The J-TAC (Stephenville, Tex.), Vol. 25, No. 23, Ed. 1 Tuesday, September 4, 1945 Page: 1 of 4
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GIVE THIS J-TAC TO A
PROSPECTIVE STUDENT
T
E
TAC
GOOD BYE AND GOOD
, LUCK GRADUATES
OL. XXV.
STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 1945
NUMBER 23
PRESIDENT COMMENDS DEAN DAVIS AND RECOMMENDS DEAN HOWELL
JEAN J. THOMAS DAVIS TO TEACH
EW CLASS IN CURRENT AFFAIRS
j Dean J. Thomas Davis is going-
; ack to his first love—teaching.
; lean Davis plans to teach a course
ot yet named—a course in the in-
jrpretation of current affairs. The
surse will be given in the light of
: ast events.
On August 31 he relinquished the
,eanship, a position he held 26
ears and in which time he built
. ohn Tai'leton into one of the larg-
s st junior colleges in the country.
Jo other man has served longer as
idministrative head of a Texas
tate college.
Dean Davis will remain on the
ampus as a teacher and dean
me'ritus except,.as he puts its, for
in, occasional fishing trip with his
' 'hildren and. friends.
At 65, he is one of Texas' most
>eloved educators. A man of ideas,
le constantly schemed ways for
ambitious boys and girls to get a
- :ollege education.
^ On the unique side was his "Jer-
sey Cow Scholarship," a system
•vhqreby profits from calves arid
iairy products aided deserving
)oys through John Tai-leton.
The dean has a* first hand ac-
quaintance with the hardships fac-
t ing a student who is footing his
i own college bills. He worked his
way through North Texas Normal
College at Denton.
Born in Heard County, Georgia,
Dean Davis moved with his family
'to Alabama, and later, at fourteen,
to Texas • where they settled near
Grapevine in Denton County.
Other schools in Tex^s besides
' John Tai'leton know the dean.
After graduation from college'he
taught rural schools at Green
jBrjar and Bethel in Denton Coun-
ty froip. 1900 to 1902. In,1904-1905
he taught Latin at Honey Grove
and Navasota High School, was ap-
pointgd Grimes co.unty superintend-
ent of schools two years later, and
returned to the Navasota schools as
superintendent in 1910. He re-
mained there until 1919.
Meanwhile, he had earned a
t bachelor of arts degree at the Uni-
versity of Texas in 1918.
Dr. W. B. Bizzell was superinten-
■. dent of schools at Navasota when
Davis was high school principal
, there. Later, when John Tarleton
I was made a branch of Texas A. &
' M., Dr. Bizzell told the board of
directors Davis was the man they
•were looking for to head the junior
college.
Davis, considering it inappropri-
ate for a man with an academic de
,gree to become dean of an agricul-
tural and mechanical school, delay-
ed his work for a few months to
attend A. & M. to secure a degree
I" in agriculture.
The success of his 26 years at
John Tarleton can be measured in
MR. EAVES IMPROVING
; Professor R. L. Eaveo, head of
V
i the history and government depart-
' ment, has been absent from school
this week because of his serious
illnesu. He is in a iJallas hospital
for treatment, and reports have
come that he is improving.
Military Ball Being Planned
The cadet officers are making
plans for a milita-ry ball to be held
Saturday, September 8. It will be
on the &lab in Hunewell Park at
8:30 o'clock. Tickets are now on.
sale by cadet officers and non-
commissioned officers. Admission
price is 75" cents.
FROM DEAN HOWELL
In coming to Stephenville and
John .Tarleton College the first
of September, I came back
home. I was here from 1923 to
1930, and Mrs. Howell ,and 1
have always had a warm place
in oijr hearts for Tarleton. We
arq, looking forward with a
great deal of pleasure to living
here. It- is a great honor to suc-
ceed a man lil^e Dean Davis.
E. J. HOWELL,
Dean
the growth of the college. From 321
students in 1919, the school's en-
rollment grew to over 1,800 in the
years immediately preceding the
war. Its faculty grew from 24 to
80 members. The college now holds
membership in the Texas Associa-,
tion of Colleges, the American As-
sociation of Junior Colleges and the
Association of Colleges and Second-
ary Schools of the Southern States.
The cow scholarship originated in
1928. Dean Davis explained to Roy
J. Beard of Houston that many de-
serving boys needed financial aid
in getting through John Tarleton.
Beard wanted to know how he
could help, and Dean Davis sug-
gested a dairy cow scholarship that
could be used wear after year.
Beard gave $1,000 for the pur-
chase of the "best Jersey cow in
Texas," and so was established the
Eoy J. Beard-J. J. Walden scholar-
ships. These scholarships are
awarded annually to 11 boys. Each
recipient receives an amount from
the profit over feed and care which
averages about $25 each semester.
