, dramatic and other lines of work met with his hearty co-operation and support. just a short time before his death I had a note fromlhlm in which he said: 'My chief compensation in what has been very arduous work is found in the fact that I have been able to be of service to a large number of young men who are now filling honorable positions, and tl1at the college is now, as I believe, so well established in the confidence of the people of the State that its work will not be allowed to suffer any decl1ne.' In that paragraph is re- vealed the man. It was l1is ambition to be of service and help to those who needed it. There are scores of State men all over the country who are striving to do their duty in the world in the way that he taught, and in the way that he would havenwished, and the lesson of service as exemplified in his own life is an inspiration and an incentive to us all. The head of one of the principal departments in one of the great univer- sities of the country gives a vigorous picture of President Atherton in his official relations: President Atherton was the fortunate possessor of a strong individuality, he belonged to no class. Sanguine in temperament, yet calm in counsel, aggressive in disposition, yet temperate in measures, the secret of his success lay largely in a power of will which always fell short of obstinacy, a persistence which frequently verged on dogmatism, and an ability in official relations to say 'No,' sharply, decisively and finally. Sometimes this quality, excel- lent in an executive, made him appear to be domineering and exacting, but reflection showed the disgruntled fact that his judgment in the case had been correct and his ground well taken. His individuality extended to l1is personal appearance. His bearing showed the soldier that he was at one time, and the scholar that he was at all times. No stranger wasrdisappointed at first beholding President Atherton, no member of his faculty ever had occasion for chagrin when President Atherton was compared in appearance with other leaders. Whether in gath- erings of learned men, in legislative corridors or among the students, he was always President Atherton. He looked the part. Reserved, yetnot haughty, dignified without official arrogance, he gained the respect of scholars and politicians alike because he commanded their respect. However others might differ with lnm in lns legislative relations, they were compelled to acknowledge that he sought neither self-aggrandizement nor personal honors, but always the good of the college. However fast flew. the changes of corruption his most zealous enemy found no Haw in the armop of his integrity 'for a shaft of this nature. teC1miCci1111Cpg into lns administration at the dawn of the industrial era when the demand for the Chia. e ucationutirst became apparent, President Atherton was able to leap the bounds of .sical school in wlnch he had been trained and to take a comprehensive view of tl1e ilraechanic arts, Wll1Ci1 Won the admiration not only of America, but of the Old World as Well. lose W110, like the writer, passed from his administration to serve under other chiefs and in other faculties can best appreciate the fortitude the co di lit th ' ' . . . . tl l t d tl d- unnistrative graSP Of President Atherton. y r a yi e Ca 10 ICI yi an le a 1 dAside from the ofiicial relation, the majority of the men of his faculty la a keen sense of his personal and helpful interest in their individual work. One of them says: The strongest tribute to my thinking that is made to Dr. Atherton is in the fact that every man who ever vvorkeid under him came so greatly to admire him V X 'T 1 tiwf SW .1 1 ig.. dei: ET rj: C015 H57 1

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in 1 i 1 . M H 4 gi I K in ,. CL D PENNSYLVANIA STATE COLLEGE Resolutions ,Ara WHEREAS, Almighty God, in His infinite Wis- dom, has seen fit to call to Himself the soul of our beloved President, George W. Atherton, be it therefore Resolved, That in his death, we, the Class of 1908, feel that We have lost a true friend, a man of unusual ability in his chosen profession, a man who gave a great part of his life to the building of our University, and be it Resolved, That we extend our heartfelt sym- pathy to his family in their bereavement, and be it further Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be published in the State Collegian and in the 1908 LA VIE. A. M. MYERS, J. S. KNAPPER, E. C. LEE, Committee.