University of Nebraska Kearney - Blue and Gold Yearbook (Kearney, NE)

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Calendar 1907-08 Registration............................September 18-19 Classes Began...............................September 20 Normal Reception to Students................September 28 Christmas Vacation Began.....................December 20 Vacation Closed. .......................... .January 6 Second Semester Began....................... January 30 Spring Vacation.................................April 3-6 Baccalaureate Sermon.........................May 24 Commencement Concert.........................May 25 Alumni Reception.............................May 26 Commencement Exercises.......................May 27 Summer Term Opens...........................June g Summer Term Closes..........................juiy 30 Fall Perm Opens..................... September 16

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President Thomas President A. O. Phomas was born in Illinois, and educated in Iowa, graduating from the Normal at Shenandoah with the degree B. S., and from Amity College with the degrees Ph. B. and Ph. P. He chose teaching as his profession, Nebraska as his field of labor, and here he has led a strenuous life, indeed. As city superintendent of schools he spent two years at Cambridge, three years at St. Paul, five years at Minden and four years at Kearney, before becoming president of the new State Normal at Kearney. His summers were largely employed in institute work and he has always been a prominent and enthusiastic figure at teachers’ meetings, both local and state. President Thomas has won a reputation for his tireless energy and his administrative abilities. He turns olT great quantities of work, of a most varied character, at high speed. He is able to grasp the large questions in their entirety and yet work out all the petty details with the hand of a master. In all he is a constant marvel to those able to comprehend it. But President I homas’s power lies not in the education he has acquired, nor in the prestige obtained from the positions he has held, nor in his numerous other splendid qualifications ol head and hand, but in his kindly feeling towards those about him. If his teachers are sick, or downcast, or overworked President I humas is the first to note it, and at once apply the healing balm ; should students be homesick, or discouraged or m trouble, he is never too busy to hear their story, and never lacks for words of comfort, cheer, or seasonable advice. If there are sick and dis- tressed in the community, he seems some how to hear of them and takes time to look into their troubles. His sense and his sympathy, his hand and his purse are always on the move iii the interests of those about him. an bounded confidence in the goodness of humanity I I is patience with the wayward students is almost unlimited though their short comings at times grieve him beyond measure. Me simply can’t give up a bad boy. H is heart beats for the family. He seems always to put himself in the other man s shoes, and does as lie would like to be done by. Words of censure he rarely uses, but words of praise are constantly on his lips. He leads often, seldom drives. It is needless to say that he always has a host of followers in his train, Teachers, students and friends look to him for advice and lean on him for support, assured of his hearty sympathy, and arc rarely disappointed, even in the least. It is this great heart power more than anything else, that has made President Thomas the popular personage in the position he now holds and that insures the strength and stability and future greatness of this splendid young institution of the West.