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

Page 12 text:

-TTT ■ k r-r ' j .jrf r-t a

Page 11 text:

LAMBDIN PRATHER I

Page 13 text:

pp Ml r fc . 1 M) DEDICflTION, This volume of the Cactus is dedicated to WILLIAM LAMBDIN PRATHER. who was a Retrent of the University of T«xas ttom the 17th day of February, 1887. to the 4tli day of Noveiiiber. 1899, when lie was unanimously elected President of that nstltution and filled the position till the day of his death. June 24. 1905. During the twelve years of his regency he was one of the most active and earnest members of the Board of Regents. In the midst of large professional and private affairs, he was never too busy to give prompt attention to every Interest of the University. He was never absent from a meeting of the Board; a fact which demonstrates the unflagging zeal with which he performed the onerous duties of his office. To these duties he subordinated every other consideration. As committeeman, he was always ready with an exhaustive report on the matter in hand. Cautious in his conclusions, his judgments rarely failed to win the approval of the Board. To such a coadjutor it was meet that the Regents should accord the highest honor in their gift,— the Presidency of the University. As President, the University was to him the student body and the State of Texas, To them he devoted the love of his heart, the energies of his mind and body. With all the passion of his soul he wrought for the welfare of the students and the glory of the commonwealth. To him they were inseparable. The prosperity of the State, achieved through the worthy deeds of her children, was the dream of his ambition. By tradition and birth of the South, a pupil of Robert Edmund Lee — nomen preclarum et venerabile ! — lofty and pure In character, he was a fit guardian and ensample for the youth of Texas. The young men and young women who were students in this University during the years uf his presidency, will never i.now the tenderness with which he regarded them, nor the passionate solicitude with which he gave his very life for their -. ell-being. They do not know how often and how steadfastly he stood between them and less compassionate judgments. He felt only too deeply the responsibility of his high position. To few men is it given to make the sacrifice which he made,— to abandon the home and the friends of a lifetime; to relln- iuish his profession: to sever the ties which bind a man like him to his accustomed life, and to found a new home among strangers, bringing with him only the loving group at his fireside. Nor may words express with what courage and Imper- shable devotion they stood by him and met with him every assailing trouble, until, suddenly, he was not. In every act or aim which becometh a gentleman he was steadfast as a star! ii lSfe ' -