Spring Hill College - Torch Yearbook (Mobile, AL)

Page 24 text:

7 v u . 1 1 iii 1 iii s x i ia - ---2 W-2 A -- - -- .. '.' ..-fade 22- 2- ....-..X'CfPL. -. 'Mor , 3 l wr. HORTLY after the opening of the college in September, announcement was made of the appointment of Rev. joseph M. VValsh, S. J., to the presidency of the institution. This appointment marks the first time in the history of Spring Hill that a native of Mobileihas been assigned to that office. During the ninety-five years that the college has stood on the Hill no Mobilian has had the honor of presiding over its destinies as president. Father Yvalsh was born in lVIobile, November 13, 1884. In the year 1898 he entered the preparatory department of Spring Hill College. He remained at Spring Hill until he graduated from the College with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1903. On January 20, 1904, a few months after his graduation, Father Walsh entered the Society of Jesus at St. Stanislaus Novitiate and Normal College, Macoii, Ga. From St. Stanislaus Father Walsh went to VVoodstock College, VVoodstock, lvld., where he followed a three-year course in philosophy and the sciences. In 1910 he returned to the South to begin his life work as an educator. He remained at Spring Hill from 1910 to 1915 as professor of English and the classics, and for several years faculty director of the Springhillian. In 1915 he began a four-year course in theology at the Collegio hiaxima, Sarria, Barcelona, Spain. At the end of the third year of this course he was ordained to the priesthood. In 1919 Father VValsh returned to the United States and to Spring Hill, this time as secretary. From 1920 to 1922 he went to Poughkeepsie, New York, where he made one year of advance study in ascetical theology at St. Andrew-on-the-Hudson. ln IQ23-24, Father VValsh was professor of Philosophy at Loyola University, New Orleans. Returning once more to Spring Hill in September, 1924, he took up the ofhce of dean, which office he held until his appointment as president. Thus Father VValsh is a real Springhillian in every sense of the word, having been student, alumnus, professor, dean, and now president of the institution. Father Walsh is a man eminently fitted both by natural endowment and training, for the high post which he is now called upon to fill. He is looked upon as an authority in educational matters, and has taken a special course in Education in Columbia University. There are few men who know Spring Hill as well as Father VValsh, there are none more interested in Spring Hill and its future than Father VValsh is. He believes that a greater Spring Hill means a greater lVIobile, and that in serv- ing this venerable college, the oldest institution of higher education in Alabama, he is serving, in a very real way, his own native city and state. The Spring Hill faculty, too, feels that the honor of being chosen to the presidency is merited by Father VValsh, and that under him the college is sure to make great progress. The success of the drive during the past year has proved this beyond a doubt. Any attempt to alliterate reasons why the students love and admire their president would be futile, owing to their vast number. It suffices, however, to say, that he possesses a rare charm of personality coupled with a great heart full of understanding and sympathy. To our able leader, to the man behind the scenes, do we owe the success of the banner year of 1925-26. 20 K s t-4-1-iciiix-1-it 17f' as wi-fc or 3fix-7-rcgi'T i Ji-I-L.:-2x-:ia .,

Page 23 text:

Aclminisiraiion

Page 25 text:

4 ' W Rev. foseflz M. Walsh, S President 2I