University of Wisconsin Oshkosh - Quiver Yearbook (Oshkosh, WI)

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Dll. EIMVAKD .). DEMPSEV President of the Board of Regents Retired—September, 1946 Education is, after all, not so much o distinction as it is a trust. These words, written by Newton D. Baker, could well be used os a tribute of respect to the retired president of the Board of Regents, Edward J. Dempsey. Mr. Dempsey fully realized the fact that education is a trust and, throughout his thirty-two years of faithful service, did much to promote this high conception of education among those with whom he worked. Faculty members ond students of the Oshkosh State Teachers College are especially interested in Mr. Dempsey, who himself graduated from this institution in the class of 1901. He took graduate work at the University of Wisconsin and the University of Chicago, and, after passing the Wisconsin Bar Examination, he began his distinguished law career in Oshkosh. When Mr. Dempsey was appointed to the Board of Regents by Governor McGovern in 1914, it became immediately evident that he intended to do all in his power to promote educational welfare in Wisconsin. As an endorsement of his excellent and intelligent service, Governor Phillip reappointed him in 1919. At this time Mr. Dempsey, realizing that salaries in the colleges were too low, secured an increase in teachers' salaries of fifteen per cent. In 1924, the board selected him as president, a position % he held until the time of his retirement in 1946. During the years of his presidency, he presented the budget for the teachers colleges and was many times instrumental in obtaining money for the schools. In 1925 Mr. Dempsey sponsored the bill for the granting of Bachelor of Education degrees in the teachers colleges. Although he was impartial in his dealings as president of the board, his untiring devotion to the Oshkosh State Teachers College was exemplified when, in 1926, he aided the college in securing funds for a training school. With his reappointment in 1929, Mr. Dempsey became the only man ever appointed for a fourth consecutive term. His presence odded a certain stability, and his inspiring record of service created a respect thot led to his reappointment for the fifth consecutive time in 1939. Because of the press of personal affairs, Mr. Dempsey wished to retire from public office, but was persuaded to remain during the wor years. We, as members of Oshkosh State Teachers College and os members of the larger body of Wisconsin Teachers Colleges, can truly say that we are proud to have had as the president of the Board of Regents a man who, in addition to the untiring devotion which he has given to education in Wisconsin, has extended his sphere of activity into the reolm of city, state, and national affairs. 15

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 Member of the Board of Regents Appointed—September, 1946 Upon the resignation of Edward J. Dempsey, Governor Walter Goodlond appointed Frank W. Radford to fill the vacancy of the term expiring Febru-. ary 1, 1949. Mr. Radford is President of The Radford Company, which hos branch plants in Duluth, Minnesota, and Baltimore, Maryland. The Company handles millwork and building material. Mr. Radford was born and reared in Oshkosh. After attending the Training School, he continued his education in the College, taking special work from 1901 -03. With the exception of a period spent in Winnipeg, Canada, he has lived here all his life. Mrs. Radford is a graduate of the College, and several of the Radford children and grandchildren have attended the Training School and have been students for a time in the College. Mr. Radford's interest in the school is wholehearted and undivided both because he attended the College and because he recognizes it as an asset to the city. He rightly esteems its stimulus to the intellectual life of the community above pecuniary value. His business ability has enabled him to grasp the financial details of the budget very readily, and even though the budget was set up before he became a member of the Boord, he hos made mony helpful suggestions in regard to favorable modifications which have been attempted by the Boord. His co-operative spirit was well shown even before he became a member of the Boord, when he gave substantial assistance in enlisting support of businessmen at the time of the celebration of the 75th anniversary, and also when he made a valuable piece of property available to the Board of Normal Regents for building purposes.

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