University of Oklahoma - Sooner Yearbook (Norman, OK)

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WITH LOVE AND ADMIRATION Born in South Texas while the echoes of the War between the States still echoed ancl the bitter- ness of Reconstruction still fanned sparks of ha- tred, William Bennett Bi .zell jjrew up in the con- servati e tradition. of the )kl South, tempered by tile jo ()us optimism ot the unbounded Southwest. His boyhood legends were tales of gallantry and heroism, told by men who had worn the gray at Shiloh and in the Valley of Virginia; yet mingled with them were stories of tiie Alamo and San lacinto. Education in rural Texas in those days was a prize worth strug- gling tor; hoys athirst toi ' knowledge did larm chores, underwent pri ations and trudgeil or rode horseback long miles through Texas northers or blistering heat to meagerly equipped but faithfully served schools, hungrily read what books they could obtain, and burnetl midnight oil in the sure iaitli that learning is the key to all doors. Graduating trom Bavlor L nnersits m A ' aco, Texas, with the degree of B. S. in 1898 and of i ' h. B. in 1900, he went to Navasota, Texas, in the latter year as superinteiulent of schools. l- rom this e [ierience comes his deep understantlmg ol, anil liroad sympathy for, the problems of public school pupils, teaciiers and admniistrators. in 1900 he was marrleil to the lo el lady whn has shared his biu ' dens as well as liis triumpiis through all the years. I lis sympathies were as boundless as Ins energies: he read enoniioush , he studieil pi-ob- lems ol religion, ol agriculture, ol philosophy anil of culture. In 1911 he studied law at the Illinois College ol Law, recei ing the tiegree ot 1,1,. M. in 1911 and of n. C. !.. in 1913. From this perioil may be traceil his |)rotouiul and scholarK books of later ears.

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Ill l ' ' ll) he became prcsitlent of the Collej e of liukistrial Arts at Denton, Texas, ami in ' ) 4 prcsuknt ol Texas A. iS; M. Collei e. I lo L er strenuous his duties, lie iiianaiied to continue his own advance in knowleilye. In l ' 13 he received the A. M. from the L ' niversitv of Chiea.no, and in 1 ' ' 21 the Ph. I), from Columbia. 1 lonors have been heaped upon him; he has honorary dej rees and holds membership in almost e ery learneil societv in F.njjland aiul Amei ' ua which is conceriieil with pure leai-niiiLi and the social sciences. President of the University of Oklahoma since 1926, he created the University Press and started the University on a program of cultural expansion which has made it famous the world over. Dur- int,r his atlministration the school has grown into one of the largest and most highly esteemed in America. Apostle of culture, triend of every boy and girl on the campus, he retires this year to be- come President Emeritus and I ' rolessor of Soci- ology, and he retires, without a doubt, as the best loved man in Oklahoma. To William Bennett Bizzcll, patron of literature, friend of the arts, champion ot progressi ' e thinking, pathfinder of culture in the State of Oklahoma, svinbol ami example of the generous growth and broad culture for which this book stands, the 1941 Soonkk is sincereh ' ami atfectionately dedicated. . i ' -m tin i il Wiii ft iil rf ' ' ■MJ 11 It f .■ l r ■!■ m J m '