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

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WW have heen Imrn four childreanillicent, George tiilhert. 'l 1'., Clara, and Alfred. Their hnme life has heen a particularly happy une. Great was his charm in his family circle. where repartee was uiten in evi- dence; and great was the charm that he wielded aiming the circle that knew him as a friend. Yet he never used personal friendship for the exchange of favors: and in his friendship there never entered his mind any thnught of per- sonal advantage or place or emohiment. 'limir-square he stuml, to all the winds that hlew.' As a realist. he was abundantly successful in his work as head nf the De- partment of Chemistry and Dean of the School of Natural Science: as an idealist he was equally successful; though heeause of the way in which the College has heen handicapped tim' lack of funds, it may he years or decades before uur students and faculty and friends 0f the College. alike, shall be able to r ialize aml recognize the hreadth of his practical idealism. For it is to his iUYC of the institution that we uwe the livan Pugh Memorial Collection; to his sense of the fitting. that there was transplanted here a tradition uf Amherst that it was well to honor at tiunimeneement the tifty-year classes: to his en- thusiasm and untiring search, that the College was ahle to publish a history of our early classes. written by his own hand; tn his iiiresight, that supplies were purchased in such quantities for the Chemical Laboratories at the begin- ning of the W'urhl War. that neither College nor students suffered during all these wars since, for lack of such supplies; to his dreaming of realizable dreams, that the Priestly llunse in Northumberlaml is soon to he removed to a location on our Campus, where it shall become a Mecca for students of Chem- istry from every Iaml; to his great-h-artedness. the presentation of a gold watch to the ten thousandth student of the College who came under his teach- ing: and it is to his statesmanship. that there was gathered here the most ' complete eullectiun ut' chemical exhihits ever made. now sturetl away fur laek uf space. but same day to he placed in fitting pusition in a great Chemical Museum in the George tiilhei't Pond Lahm'atories. It is impossible, therefnre, as yet. to evaluate his services to this College; but some day, when there shall have risen here the great University for which he worked and which in his dreams he saw. some writer of a later day shall place very near the top of the list in 0111' scroll 0f fame the name of the practi- cal idealist. George tiilhert Pond. 7

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Since 1888 his life has heen identified with the life and development of The Pennsylvania State College. lirst, and always. as llrufessor of Chemistry, then. since its organization in 1890, as Dean of the Sehuul of Natural Science. Recently, he ZlClCtl for President Sparks, during the year of the latter's absence. Jlnt these phrases, in reality. tell but very little of what Doctor llunil meant to the Cnllege in which he grew with the College aml with the years. It is no disparag'enient of any one else ennneeted with the institution. no mat- ter how long 01' valued his services, to say of Dean Pond. that he, more than any one else. stoml for all that is best in our Liullege traditiuns in scholarship. lior more than any one else, so far as sehnlarship goes, he lliltl helped to create those trzulitiuns. lilintling the Department tlUWll at the heels. as he entered upon his work here. he sown made it a force in the College. resolving that come what might. the Course in Chemistry SllOllltl mean an education of positive worth and actual achievement. And his success in this his life work, all the World knows; for at the time of his death he was ranked with the very gr 'atest teachers of Chemistry in America. lYe have called him many-siiletl: he was all that, aml more. He was evenly-poisetl. Possessed of the power of viewing a question in its larger aspects, hi at the same time was lllllllSllex'lng in his attention to details. He took nothing fur granted: he saw that a thing was done. Ordinarily he was quick in forming his conclusions: but if a subject demanded close investiga- tinn. his convictions. when formed. were without uncertainty. while his ac- tions became the reflex of his ennvietions. i Nut infrequently was seen in his life evidence of a rugged sense of honor that would not permit him to diverge fmm a path deliberately chosen, even though that path might lead counter to the interests of certain groups or in- tliviiluals. He had strong prejudices. as a forceful and vigorous nature must have; he was impatient of pettiness whether of motives or of men; he admired ahility wherever he funntl it. though he kept ellar the distinction between ability and rank; to the possessor of ability he granted full recognition, how- ever hninhle one might he. August Ist, 1883. just as he was about to begin his work at State College, he was married to Helen Palmer. of Amherst. Massachusetts. who. in their thirty years aml IHUI'C together. has luyally SCCUIlthtl his every effort. To them gist: rmpfwmxu - r.

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BOOK 1 BOOK 2 BOOK 3 BOOK 4 BOOK 5 BOOK 6 CONTENTS The College Classes Fraternities Activities The Girls VivivSection