University of Texas Austin - Cactus Yearbook (Austin, TX)

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Dr. Geo. T. Winston from tho presidency of North Carolina University to ], - tlir lirst President of the University of Texas. He proved himself an active, aggressive man, and was ci y successful in bringing the University and its work to the favorable attention of the public. After holding the position for three years Dr. Winston voluntarily resigned and rLturncd to North Carolina, where he is now President of the North Carolina College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. His resignation brought the Board of Regents again face to face with the serious problem of finding a leader of undoubted strength, who could solve the problems confronting the institution. A committee was sent to the leading universities of the country in search of a suitable man; the press of the State took on themselves their accustomed role of advisors and censors, and groomed their candidates : the alumni and friends every- where discussed the situation and offered suggestions looking to its proper solution. The Regents tided over the immediate stress by making the chairman of the board acting president of the University. By the time of the November meeting the trend of the press and the opinion of the public had set so strongly towards a Texas man that, had the Regents refused to heed the warning, the results would have doubtless been most disastrous. At that meeting Mr. Wm. L. Prather, then Chairman of the Board of Regents, was elected Presi- dent of the University of Texas. President Prather brings to this position an intimate knowledge of the affairs of the University, gathered during twelve years of service as a Regent. He is 52 years old, and has resided in Texas since his fifth year. During his stu- dent days at Washington and Lee University, General Robert E. Lee was its President. In 1871 he graduated in law. Since that time he has been engaged in the practice of his jnofession in Waco. Besides being a successful practitioner, he has been engaged in many business enterprises which have been attended with uniform success. Theoretically, President Prather ' s non-acquaintance with the profession of teaching fur- nishes ground for doubting the wisdom of the Re- gents ' choice. To those entertaining such an opinion one need only point to Seth Low, President of Columbia University, ackno vledged to be one of the most success- ful college presidents of the country. President Low ' s academic training was of the kind acquired in the count- ing room of a large business establishment. The Uni- versity of Texas needs for its President at its present state of development, first, a man known and trusted by the people of the State; second, a man who knows Texas and its people; third, a man of distinct business ability, capable of handling every detail of the large financial interests of the University; fourth, a man intimately acquainted with the ideals of scholarship held by the educational world. . 11 of these qualifica- tions are possessed in some measure by President Prather. Whatever he may lack because of his non- participation of late years in academic affairs is largely offset by his broad grasp of men and affairs, by his power of adaptation, and beyond all these, by his love and devotion to the highest interests of our University. With him, her name and reputation stand next to his family and his religion. From this time forward the students will expect him to guard and foster the inter- ests of the University with the same fidelity and faith- fulness that he would give to a client in desiierate need of his services. Thus far his administration has been attended by a single incident. The outcome of this incident is the widely prevalent belief that there is a backbone to his

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1. CHEMICAL LAI ' .OH.S 3. GHAfF, HALL

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