Waco High School - Daisy Chain Yearbook (Waco, TX)

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7 - --Y wk- ,rf V V -,W ,. j ' membership in a number of benevolent, fraternal, religious and educational'organizations. He Was past president of the Lions Club, member of the Knights of Pythias, the alumni association of Ohio State University, the Board of Trustees of Baylor Uni- versity, and the Masonic fraternity, and was one of the three who founded the Principals Department of the State Teachers' Asso- ciation. He Was a life member of the Texas State Teachers, Asso- ciation and of the National Education Association, as Well as a member of the Columbus Avenue Baptist Church. Mr. Genheimer Was married in IQI2 to Miss Hazel Ken- drick, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. lWeredith Kendrick, of Waco. Both of Mrs. Genheimer's parents were members of pioneer families of Texas, her mother having been Miss Eddie Connally. Mr. Genheimerls father, Mr. William Frederick Genheimer, Was born in Bavaria and came to America at the age of 3, While his mother, the former Miss Sarah Hartley, Was a member of a pioneer family of Virginia and Was of Irish extraction. The name Genheimer has an interesting derivation, it being a Teutonic Word meaning 'fHome-goerf' This name seems es- pecially fitting for Mr. Genheimer, as he loved above all things, after the strenuous day's Work, to retire to the quiet and peaceful happiness of his home. On Tuesday, January 18, 1938, as the hands of the clock ap- proached the hour marking the close of the school day, Mr. Gen- heimer quietly departed to his Heavenly home. One moment he Was conversing pleasantly in one of the school offices, surrounded by students and friends, his mind filled With plans for the Mid- Year Commencement-the next he had departed for the Com- mencement Eternal. The life of M r. Genheimer appropriately illustrates the truth of the Words of John Temple Graves that, the grandest thing, next to the radiance that Hows from the Almighty Throne, is the light of a noble and beautiful life, Wrapping itself in benedic- tion about the destinies of men, and Ending its home in the bosom of the everlasting Godf'

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lowing his appointment to the principalship, Mr. Genheimer spent four summers in graduate work at the University of Chi- cago. He later taught f-or a number of summers as professor of education in Baylor University. When the present Waco High School building was com- pleted in 1912, Mr. Genheimer became its first principal. He had much to do with planning the erection of the building and with the later additions to the edifice. The Gymnasium and the Stadium also were erected during his administration, while the school has grown from a very few teachers and pupils to its present size of 77 teachers and 2349 students. Mr. Genheimer was part of the crowd that he loved so welll, and his sympathetic soul made their joys and sorrows his own problems. ln the high- est and noblest sense, Mr. Genheimer is generally recognized as the founder of the present Waco High School, while his spirit seems to permeate its principles, as well as its halls. One can think of no modern improvement in the Waco High School, visual education, student government, vocational guidance, new books, art, music, manual arts, without being reminded of the progressive spirit of Principal E. T. Genheimer. Mr. Genheimer was benevolent and philanthropic, though many of his acts of kindness will never be known. He helped numerous boys and girls who were unaware of the identity of their benefactor. Suffering, sorrow, and injustice touched him deeply, for he was ever the champion of the weak, the weary, and the discouraged. Though his own strenuous life was not an easy one, he did not complain, but instead forged ahead to a recognized business and professional success. In the words of Thomas Carlyle, The world, it seems to us, treated him with more rather than with less kindness than it usually shows such men. It has ever, we fear, shown but small favor to its teachers: hunger and nakedness, perils and revilings, the prison, the cross, the poison-chalice, in most times and countries, have been the market-price for wisdom, and the welcome with which it has greeted thgose who have come to.. enlighten and purify itfl . In addition to his professional activities, Mr. Genheimer held '-in-M

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aaofufion Vufzon ffie Eaafg of E galzfiaimaz Passed by the Board of Trustees of the Public Free Sclzoofs 0fWl1C0 at Their Regular Meeting, February lj, 1938 N Tuesday, January 18th, 1938, Eli Thomas Genheimer, with- out notice to his relatives or to the many students under his im- mediate care and direction, with a smile upon his face, and while discharging his duties as its Principal, to the Waco High School, suddenly was taken by death. A continuous service of thirty-one years was interrupted and on the eve of commencement for one hundred eleven of his boys and girls he was graduated to a nobler life as a reward for his labors of love and devotion to many thousands of Waco's youths. To evaluate the life of E. T. Genheimer in certain terms of edu-- cation and character building would be impossible. To ascertain the complete results of his tutorship and example measured in the medi- um of good citizenship, of successful and happy lives, is beyond the capacity of man. The least we can offer is to acknowledge to him a beautiful life of service which has borne its fruit in the successful careers of boys and girls, many of whom are now serving as they learned from him to serve, in the uplift of this City and State. This Board of Trustees makes its grateful acknowledgment of the career of Mr. Genheimer, and now resolves: 'lThat he be accorded a prominent and permanent place in the history of Waco High School, that a sorrowful and sincere vote of thanks for his long and usefull life be tendered, that this Board pub- licly acknowledge the debt that is owed to him by the citizens of Waco and by all of those who have assisted in the cause of public education, that a copy of this resolution be spread upon the minutes of this Board, aecopy delivered to the press, and a copy presented tor his wife in the hope that it will comfort her and assure her of the high esteem in which he is appraised.