University of Massachusetts Amherst - Index Yearbook (Amherst, MA)

Page 12 text:

pniLIP BEVIER HASBROUCK long stood at the entrance door of the - ■ college as its official guardian, — the Registrar. He had a great ambition to keep our scholastic standard high and to raise it higher. He was very impatient with persons who sent students here who would not be accepted elsewhere. Be- lieving strongly that a farmer required as fine a preparation for his career as was required for anj other, he resented the idea that a boy should be sent to us for training because he was not gifted with enough brains to enter some other profes- sion. So it was that the first official of the college with whom the student had personal relations inspired him immediately with a great respect for the institu- tion that he was entering. Very few teachers have ever made such an impression on generations of stu- dents. His was a sturdy character, yet with a great tenderness in it. AVhenever he saw contrition on an offender ' s face, he stopped addressing him as mister and called him son . His patience was endless toward those who were striving against odds to better themselves. His students will always remember his pic- turesque phrases: His chance is as good as that of the butter cat chased by the asbestos dog through the flames of hell , Now son, you must fish, cut bait, or hold the bag. There you go! You ' ve swalloed it all, hook, bob, and sinker. No man ever had greater loyalty and love for our college. He resented any injury or insult to her more than a personal hurt. He became so excited at ath- letic contests that in later years he reluctantly remained away from the field, because the swaying fortunes of the team placed too great a strain on him. Every triumph of the college was a glory to him. The robustness of his convictions often made him seem impulsive. In reality his judgments were long and carefully considered. Above all things he was a just man. Many a boy began by fearing him and ended by loving him. No one ever failed to respect him. He grew up with the growing institution embodying its lofty ideals. His was a grand figure. May our college never forget him. ALEXANDER A. MACKIMMIE. I first knew Professor Hasbrouck when he was teaching mathematics and I was a freshman in college. As a teacher he had the art of making his students see clearly the subject he taught. He was tireless in his efforts to make his lec- tures clear. In return he expected a student to put thought and energy into his work. His test of a man ' s ability may have seemed severe but was usually tem- pered with sympathetic understanding. He was even more severe with himself. Putting his best into his work he was not satisfied with less than the best from a student. But I knew Professor Hasbrouck better in his work as registrar. In the office as in his classroom he gave his best effort. He was always ready to receive any student who had a fair plan to present and sufficient ability to give a fair

Page 11 text:

0 Pfjilip pebier a£;tirouck 2ln memorp of ifii gteabfast lopaltp, feinblp leabcr tip. anb guccesfgful enbcabor for ttc koelfare of ttjc coUes t t|)e clagg of 1926 bcliicates tifii bolumc

Page 13 text:

assurance of meeting his part of the fulfillment of the plan. He felt it was not a kindness to admit anyone to college who was not prepared to carry the work with success and that it was a serious detriment to the classes in which the student was enrolled. How often have I seen his rather gruff manner toward some student fade away and the fatherly interest and Now, my son , take its place when the boy showed himself in earnest. One attribute I shall always remember was his ability to take a joke on him- self. It was after the AVorld War. Hundreds of the boys were coming back to college in the winter term. Some few expected all past deficiencies to be forgiven them. Credit was allowed them for a term ' s work, but actual deficiencies like debts of money were to be satisfied. One boy was told this in no uncertain terms. Instead of disputing further, he turned to the crowd of boys in the office and said, ' ' Well fellows, we are back home. A good laugh was enjoj ed by everyone. It did not matter how well or how poorly he felt, his Good morning was always a hearty one. He was never known to speak of his own ill health without a smile as though persuading himself that it was a joke nature was playing on him. He never complained of being overworked, although I have known that he stayed until eleven or twelve o ' clock to interview students at the opening of college. His courage was moral as well as physical. No matter how unpopular an idea was, he championed it if it were for the good of the college. Nor did he leave anyone in doubt as to his stand on any question. His courage and his humor were two outstanding characteristics. He never sought popularity, but it came because of these attributes. A truer friend or a more willing servant the College never had. MISS OLIVE M. TURNER. Simplicity, quiet determination, capacity for hard work and loyalty to his job were characteristics exemplified daily in the life of Philip Bevier Hasbrouck. The intimate picture I have of him is that of a gracious, friendl oflScial and teach- er who occasionally, when tired and worn by the routine duties of teaching and administrative work, sought relief through a friendly visit to my office while he attempted to quiet his nerves by smoking a cigarette rolled by himself. Through these visits, really conferences, I discovered why it was that students loved to call him Billy . He was impulsive, frank, decisive and quick to recognize real worth. His administrative rulings were rendered promptly, finally, yet justly. I miss him, in fact we all do, but his memory will ever be precious to me because of the many lessons which I learned as I worked side by side with him over a period of several years. WILLIAM L. MACHMER.