University of Georgia - Pandora Yearbook (Athens, GA)

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successful and conscientious attorney and with scarce an equal in knowledge of the law. As representative of the people in the national councils he commanded the unbounded confidence of his constituents, achieved leadership among his colleagues of his own political faith and won the admiring respect, repeatedly and publicly expressed, of those of other political affiliations. lie was a valuable and useful member of the Constitutional Convention of 1865, and was recognized as the ablest of the leaders in the Convention of 1877. giving to our present Constitution, as the work of his hands, many of its best and wisest provisions, notably that which make? U the duty of the State to provide for higher as well as for elementary education. His public life hasT ccn without a stain, and his public acts without suggestion of reproach. Such a man, of such character and such reputation, might be expected to be an active supporter and firm friend of the University. Dr. Hammond -has more than met such expectation, for it w'ln his capacity as a member of the governing Hoard of the University that he has rendered most signal and most enduring service to his native State. Aside from the routine matters of administration, as Chairman of the Board through nine years of the most eventful and most critical period in the history of the University, it has been his duty to present to the people of the State and to their representatives in the legislature theclaimsof the University, to their respect, their confidence,and their support. Thisduty he .has performed, not only with matchless ability, but with such profound earnestness, straightforward candor and affectionate enthusiasm that he has achieved the remarkable record that in no instance has a legislative measure affecting the University, which he advocated or opposed, cither in Committee or in the General Assembly, failed of the issue for which he contended. This uniform respect which -haS TJeen accorded the counsels of Dr. Hammond by the representatives of the people lias been due, in part, to their absolute confidence in his scrupulous honesty in statement, his unselfishness in motive, and his patriotism in purpose, and, in part, to the logical clearness and simple clooucnce with wjjjgjh he presents his views. Dr. Hammond Is a zealous champion of the University, not only because he is a loyal son of his Alma Mater, but because he is a sincere patriot and because he is convinced that the honor and welfare of Georgia are inseparably boyruj up in the maintenance and prosperity of her chief institution of higher learning. His convictions profound and his auditors never fail to share them when he present them. Noteworthy history was made in Georgia on that day during the last session of the State Legislature when Dr. Hammond spoke to the representatives of the people in the name of their honored servants, the Trustees of the University, in behalf of the great institution whose affairs they were charged to administer, and demonstrated the duty of a republican government to sustain and foster the public institutions of learning—to make them worthy, to make them strong, and to make them free -from capstone to mudsill,” as befitting the enlightenment and the wisdom of a free people. In the face of his argument, his earnestness, and his eloquence, opposition to the University melted away as hoar frost before the sun, and even those whose other interests or personal views concerning details of administration had placed them apparently at variance, remembered that they were Georgians and united in gv£rting evil to Georgia’s institutions. MDr. Hammond rccogoizCT no “enemies of the University; hcoe not admit that a patriotic citizen m be such. He accords entire respect to the views of those from whom he differ? in matters of policy, and-wins their agreement to his own by honest statement and logical argument. His sincerity and his catholicity in the great cause of education arc shown by the fact that, in addition to his efforts in behalf of the University, he‘fe‘a regular contributor to the support of Emory College, the special institution of the denomination of which he is a member. All alumni and members of the University community do him honor, and all Georgians should hold him in honorable and grateful regard. — 13

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 fionorabk Hatbaiml % fiammcmd. r Nathaniel j. hammond, a.m.. ll.d., the distinguished Chairman of the Board of Trustees, was born in Elbert county, Georgia, December 26th, 1S33; received his elementary education and was prepared for college in private schools in Monroe county, where he resided during his boyhood; was graduated from the University in 1852; admitted to the bar in 1853. He began practice of the law in Atlanta in 1855, in copartnership with his father under the firm name of A. W. Hammond and Son; was Solicitor-General of the Atlanta Circuit, 1S61-61; Reporter for the Supreme Court of Georgia, 1867-72; Attorney-General, 1S72-77; Member of the Constitutional Conventions of 1863 and S77; Representative in the 46th. 47th. and 48th Congresses, 1S7S-S3. He was elected as representative of the Alumni in the Board of Trustees in 1872; was made a life-member in 1874. and Chairman of the Board on the death of Hon. J. J. Gresham, in June, 1S89. On reorganization of the Board by legislative enactment in November, 1889, he was appointed a member from the State at large, and on expiration of his term of office in 1897. was reappointed from the State at large for a further term of eight years. Was elected Chairman of the reorganized Board at its first meeting and has been continuously re-elected to that office since. Received the honorary degree of Doctor of Law from his Alma Mater in 1896. There is not living in Georgia to-day a more distinguished citizen than the honored Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University, if the true measure of distinction be eminent ability, lofty character, purity of living, wisdom of counsel in public affairs, valuable public service and uns.clfish devotion of time, talents and means to all interests affecting the honor and welfare of the Commonwealth. All who knfliw him testify to his unswerving integrity in act and purpose and to the beauty of his consistently Christian private life. Engaged uninterruptedly in the study and the practice of law for a period of forty-five years, he has became almost the Nestor of his profession in the State and i recognized universally by the bench and bar as without a superior in the ability and power which go to make a 12

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 Cbe Crustm of the University of Georgia ¥ ¥ GOVERNOR W. Y. ATKINSON. Ex Officio. Born at Oakland, Meriwether County, Ga. Received the rudiments of his education from his father and mother. Was prepared for college by his brother. Entered the University of Ocorgia. from which he was graduated with the class of 1877. Commenced the practice of law at Newnan. Ga. In 1879 was appointed by Governor Colquitt Solicitor-general of Coweta County Court. Represented Coweta County in the General Assembly from 1886 to 1894, being made Speaker of the House in his last term. Author of the bill creating the Georgia Normal and Industrial College. Elected Governor of Georgia in 1894. Re-elected in 1896. Was made a trustee of the University of Georgia in 1S90. DR. WILLIAM H. FELTON. From the State at Large. Born in Oglethorpe County. Ga., June 19. 1823. Entered Franklin College in 1836 and was graduated in 1842. Now resides in Bartow County, near Cartcrsville. Graduated from the Medical College at Augusta. Ga.. in 1844. In 1848 became a local minister of the Methodist church, in which capacity he devoted more than forty years of his best eflorts. Represented the Seventh Congressional District of Georgia, in the Forty-fourth. Forty-fifth and Forty-sixth Congresses. Represented Bartow County in the General Assembly for severat years, where he was instrumental in securing the enactment of many wholesome laws. Has been a trustee of the University of Georgia for many years. Term expires in 1899. u