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

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former ;pr £si6£nt ttezes I served as Dr. Mezes' secretary during his first three years as President of the University, and observed him at close range and under varied conditions. Enthusiastic in his work and vigorous in its prosecution, he exercised at all times perfect poise and self-control -never excited, depressed, irritable, or impatient with people or affairs. Next to his family the University was the idol of his heart. His thinking, planning, dreaming. working -day and night, summer and winter—were with respect to its advancement. Dr. Mezes' resourcefulness and enthusiasm inspired all who came in contact with him, as was stated last fall by one of our most active regents as he gave his personal experience. Hut his enthusiasm was of the deep water variety. Large success honored his efforts, yet no one ever saw him throw his hat into the air. He experienced some disappointments, but maintained his hopeful attitude. I do not mean to say he was never discouraged. He had worked literally to physical and mental exhaustion in one legislative campaign. and when, at the end, in the East he received a telegram from me stating that the governor had unexpectedly vetoed the University’s appropriation, 1 suspect he said some things and. for a moment was low spirited. But when his friends saw him again it was, as ever, “on with the battle.” He was invested with full and final authority, yet he always listened to and considered whatever even the hunblest had to say. And he really listened, too. Mnay men merely allow a petitioner to talk in their presence; their minds are made up and as he talks they are. mentally at least, presenting a rebuttal. He was always willing to discuss with any interested person any matter pertaining to the University. While kind, gentle, and considerate in all his dealings, Dr. Mezes met without flinching situations requiring courage, and performed when necessary disagreeable tasks without hesitation. During his six years as president of the University testing times came, in dealing with students, faculty members, and others. Dr. Mezes approached very nearly Judge Townes’ ideal man of self control.” No one had more control over him than he himself exercised, except Mrs. Mezes. E. J. Mathews.

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s M Da )e R Williams- EDITOR.-IN-CrtlEF • Chesley A Adams Charles E-Stewart bUSlHESS AANAGER. ASSISTANT BUSINESS N G (C- ASSOCIATE EDITORS OUR. fW'hw W'l V Lipscomb • THE UNIVERSITY Dan. Williams Raworth Will icuns, Asst ATHUEITICS Tom Popple.vje.lL Gink.' Hoi land,Esq. C CIO HORARY R:TFkminq° hilton Danieis » Bobv5immone» ° ° Al Powers • Gordon West Paulme Aurrah Hay Ferret ° Ba 11 a r d$ vnw iddie R 0 lo mes o rv AinaiAKnolsoa- Irwin lonqe Pendleton Howard College tear. iteHaiElmendorf- • Corinnt U WaHcffilr ' | .Geo-Whittington. • vrjvy Arthur Uhl , Asst sentiments CUASSE. ° Gillis Johnson-,Art. Jim CHcck. ° ° (IN ASSEtNTlPO Gw-TLcc ° Geo-Wythe 6 ° • o Crowley En UsH. p an Acer's assistants Carlton PVercdith © tUoy • E • HqwL ° Edqar V O'Hair © hnne.l chridge V atchman9Esq- ms The Janitor (t1 tau Vain. havc-ricfr. 'Forgive us» t we ef YOUOf f v e. sta f, 11 was an oversight. JiA. - Wv DA vS -a-WiLuiAr' -S 1S

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-Acting ;p resident battle While it has been my good fortune to see a good deal of Dr. Battle during the last three or four years, our intercourse has been outside the University. It will then be understood that my point of view both gives a certain freedom, and imposes a certain limitation upon this brief appreciation. To begin with something very obvious. Dr. Battle’s sense of justice and fair play is very keen. He has decided convictions and makes his own position clear. One knows just where to find him. He docs not practice, and he makes it difficult for others to practice, the arts of evasion. It is, then, quite in accordance with his own sincerity that he invites and respects sincerity in others. Loyal to his own convictions, he is fair towards any who do not agree with him. He does not impute unworthy motives. In fact I have sometimes wished that, without violating confidence, it would be possible to make known to those who may have in some measure opjKxsed him, his own generous interpretation of their attitude. If to some students or to some who are not students, he seems exacting it ought to Ik recognized that he is most exacting with himself. It does not take long acquaintance to jierceive that he Is determined to be fair. Along with this sense of justice is his entire modesty. His democratic simplicity is no affectation. He meets all men on the level. While happily free from those boisterous demonstrations of good fellowship which mark the politician, there is never in his bearing towards his fellow men any suggestions of invidious distinctions. There are, of course, reserves in any but a superficial character, but Dr. Battle’s reserves are simply those of a hospitable mind and heart. He keeps something in store for his friends. Together with the broad culture which he owes to his classical education, his contact with thoughtful j eople, his travels and other valuable experiences of his well-regulated life, we find in him a special interest in music, a critical taste in art. and such homely qualities as humor (with a distinctively American flavor . and a love for children. Dr. Battle’s industry is almost austere. While careful of details, he has in large affairs the courage and vision of the true statesman. He grows, too, as the demands upon him grow. A convincing advocate of any cause which he espouses, he wins his case not by tricks of oratory or appeals to prejudice, but by fearlessness, fairness, and good sense. His influence in the University has been such that no adequate history of the institutioi could be written which did not accord a large place to his personality. William Hall Williams.