The college receives the' increase
in offsprings and when the scholar-
ship cow is no longer profitable, her
oldest daughter becomes the schol-
arship cow. These scholarships
carry with them the opportunity of
working at the college livestock
farm from 60 to 80 hours each
month, according to the scholastic
progress of the' student.
Two years ago George Kessler of
New York City, whose son was a
student in the army specialized
training coi'ps at John Tarleton,
gave the college $1,000 to purchase
three additional scholarship cows.
Davis was president of the Mid-
continued on Page 3)
HIGHEST HONOR
GRADUATE LIST
IS RELEASED
The official list of honor grad-
uates has been released by Dean
G. O. Ferguson, Mildred Hensar-
ling 1 of Stephenville, psychology
major, led, the list with Melva Rog-
ers of Mineral Wells, engineering
major, following second. Kathryn
White of Wickett, majoring ip
business administration, Enid
Weidenbach of Stephenville, social
science major, Jack Kirby of Mer-
cury, engineering major, and Clar-
ice Thompson of Lipan, music ma-
jor, follow in that order.
The program will be held at 8:00
in the evening on Wednesday, Sep-
tembex- 12. Plans for the exercises
are practically complete. Since the
valedictorian, Mildred Hensarling,
will not'be present to give the vale-
dictory address, the program will
be arranged in a different manner
from the graduation programs of
previous semesters. Dean Howell
will make the principal address,/at
the request of the class. Part of
the program will be given by the
honor graduates.
The students will form the line
of march in front of the dining
hall and march into the auditor-
ium led by the Military Band.
Dining Hall Prepares
For Fall Semester
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TWO VETERAN TEACHERS RETIRE;
EXPERIENCE TOTALS 99 YEARS
Two veteran teachers are exercising their rights under the
Texas Teacher Retirement Law and will retire from teaching
in September. -Both began their teaching career at the age of
eighteen, and both have been at John Tarleton for twenty-five
years.
J. W. Foote Trained t C. H. Hale Called
Students Capably Grand Old Man
The dining hall has found the
last four weeks of this semester ex-
ceptionally busy because prepara-
tions are being made for one of the
largest enrollments for the coming
fall since the war began. Everyone
has been having to be more -alert
than usual because of the lunch-
eons, dinners, and refreshments to
be served to the new dean, the
clubs, new students, and their par-
ents, agriculture men who are
working in the turkey laboratory,
and visiting faculty" members.
The dining hall will open for the
fall semester September 21, 1945.
J. W. Foote, a teacher of busi-
ness subjects for fifty-seven years,
will take that much-needed rest and
vacation in September.
r/Bofn at Tonica, Illinois, in 1870,
and & graduate of Gem City Busi-
ness College of Quincy, Illinois,
he started his teaching in Kansas,
where he taught for thirteen years
before coming to Texas in 1902.
His tenure in Texas began at Ter-
rell, where he taught for four
years. He taught at Wesley Col-
lege, Greenville, for two years,
and at Massey Business College,
Houston, for twelve years before'
coming to Tarleton in 1920. As
head of the Department of Busi-
ness Administration, he develop-
ed strong courses in both terminal
and degree work in that field.
The teaching of shorthand has
been his specialty for all these
years, and at seventy-five he is
probably the oldest shorthand tea-
cher in point of service as well as
in age in Texas. Because he has al-
ways been a strict disciplinarian
and one who always insisted that"
each lesson be prepared to perfec-
tion, the first impression of his
students was that he was harsh
and 'hardboiled." However, further
contacts invariably caused stud-
ents to comment, "He has a heart
of gold." Teachers in senior col-
leges and business executives have
always rejoiced at getting Mr.-
Foote's well trained students.
All of his children, three daugh-
ters, and two sons, studied business
subjects under his guidance: Mrs.
Lucy Rankin of Weslaco; Mrs.
Frances . Carter of Midland; Mrs.
Gladys Nicol of Dallas; James'H.
Foote of San Diego, California; and
Kenneth Foote of Orange.
. In regard to retirement, he says;
"I think I have earned a rest. I
plan to visit with my children,
go fishing once in a while, care for
my flock of chickens, and work in
my flower garden." He will be a
frequent visitor to the campus,
too,, since his home is nearby.
C. H. Hale, "The Grand Old
Man of Tarleton," is rounding out
twenty-five years of service at
Tarleton and forty-two years in
the teaching- profession.
An ardent sports fan, he always
backed the Tarleton Plowboys
"through victory and defeat."
