University of Minnesota School of Agriculture - Agrarian Yearbook (Minneapolis, MN)

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By all accounts those who invited Professor Coffey into the larger field of service were not deceived nor were those of us who knew him best mistaken in assuming that he would ill the new position with credit and meet its responsibilities with the same success that had attended his labors in the earlier times. I-le has become a national figure of Whom we all are proud. Some men are successful in business but intolerable to live with. Some are success- ful as teachers and research specialists who are hardly normal human beings in their contacts with their fellow men. But Dean Coffey is not only an unusual teacher and successful administrator, but he is a loyal friend to his associates and an inspiration to the young. He is one whom we all delight to honor. In a word, Coffey of Minne- sota is one of Nature-:'s finest noblemen. -E. DAVENPORT, Dean E11ze1'i1f1Ls of the , University of Illinois. DEAN COFFEY7S SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS, ST. ANTHONY PARK METHODIST CHURCH Page Twenty-iwo

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Then in 1911, and before the expiration of his second appointment as Associate, he was ad- vanced to the title of Assistant Professor and two years later, or one year sooner than usual, he was made full Professor of Sheep Hus- bandry. These advances were unusually rapid but in every case well earned. It was early in this career at Illinois that an incident' occurred the like of which tries men's souls and, taking the wrong course, has side-tracked many a good man. I-Ie was get- ting 51,500 a year at the time, as I recall, when an unsolicited offer came to him, naming the amazing figure of he do? There was with whom he ship and million. to raise faculty. But weddings extra habit for the best ready for so responsible a task, for modesty was ever one of his strongest attributes. Besides, the lure of the sheep was strong upon him and he stayed on with us. However, in 1921, after seventeen years at Illinois as student, instructor and pro- fessor, a proposition came from Minnesota to assume one of the most important dean- ships of the country. On every count Professor Coffey was ready for the great work of his life and here seemed the opportunity. So we of Illinois bade a reluctant farewell to a family we had learned to love with a peculiar affection as well as to respect for its unusual ability and fidelity. Yet this regret was coupled with pleasure at the prospect of another good man who had found his work. For it is the business of a university not only to conduct- courses of instruction but to develop men and see them go out into fields of larger usefulness. So it is that a stream of the best of the young is continually flowing from one center of usefulness into another, acting as a leaven and an equalizer in our fast developing civilization. Page Tiurnty-one

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Dean Coifey's Activities EAN COFFEY takes 21 keen, friendly interest in people, and he serves them through many avenues, as is shown by this long list of activities: Dean and Director-University Department of Agriculture. Council Group on Livestock Production and Meat Distribution-Federal Farm Board. Served as a special agent of tbe Tdl'i-at Board appointed by President Taft on tbe cost of producing wool in tbe United States. Member of Agricultural Conference appointed by President Coolidge. Member of Committee on Farm and Village Housing of tlae President's Conference on Ho1ne Building and Home Ownership. Member, Board of Directors, American Country Life Association. Cbairman of tbe General Conference Committee,. American Country Life Association. Member of the American Society of Economics. Member of tbe American Society of Animal Production. Member, Board of Directors of tbe International Livestock Exposition. Cbairman of Committee on Spiritual Training in the Minnesota Congress of Parents and Teacbers, Inc. Retired-Vice-President of tbe American Society for tbe Advancement of Science. Member of tbe General Board of Education of tbe Metbodist Episcopal Cburcb. Member of Ioint Wesley Foundation Committee of tbe Metbodist Episcopal Cburcb. Cbairman of tbe foint Executive Committee over tbe Wesley Foundation at tbe Main Campus of tbe University and at University Farm. Cbairman of tbe State Y. M. C. A. Committee. President of tbe Ramsey County Sunday Scbool Association. Member of tbe State Council of Religious Education. Cbair-man of tbe Nortbwest Committee of tbe Religious Education Association. Member of tbe State Comity Committee. Member of tbe Men's 'Work Commission of tbe Metbodist Brotberbood. Fraternities: Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Gamnza Sigma Delta, Alpba Zeta, Sigma Xi. Clubs: University Campus Club, Cosmos Club. Page Tu-'enly-three