University of North Texas - Yucca Yearbook (Denton, TX)

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PR[1[II [|[R ScluUa ... A grand old man with the eternal spirit of youth is Dr. W. H. Bruce, President Emeritus of Teachers College and ading president during the years from 1906 to 1923. Dr. Bruce is a friend to all people, deriving a great joy from association with enthusiaftic young men and women. Few of them, however, have more enthusi- asm than he, who enjoys with men of half his years books, music, and all forms of wholesome sports. Progress has been the keyword to the work of Dr. Bruce during his long service as an educator. At the end of the seventeen years of his presidency, the College had advanced to senior standing. In every move forward could be seen the marks of Dr. Bruce ' s keen foresight and fine spirit of cooperation. Not to be neglected is Dr. Bruce ' s philosophical outlook. His greatest aim in life is to be of service to others, as a record of more than fifty years in the public schools of Texas te ihes. These years have been filled with effort toward the better- ment of education in this school and in other schools where he has taught. Books on philosophy, education, and mathematics have been Dr. Bruce ' s material contributions to the educational sy em of Texas. The death of Mrs. Bruce, to whom our President Emeritus was very devoted, kept him from his duties as a member of the faculty here the first semester of this year, but during his absence a spirit of wholesome resped remained on the campus for this man of letters. Page 22 jj Kircfv i7,!r;«F5|?5: ?» » '

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LLL? pram if! Reserved and di ;nihed enoui h to inspire a Good morning, sir, from any sT:udent who chances to meet him on the campus, Dr. W. J. McConnell, President of the College, is yet so friendly and so much the sl:udents ' man that no one is surprised to hear a hearty, old-fashioned ' ' Howdy! in answer to that greeting. Perhaps a great deal of the sympathy and understanding the president has for his ftudents comes from the fad; that he was at one time a student of the College. He graduated with the class of 19 13, and three years later came to begin his service to North Texas State Teachers College as a professor in the Department of Mathematics. Since that time he has been professor and diredor of the Department of Economics, Dean of the College, and, upon the death of the late Dr. R. L. Marquis, he became President of the College. Dr. McConnell ' s firft intereSl:s are those of the school and of the Sludents. He loves the campus, and almost every day he walks around it, dropping in at the dif- ferent buildings to visit with the faculty and Sludents. In this and in other ways he manifests his deep-seated concern for the needs of Teachers College Students. Although essentially a scholar, Dr. McConnell has always shown an adive inter- eft in college athletics and sports. In vacation time, he forgets mufty books and ad- ministrative cares by going away on a fishing party with friends. So enthusiastic is he about roughing it that he is known among his fishing cronies as the hewer of wood and the toter of water. Known to every ftudent who has heard him speak is Dr. McConnell ' s humor. His quiet voice and fine command of language have gained him wide repute as a speaker, a reputation which has been enhanced by his ability to be as informal as the group before which he is speaking. A fine example of his gift for adapting his de- livery to the occasion was his talk on the morning of the Commerce football game when he trucked it on down in assembly. Music and the finer arts make up a large part of Dr. McConnell ' s off-hour interefts. Students may be surprised to know that in former years the president sang in the College quartet with three other faculty members. More than any other type of music he enjoys the lighter classics and old familiar songs. Because of his progressive achievements and attitudes, his friendly good humor, his conservati e task s and discrimination, and his willingness to serve the school and its sludents in every way, Dr. McConnell is eSleemed by the Sludents and by everyone who has been conneded with the school. Page 21

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The proverbial cane pole is not the only equipment Dr. B. B. Harris, Dean of the College, takes with him on a fishing excursion. Along with him sometimes go teSl tubes and scientific equipment, for this lover of nature and friend of man has a Grange way of mixing his sport and his science. The results may be such works as his recent paper, Limnological Investiga- tions of Texas Reservoir Lakes, written in collaboration with Dr. J. K. G. Silvey, a udy which shows scientifically that artifi- cial lakes can be kept as abundantly sl:ocked with fish as natural lakes. On the other hand they may be a long String of fish. In either case the Dean ' s acftivities have been motivated by an almost poetic sympathy for living things. It is perhaps this sympathy which ex- plains Dr. Harris ' s ever-ready willingness to assisl: Students who come to him in his capacity as Dean of the College. In his office the nature of his work makes him a social man in every sense of the word, bringing him in contad: with people con- stantly. These he treats with the consid- eration of one interested in helping to solve their problems. The worried Student is met with a graciousness and a spontaneous humor which send him on his way feeling satisfied and lighthearted. Thoughtfulness and consideration in helping others, a love of beauty, and a deep natural religion are the traits that have made Dean Harris command the respect and admiration of all who have associated with him. Page 23