Many former athletes will remem-
ber his custom of meeting with the
members of the team in their dress-
ing room during the rest periods.
If they were leading at the half,
he usually remarked, "That's the
way, boys." If the game had not
gone so well, he would stroll in and
say, "Been playing a little tag,
boys ?" He drew the plans and laid
out Hayes Field, the present home
of the athletic teams.
Born at Corinth, Arkansas, in
1869, he came with his family to
Erath county in 1885, and soon
entered upon an educational car-
eer that has covered a large part
of Texas. His educational training
includes Add-Ran College at Thorp
Spring, the University of Texas,
the University of Colorado, George
Peabody College for Teachers, and
Texas Christian University. He
holds the B.A., B.S., and M.A. de-
grees from Texas Christian Uni-
versity.
He founded and operated the
Huckabay Academy, an early day
private institution, located at Huc-
kabay, Texas, from 1902-1912. He
taught mathematics at Randolph
College, Lancaster, Texas; Thorp
Springs Christian College; and in
Bellevue and Ralls public schools.
He first came to Tarleton College
in 1914 before it was made, a state
institution and took an active part
in 'the campaign to get the plant
accepted by the state in 1917. His
first tenure lasted until 1920, when
he left to take up other teaching
duties. Back to Tarleton in 1925,
he taught mathematics until 1930,
when he, became professor of edu-
cation, a position he has held ever
since.
He plans to visit with his child-
(See Veterans Retire—Page 4)
INDICATIONS
ENROLLMENT
- Mr. T. V. Crounse, registrar, has
announced that registration will be
l^ld on the 21st and. 22nd of Sep-
tember. Classes will begin on Sep-
tember 24th at .eight o'clock. All
faculty . members have been re-
quested to -report on September
20th. Students now attending Tar-
leton may get their clearance cards
on Tuesday, September 11th.
' Mt..Ci'ounse stated that the num-
ber of high school transcripts re-
ceived indicates an increase in en-
rollment for the fall. All of Moody,
Gough, and, .Wilkerson Halls for
girls have been reserved and Lewis
Hall is being filled rapidly.
E. J. HOWELL UNANIMOUS CHOICE
OF BOARD FOR TARLETON'S DEAN
Lt. Col. E. J. Howell topk over officially as dean and adminis-
trative head o£ John Tarleton Agricultural College Saturday,
September 1. Dean J. Thomas Davis with a record of twenty-six
years as head of Tarleton retired as dean to become dean emeri-
tus and professor.
The college auditorium was beautifully decorated with many
baskets of flowers, which had been presented by various citizens
of Stephenville in honor of Dean Davis and Dean Howell.
The program began with the in-
vocation by Minister'Max R. Crum-
ley of the Stephenville Church of
Christ. Associate Dean-G. O. Fer-
guson, gave a brief history of Tar-
leton and the A. & M. System be-
fore introducing President Gib Gil-
christ, who was here for the special
occasion.
President Gilchrist began his talk
by praising Dean Davis' service to
Tarleton and to the State. "He has
not grown stale in office but has
gotten around and consequently is
better able to carry on academic
duties," President Gilchrist said of
the retiring dean. President Gil-
christ stated that the present legis-
lative budget, the best which Tarle-
ton has ever had, is due almost en-
tirely to Dean Davis' efforts. To
Dean Davis, President Gilchrist
then expressed the apreciation of
the officials of the A. & M. System
for the far reaching work he has
done. President Gilchrist then char^
acterized Dean Howell by saying
that he is young, has energy to
burn, and brains. Dean Howell was
chosen unanimously for the post as
dean by the A. & M. board of direc-
tors.
Dean Ferguson then iiitrojduced
Dean Davis who opened his talk by
saying that one man d.id not build
Tarleton, but the people of Texas,
the faculty, and the students. Tar-
leton was built, he said, by co-oper-
ation. Dean Davis ended by giving
his personal motto, "That only a
good leader is one who is a good
follower."
Dean Howell spoke next officially
accepting the post as dean of John
Tarleton College. He pledged the
very best of which he is capable to
leading Tarleton on to greater
heights. He ended his t acceptance
with the words, "On Ye Tarleton."
DONALD W. MORTON TO BECOME
HEAD OF FINE ARTS DIVISION
Donald W. Morton has been
named to head,the division of Mu-
sic and Fine Arts at John Tarleton
College, succeeding R. Berton Cof-
fin, who has resigned.
Mr. Coffin states that he is pur-
suing his doctor's degree in New
York. Dean Davis says of Mr. Cof-
fin, "He has rendered very valuable
and efficient service for the college,
and we will miss him and his fine
spirit of cooperation and effici-
ency."
