CLASS OF 1904
Dr. Harry Woodburn Chase, president of the University of North Carolina for the past ten years, was elected president of the University of Illinois, February 20, succeeding Dr. David Kinley, retired.
Dr. Chase was born in Groveland, Mass., forty-seven years ago, and received his degree with the class of 1904 and a master degree in 1908, and since that time he has received degrees of Doctor of Philosophy from Clark University, Doctor of Laws from Dartmouth, University of Georgia, Lake Forest College, and Lenoir Rhyne College.
Along with his work as president of the University, Dr. Chase for the past year has served as president of the National Association of State Universities.
The New York Times in an editorial has this to say with regard to Dr. Chase: "President Harry W. Chase had done so well by the University of North Carolina that he has been called to several other positions of importance. At last he has yielded to the invitation from the University of Illinois. It is not that he is going to a greater position than he has made of that which he now holds, but that he has seen an opportunity to do for another state something comparable with what he has done for North Carolinaperhaps to carry Illinois as far beyond what she now is as North Carolina is beyond what she was when this New England Yankee began his presidency. He has declared his faith in the state university. A privately endowed school may limit its admissions to those who show certain qualities of leadership, but in his view the state university holds that education is not too precious to be touched and handled by the average man. It must, to be sure, also train for leadership, but most of the 750,000 students now in colleges will not be outstanding leaders. Yet they may be lifted to a higher level of knowledge, their lives enriched and their horizons broadened with new possibilities for usefulness. It is with such a declaration but lately on his lips that he goes to a state university of even greater responsibilities and possibilities than that which he leaves. Most men stay too long in one position. President Chase has not done so, though he has stayed long enough to leave his permanent mark upon the University of North Carolina. He will enlarge his contribution to America's educational history in his new position, where he will be a worthy successor of Draper, James, and Kinley."
The class of 1904 is very proud of the splendid work that Dr. Chase has done, and wish him continued success in his new field.
The class wishes to express in this column its sincere sympathy and sorrow in the death of Eugene F. Clark of the class of 1901, who for so many years has been the secretary of the College. His intimate relationship with the class secretaries has been one of the finest contacts which the College has maintained with the alumni, and it is certain that the relations of the alumni with the College have been made richer and more outstanding because of the fine work of Gene Clark.
Secretary, 1387 Main St., Springfield, Mass.
