Truman State University - Echo Yearbook (Kirksville, MO)

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Dr. Hugene Fair, President I'anc 11»

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' cDr. Eugene Fair El’GENE PAIR was born near Gilman City. Mo.. Oct. 91, 1877. He attended a one room rural school: Avalon College, Trenton, Mo., 1895 96: B. S. I)., State Normal School. Kirksville. Mo.. 1901; A. B.. University of Missouri. 1904. Taught in rural schools; in approved summei schools, summers of 1902 and 1903; History of Township High School, Murphysboro, 111., 1904 05. Student, Columbia University, summer of 1905. studying Greek and Roman History under Professor Botsford. Assistant Professor of History, State Normal School, Kirksville, Mo., 1905 08; Instructor m History, University of Mis souri, 190809; A. M., University of Missouri. 1909. Professor of American History and Government, State Normal School, Kirksville, Mo., 1909-15. Graduate student, Columbia University, 1915-16, working under the direction of Professors Beard, Dunning, Johnson, McBain, Moore, Powell, Sait, ami Seligman. Taught History in George Peabody College for Teachers, Nashville, Tenn., summer of 1916; made Professor of Political Science, State Teachers College, Kirksville. Mo., 1916, continued in that position until September 1. 1925. except while on leave of absence for one semestei as Acting Professor of Political Science in the University of Missouri, 1918, and as a member of the Lower House of the Missouri General Assembly, 1921. Has served in the following capacities: Secretary, Division of History and Govern- ment. Missouri State Teachers Association. 1912 15; Manager War Savings Certificate Drive for Adair County, Mo., 1918; Chairman, Committee on Education, Lower House, Missouri General Assembly, 1921-22; President, Northeast Missouri Teachers Associa- tion, 1922; Chairman Legislative Committee, Missouri State Teachers Association, 1922; Vice President Missouri State Teachers Association, 1923. Author of An Outline of Oriental History, 1908. Government and Politics in Missouri, 1922, and a number of brief articles in bulletins and magazines. Dr. Eugene Fair was elected president of the Northeast Missouri Teachers College by the Board of Regents in the spring of 1925 to take his appointment on Sept. 1, 1925. In choosing Dr. Fair, the Board of Regents selected one of the most admired and honored graduates of our school. As a classroom teacher, he was a success, hut his efforts were in no way impaired by his being selected to head the school. He has proven himself to be a successful administrator and through his attentiveness to his position he has won the hearts of all the students of the institution. Dr. Fair has proven himself to be an idea! gentleman and through untiring ability he has built up a spirit which is not surpassed by any institution of this caliber. Always he has been a friend to all, giving attention to the problems in such a way that he has built for himself a name which will go down in the annals of K. 8. T. C. as a mentor of ability. As students of this institution we feel indebted to the Board of Regents who em- ployed him, for their judgment has proven that he was the one man for the position. We honor Dr. Eugene Fair and we wish that all who come to this institution could become bet- ter acquainted with him. He has given us his best efforts and they have been crowned with the most successful school year in the history of K. S. T. C. l'a»{© is

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cDr. John R. Kirk ” TOHN R. . . . .the name by which John R. Kirk, Educator, was known to every one of his students, co-workers, and employees. A name applied for various reasons by different individuals, in the end it was always used for the same reason it was a term of affectionate familiarity. The man who became a trail blazer in the world of educa tion was not so “upstage that he could not mingle with every day folk; hence the “John R.” Has there ever been a student here for any length of time whose name Mr. Kirk did not know? The writer is neither a student nor a graduate; he was never prominent in the activities of K. S. T. C., yet Mr. Kirk, knowing his students, knew this pne too, by name. Such a human quality is a precious one to have, and Dr. Kirk possesses it to a remarkable degree. This quality of friendliness, then, is one that has endeared our “John R. to many student generations. One can easily have respect for achievement, and Dr. Kirk merits a full measure of this, for he stands tfxlay, as he has for two or more decades, among the always small group of leaders. The daily news of the educational world contains word of many activities and movements in which Dr. Kirk has blazed the trail at his famous Teachers College. Physical Education, Public Health, a dozen others, can be named. The first educator to say, “Musically talented children should receive their opportunity in the public schools was Dr. Kirk. Such an expression, delivered at a time when public school music was a minus quantity, is typical of the man. Unmindful of criticisms he has always pursued the way of progress. Never afraid to experiment, he has been more than once rewarded by seeing the successful results adopted widely. The man today, for the present not in the old intimate touch with his students, still commands our admiration, for he is with characteristic vigor doing graduate work at one of America's great professional schools. The Stream of Life flows on, but to-day, as yesterday, John R. , with flashing eye and ringing voice, stands to the front, proclaiming the too- often-forgotten truth that Education must not stagnate, must grow or die.