Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-02-06
RICHMOND SCHOOLS.
Mr.. WILLIAM RAYETTE FOX ELECTED
sUPERIsTENDENr OF THEM.
Facts About His Life and Educational
Labors-Kind Words for Colonel
John B. Cary.

n meeting OF tDe BOhrO OF Enuc1tiOD WIS
held at rs office, corner OF Twelfth and Mar
shall streets, yesterday afternoon 10 consider
the resignation OF Colonel John B. Cary,
Superintendent Of City Schools, and elect bis
successor. Governor Lee and DR.. John L.
Buchanan, Superintendent Of Public In
struction, were present; Attorney-Gener,l
Ayers, toe other member. was absent from
the city.
The board reluctantly accepted Colonel
Cary's resignation and expressed it, high
appreciation OF his valuable services TO tue
public schools OF this city, which was hearth
Iy concurred 10 by Hon. j. Taylor Eilyson
and Hon. William Loyenstein on behalf Oh
the City School Board.
ELECTION OF MR.. WILLIAM =. FOX.
Messrs. Ellyson and LovensteIn appeared
before the State Board 81 a committee from
the CITY Board, and submitted the following
resolution az toe action OF the City Board:
Alta meeting Of the School Board OF the
city Of Richmond held January %. 1889,
Hon. J. Taylor Ellyson and Hon. william
Loyenstein were appointed committee 10
wait on the State Board OF Eduration and
recommend Mr.. William +. Fox - The
choice OF this board for the position OF City
Superintendent OF Schools OF the city OF
Richmond TO oil The place made vacant by
the resignation OF Colonel John Il. Cary.
The committee, after submitting the &C
ton OF the City School Board, urged the
State Board to take immediate action. as 1t
would be necessary TO III! other vacancies IN
case OF the appointment OF Mr.. Fox. The
committee also advocated the claims OF Mr..
Fox for the position, and bore testimony to
his faithful and valuable work as principal
OF the High School, his educational qualih'
cations, his familiarity with the school laws,
and his knowledge OF the needs OF the public
schools OF this city.
The board considered carefully the appi-
cation and unanimously elected Mr. Fox as
Superintendent OF City Schools Of the city OF
Richmond for Colonel Cary's unexpired
term.
Attorney General Ayers, who Is member
OF the state Board, was absent from the city,
but II Is understood that he cordially favored
Mr.. Fox's appointment, and would have
cheeriully voted for him had he been pres
ent.
SKETCH OF TIE LIRE OF Mr.. FOX.
William Fayette Fox was born and reared
in the county OF King William. and that was
his home until he completed his education.
lie began his education st Rumford Acade.
my, King William county, and went thence
to Richmond College, and thence 10 the
University OF Virginia. He graduated with
high honOrs at Richmond College and also
in several schools at the University OF Vlr-
gina. In the spring OF 1866 he moved to
the city Of Richmond and became an assist
ant in the school OF Rev. W. j. Pettigrew.
He taught female school on Church Hill
for one year, and then boys school on
Eleventh street in the building now used by
the Supreme Court OF Virginia.
A PUBLIC SCHOOL MAN.
Mr.. Fox entered the Richmond public
schools in the fall OF 1871 and was assigned
az principal OF the Bethel School, on Twen'
tieih street between Main and Cary, where
he remained one year. In the fall OF 1872
the Richmond High school was opened In
rooms on Broad street between Ninth and
Tenth and Mr. Fox was elected principal.
The next summer the present Richmond
Highs school building was built and the
school was moved into II In the fall OF 1873,
with MIR. Fox stIil in charge and where be
has remained up to the present time, making
a term Of twenfy.three years in the public
schools, during sixteen of which he filed the
high and responsible position OF principal OF
the Richmond High School. During the
term of Mr. Fox the High School has
taken Tell-deserycd position in The
'front.' rank Of educational institutions.
This school began October l, 1873, with only
fOrty-nine scholars aud twO teachers, in the
rooms on Broad between Ninth and Tenth
streets, but has steadily grown IN usefulness
and favor until now It has over 600 scholars
on the roll and twenty teachers, With course
OF study chat reflects great credit on the pub
lie schools Of t1is city. From It's graduates
the district schools are supplied with well.
educated and competent teachers, aud IN
nearly ail the counties OF the State, also, may
be found ts graduates doing grand work for
the cause Ci education at large.
As EDITOR.
Mr.. Fox has also been the editor OF the
Educational journal OF Virginia for many
wears. and hrs lab0rs in this responsible po-
sition have eyinced bis sbility to build up
popular edncational journal He will enter
on his duties as superintendent on the 10Th
OF February.
The City Sc0ool Board have not yet deter
mined on his successor IS principal OF the
Richmond High school, but will doubtless
select one Of the present efficient principals
to ill the high position vacated by him.
COLONEL J. b. CARY.
It is almost needless TO say that Colonel
Cary has the best wishes OF the officers,
teachers. and pupils Of the entire system,
and will ever be remembered as a kind and
efficient officer, who, In performing the
many difficult and trying Outies OF his
late position, has endeared himself to all
with whom he came in contact
HEARD MRS. BARRY's LECTURE.