Sparks College - Yearbook (Shelbyville, IL)

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r. Henry Donham Sparks

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Dedication In this history of Fifty Years in Sparks College, many individual success stories will be found, of those young men and women who found a certain knowledge and encouragement which enabled them to face the world of reality and to build homes and find happiness. Every institution stands on a tangible or intangible foundation from which the superstructure stems. Only a few know of the actual foundation builders, who with personal kindness, untiring patience, planned direction of effort, and individual sacrifices, formed the original foundation of Sparks College in Shelbyville, Illinois. S o it was that Mrs. Lillian B. Sparks was one of the original kindly builders of the foundation of an institution devoted to the better- ment of young people. It is therefore fitting and proper that this story of their success be dedicated to her memory.

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Shelbyville, Illinois August 2, 1958 Dear Friends: Of my own free will, fifty years ago, I decided to start a business -training school in Shelbyville, Illinois. I wanted to train young people so well that they could hold the better positions in business. What do you think? This illustrated history of Sparks College tells briefly this story of fifty years of service. All graduates are listed. There are hundreds who deserve special mention, but space allows special consideration for only a few. These should be representative of the whole group. These fifty years are the very heart of my mortal existence. They represent my life ' s work, my contribution. The way has been hard. Many a day I didn ' t know what to do next. Wars, depressions, and lack of funds have played their part, but I kept on. Sometimes I have gone home ready to give up, only to have Mrs. Sparks, God bless her memory, say, Oh go back and go to work. The fact that Mrs. Sparks didn ' t want very much, and her willingness to sacrifice with me, probably kept the school going. For many years, I was so badly in debt that I couldn ' t quit without going broke. Folks seemed to trust me. My credit was better than I deserved. For a time, I carried a lot of tuition accounts, many of which were paid in full soon after graduation. Many were not. I wrote off several thousand dollars ' worth of such accounts. No doubt I needed the money right then more than those who owed it. I am at the end of the school journey. The question of my personal success lies in the lives and in the hearts of those who trusted me. I hope I have succeeded. I trusted God and leaned, sometimes heavily, on His abiding love. I thank each and everyone from the bottom of my heart for whatever you have done to help. May God in His infinite wisdom and wonderful love stand beside you in the years to come. Roger will need your co-operation. Stand by, please. May God bless you and keep you is my prayer. Sincerely yours.