Dean Davis continues, "John Tar-
leton College is very fortunate in
securing Donald Morton as Mr.
Coffin's successor. The people of
Stephenville and many ex-students
'of John Tarleton will remember
Mr. Morton as one of our finest
teachers and platform performers.
Mr. Morton has a very broad and
liberal educational background • in
addition to his music training."
Mr. Morton'has made distinctive
cultural''achievement as-'a student
in the University of Rochester, Ro-
chester, N. Y., holding a bachelor
of" music degree, performer's cer-
tificate, and a master's degree in
theory and composition, and also
in music education. He is widely ex-
perienced, having conducted bands,
orchestras, choruses, and as direc-
tor of church choirs. For two years
he was assistant director of the
Eastman School Chorus.. of 200
voices, one of the very finest vocal,
ensembles in the country.
In the fields of art, speech and
drama, Mr. Morton is no stranger.
His mother ^as a fine painter.
Mr. Morton studied engineering
prior to specializing in music and
lacks only one year having a de-
gree. This may seem unrelated,
but his original purpose was to
forestall the possibility ot becom-
ing narrow. In this respect Fate
and the war have been most consid-
erate.
Since the end of the AST pro-
gram at Tarleton he has been em-
ployed in two different branches of
engineering work. These are as a
mechanical draftsfrian at. General
Motors Co., central engineering of-
fices and as a body draftsman at
the- Lincoln division of the Ford
Motor Company.
The ceremonies ended with sing-
ing of "On Ye Tarleton" by the
entire audience and the benediction
by Reverend H. Marshall Smith of
the First Baptist Church of Steph-
enville.
Attending the program from the
A. & M. system in addition to
President Gilchrist were Doctor F.
C. Bolton, executive vice-president
and dean of the college, C. N. Shep-
ardson, dean of the School of Agri-
culture; H. W. Barlow, dean of the
School of Engineering; Doctor I. P.
Trotter, director of the Agricul-
tural Extension Service, and Dean
and Mrs. E-. E. Davis of North
Texas Agricultural College.
After the ceremonies a luncheon
was given in the college dining hall
honoring the distinguished visitors.
Colonel Howell came to Tarleton
in 1923 as associate professor of
chemistry and was registrar and
commandant from 1924 to 1930. At
that date he became assistant reg-
istrar at A. & M., and two years
later was made registrar. He serv-
ed in that position until he was
called into active service with the
army, June 30, 1941.
On active duty he served in the
Education Section, Morale Branch
at Washington, D. C., until Janu-
ary 31, 1942; from February 6,
1942 to February 10, 1943, secre-
tary Tank Destroyer School, Camp
Hood; February 11, 1943 to No-
vember 21, 1943, commanding of-
ficer, Officers' Candidate School,
Regiment Tank Destroyer Schpol,
Camp Hood; November 22, 1943, to
December 21, 1943, S-l (Person-
nel) , Army Specialized Training
Program, Basic Training Center,
North Camp Hood; and from April
16, 1944 until August 1945, assist-'
ant G-3 (Training) Replacement
and School Command, Birmingham,
Alabama.
Colonel Howell was born Decem-
ber 6, 1900, and graduated from
Waco High School in 1918. He re-
ceived his B.S. degree from A. &
M.; in 1922 and his M.S. in 1932.
The new dean is married and has
two children, Nancy and Jimmie.
His hobbies are gold and crypt-
analysis. He is a Baptist and a
Mason and is listed in "Leaders in
Education," "Who's Who in Engi-
neering," and "America's Young
Men."
Joy Brokaw of San Angelo visit-
ed friends on the campus last week.
She is a former O.W.L.S. member.
FROM DEAN DAVIS
On this my very last day of
twenty-six years of service, I
extend to the Editor of the
J-Tac, the staff, the student
body, and the faculty my hearty
good wishes for a continued suc-
cessful, vigorous, progressive,
Tarleton College.
I want to express my pro-
foundest appreciation to every
person who has helped to sus-
tain the principles which we
have tried to promote. I am
grateful to every person in ser-
vice and to the vast host of ex-
students who have gone out over
the state and into other states
and foreign nations/ for their
continued loyalty to the institu-
tion. Tarleton students have liv-
ed nobly and fought honorably
for the ideals of this nation and
American way of life.
Somehow this morning, my
heart is overflowing with grati-
tude, however, for those who
have been so kind and generous
to me, to Mrs. Davfs, and to our
children.
J.. THOMAS DAVIS,
.Dean EmeriturJ and Professor
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The J-TAC (Stephenville, Tex.), Vol. 25, No. 23, Ed. 1 Tuesday, September 4, 1945, newspaper, September 4, 1945; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth140954/m1/1/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Tarleton State University.