Valparaiso University - Beacon / Record Yearbook (Valparaiso, IN)

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Valparaiso University 119254935 In 1925 the glory that once encircled the Old College Building was in grave danger of passing away. The building lay in ashes and the heroic work of Professors H. B. Brown and O, P. Kinsey had no successors. The tradition of higher education at Valparaiso, a reality For over Fifty years, appeared hopelessly doomed. Since 1920 the management of the University had been vested in a board of trustees. The board of trustees was seIF-perpetuoting and held the University in trust for the cause of education. It did not operate For profit but devoted its atten- tion to the educational desires of the people. The Board of Trustees valiantly tried to main- tain the normal Functioning of the University, but unfortunately their purposes were not realized. Attempts to interest several church bodies in taking over the institution failed. A concerted drive was then made to induce the state of Indiana to take over Valparaiso University and convert it into a State Normal School. The bill passed both houses of the Legislature and every indication pointed to this transfer. The bill died, however, as a pocket veto. Undaunted by these several reversals, the Board, upon the suggestion and instigation of the local Lutheran pastor, contacted the Evangelical Lutheran Missouri Synod in an attempt to have them take over Valparaiso University. At this time the University had an indebtedness of about $331,000 with no assets whatsoever. In this last desperate eHort to save the University a com- mittee of the Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the Valparaiso Realty Com- pany, which owned all real and personal property used by the University, called on all creditors to conditionally cancel and surrender their claims in full. The members of this committee were: Chester W. Wharton, Pastor, Presbyterian Church, Chairman W. C. Sutter, Manager Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce E. L. Loomis, Superintendent Valparaiso Water Company H. E. Sievers, Treasurer, Specht-Finney Com- pony E. W. Strecker, Pastor, Methodist Episcopal Church Within a month the complete cancellation was effected and on June 92, 1925, at a convention of the Central District of the Missouri Synod, a Page 10 East TowereOld College Building resolution was passed encouraging the Formation of a corporation Hto acquire and conduct educa- tional institutions and speciFicalIy to acquire and operate Valparaiso University. The following committee was elected: Wt C. Dickmeyer, Fort Wayne, ind. Prof. W. D. Mensing, Fort Wayne, ind. C. J. Scheimann, Fort Wayne, Ind. Herman Sieversi Valparaiso, ind. George Halter, Cleveland, Ohio L, Holland-Letz, Gary, Ind. A. Ahlbrand, Seymour, Ind. C, H. Richman, Cincinnati, Ohio Rev. M. F. Kretzmann, Kendallville, Ind. Rev. Paul F. Miller, Fort Wayne, Ind. E. Lotham, Louisville, Ky. J. A. Fichter, Akron, Ohio Dr. H. A. Duemling, Fort Wayne, lncl. Rev. J C. Baur, Fort Wayne, Ind. Rev. George Schutes, Valparaiso, lnd. W. D. Holterman, Fort Wayne, Incl. Martin Luecke, Fort Wayne, Ind. Rev. J. D. Mattius, Indianapolis, Ind.

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Appreciation It is a pleasure to reproduce a picture taken at the Catherine Corboy Ciub banquet on March 25, at which Catherine Corboy was honored For her Fifty years of ser- vice and loyalty to the ideals of this Institution. The 1935 UHLAN joins the student body and alumni in on expression OF appreciation to this kindly personality. Page 9

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Out of this group the following executive com- mittee was chosen: Dr. H. A. Duemling, Fort Wayne, Incl. President W. C. Dickmeyer, Fort Wayne, incl. Vice-President Paul F. Miller, Fort Wayne, Ind. Secretary C. J Scheimann, Fort Wayne, Ind. Treasurer , Rev. George Schutes, Valparaiso, Ind, Herman Sievers, Valparaiso, 1nd. Rev. J. C. Baur, Fort Wayne, lndr The Committee Functioned faithfully throughout the remaining year, and after calling together a larger body of Lutheran Laymen and pastors, organized the Lutheran University Association. The plant was purcahsed for $205,0000nd the legal transfer to the Lutheran University Associ- ation was made on September 8, 1925. The administration tor the 19254926 school year continued with Dr. H. M. Evans as president. Representing the new group was John C. Baur. A. F. Scribner became Registrar in 1925, after serving as assistant For four years; RECONSTRUCTION The work of reorganization began with a gen- eral clean-up of the campus. Before the opening of the1926 aca- clemic year, everybuiiding w a s c o m - pleteiy reno- vated, the ruins of the Old College Building were removed, and theCoIlegeof Engineering was moved from the Med- ical Building to the Ma- chine Shop, Dr. Duemling This work of revamping the campus proceeded with rapid strides until 1929 and has proceeded in a marked degree to the present day. Large oid-tashioned class rooms were divided into smaller rooms in keeping with the objective of ideally small classes. The exterior changes were paralleled by the reorganization undertaken in the administration and Faculty ranks. The tremendous Financial prob- lem confronting the new administration can best be appreciated in the light of the First campaign of 1925. $833,000 was the objective, and over one-halt million dollars was raised. Dr. 0. H. Pankoke was general director of this campaign. INAUGURATION OF DR. DAU When Dr. H. M. Evans had accom- plished the task of re-establishing the institution on a Firm Foundation he retired, believing that a man more thoroughly inte- grated into the Luth- eran ideals could better serve the insti- tution. His resignation was accepted on Jan- uary 2, 1926, after serving the University for three years. The inauguration of Dr. W. H. T Dau on October 3, 1926, represented the next large step of the new administration. The distinguished Dr. Dau left Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, to give the benefit of his many years of experience as an educator in the building of Valparaiso University. An estimated attendance of 10,000 was present to participate in the exercises. in performing the inauguration, Dr. Duemling said of Dr; Dau: uAtter the onerous and tedious task of purchasing the material and acquiring the physical equipment of Valparaiso University was completed, it become necessary to place a man at its head who could command and hold the respect of the public . . . a man with the culture and wisdom essential to a leader. We have turned as one man to you. The inaugural address of the new school head was based on the topic uThe Christian Purpose in the Study of the Sciences.n Dr. Dau took as his theme Uln Iuce tua videmus Lucemeln thy Dr. W. H. T. Dou Page II