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Page 13 text:
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' Illiamii James Battfl-r [IS PORI S tell us that toward the end of the Roman period, wave after wave of barbarians --wept westward and southward from the Teutonic hive in the German forests. These hordes brushed aside the barriers of the Empire and made them- selves masters of the provinces and finally of Rome itself, everywhere setting up kingdoms of their own and laying the foundations of a civilization stronger and more enduring than that swept away. s n was with the Teutons then, so is it with Harvard now. From this northern hive wave alter wave, if not of barbarians, at least of professors and deans and presidents have swept westward and southward where they have taken possession of the land and built up educational kingdoms of their own. The first of these waves to reach the University of Texas brought on its crest only one Harvardian, Leslie Waggener, but he. nothing daunted, proceeded to make himself founder of a new Harvardian dynasty. The second wave brought David Franklin Houston. Sidney Edward Mezcs. and the subject of this sketch, who, maintaining the Waggenerian tradition, have followed each other in stately procession through the various professorial and adminis- trative ranks to the deanship and the presidency. The two former have found other realms of conquest, while the latter is still with us and few there be amongst us who do not wish that his stay may be long continued. For historical completeness it should be said that later waves have brought us Harry Yandell Benedict. Milton Brockett Porter, and many others, and there seems to be little reason to doubt that similar waves of barbarians will continue to arrive for years to come. While it cannot be said that Dr. Battle was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, it is certain that he was possessed of a good appetite, for at an early age he began to eat up Latin. Greek and other indigestibles. A college man from his very birth, his father being pro- fessor of history and afterward president of the University of North Carolina, young Battle took his bachelor ' s degree before his eighteenth birthday, having annexed various academic honors in the process. He then spent several years in Harvard where he received two advanced degrees and landed in Austin in the fall of 1893 as associate professor of Greek. Soon after his arrival in Austin an amusing incident occurred when Dr. Battle met Francis R. Lubbock, the veteran war-governor of Texas. Governor Lubbock, my name is Battle, said the youthful newcomer, holding out his hand. I ' m very pleased to meet you. Mr. Battle, said the veteran in gray. And where are you from, Mr. Battle? My home is in Chappel Hill. North Carolina. said the youth. Well, well ' said the octogenarian. I ' m proud to learn that the reputation of our young university has spread abroad to such an extent that students are coming to us from such distances. Whereupon the blushing stranger was forced to acknowledge that he was not a student at all. but that he had already taken his Doctor ' s degree at Harvard and was the new professor of Greek. Having arrived in the state at so tender an age. Dr. Battle soon became as good a Texan as any native — better, he maintains for he is a Texan by choice and not by the accident of birth. And certain it is that no native of the state has ever served it with greater devotion and singleness of purpose. He is one of the best instructors the University has ever had, an able administrator with a genius for detail, a scholar, a gentleman, a man without guile. At no time in the history of the University has its internal administration received such careful scrutiny as during his administration as acting president. C. 6 Polls.
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Page 14 text:
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Our New President |N the 25th of April the Board of Regents surprised the university community and the citizens of the state at large, by selecting as president of the University of Texas effective July 1st, Dr. Robert Ernest Vinson, president of the Austin Theological Seminary, to succeed William James Battle. Dr. Vinson was notified of his election by a committee ol the Board, consisting of David Har- rell. Geo. W. Littlefield. and Dr. Battle, and announced his acceptance. While the selection of Dr Vinson came as an almost t otal surprise, the action of the Board was heralded with universal approval by the friends and well wishers of the university through- out the state. Dr. Vinson was born in Fairfield County, South Carolina. November 4. 1876: son of John and Mary Eliz- abeth Bricc Vinson He received the degree of bachelor of arts from Austin College. Sherman, Texas, in 1896 and the degree of bachelor of divinity from Union Theological Seminary in Vir- ginia in 1899: studied at the Univer- sity of Chicago in 1892: received the degree of doctor of divinity from Austin College in 1905: received the degree of doctor of laws from Southwestern Presbyterian University in 1910 On January 3. 1901. he married Miss Katherine Elizabeth Kerr of Sherman, of which marriage- there are three children For the last fourteen years Dr. Vinson has been a teacher in the ustin Theological Seminary, commencing in 1902 as professor of Hebrew and New I estament Greek, and in l L X)o was transferred at his own request by the board of trustees to the Allcn- Johnson Chair of English Bible and Practical Theology. In 1908 Dr inson was unanimously elected president of the seminary, in which position he has continued until this date. In 1909 he was appointed by the Synod of Texas as chair- man of the executive committee of schools and colleges to administer the financial attain ol all ol the educational work of the Presbyterian Church in Texas, which position he still holds, Dr. Vinson is the fourth native son of South Carolina to be called to the presidency ol the University of Texas. The other South Carolinians who have been at the head ol the school arc George fayloe Winston. David F. Houston, now Secretary ol Agriculture in Presi- dent ilson ' s cabinet, and V. J. Battle, who has been sen ing as president since the resignation Mezes. Dr. Vinson comes to the university with the best wishes and most hearty co-operation .,1 both the student body and alumni of the school, I lis opportunitj is immense, and his i. confident in the belief that he will adopt a broad-gauged and liberal policy with reference to the administration of the affairs of I educational institution, and predict an era ol prosperity and progress for man) years to come
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