Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1900-06-01
George w. De11h1an.

The subject of the following
skett h needs no introduction to the
people of Benton county for it is
doubtful if there is another person
So well known to every man, wo-
man and child in this county as
Geo. w. Denman. This brief syn
opsis of his work in behalf of our
schools and their patrons will be of
interest to every one:
Born in Missouri 1871, he came to
Independence, Oregon, when Z
years old, and has been a resident
OF the state twenty-five years,
twelve of which have been spent in
Corvallis. He received his educa-
ton at Independence and Corvallis
under the tutorship of such able
and prominent instructors as Frank
Rigler, city superintendent of Port
land schools, ex-Sup't w. e. Yates,
ex-Sup't R. Z. Robinson, of Port
land, ex-Presidents B. L. Arnold
and John Bloss of O. A. c. On
com pleting his common school edu-
cation he assisted his father who
followed his trade of stone mason,
plasterer and brick layer. Many
of our citizens will remember George
assisting his father in building Mr..
Pole Avery's store, just mort of Hus-
ton & Bogue's. After helping his
father for a number of years he en-
tered the Oregon Agricultural col
lege, in 1889, graduating therefrom
in 1898 with the degree of B S.
While attending college he was COM
PEELED to work evenings and Satur-
days to pay his expenses. By close
application and untiring efforts he
completed in four years the B. S.
course with honor to himself and
credit to his parents. After gradu-
ating from college he began teach
ing, in which he was unusually sue
cessful, having taught for six sue
cessive terms in Dist. No. SO, in
which place he was still teaching
when elected county school super
intendent.
AS county school superintendent
his record has never been
equalel by any other superintend-
ent Of our county. He has devoted
his entire time and attention to
building up the educational system
of Benton county until it is Sec
ond to none in the state. He was
the first superintendent to attempt
grading the country schools Of the
county. Through this scheme the
pupils of the country schools were
enabled to graduate in their home
district and receive a graduation
diploma which admitted ths bearer
into the O. A. C. without further
examination. This filled long
felt want and has saved the citizens
of our county many dollars.
He managed the local teachers
institutes of the county which have
been the means of arousins such in
terest and enthusiasm never before
experienced in Benton. Of all the
large number conducted he has
been more than successful in every
instance. 1t was he who held the
first and only school officers con-
vention or institute ever held in the
county.
To improve and make more regu-
lar the attendance in the county
schools he has arranged monthly
contests between each district. The
district having the highest per cent
of attendance each month holds a
satin banner, purchased by himself.
A school on winning the banner
three times receives a county roll of
honor nicely framed. Each pupil
who is neither absent nor tardy for
three successive months receives a
certificate of perfect attendance.
He was the only county superin-
tendent in the state who arranged
a program for the schools on the
anniversary of Dewey's victory.
While the law only compels the
county superintendent to visit the
schools once year, he has made
two visits every year, spending on
an average two hours in each school.
He also instituted the union pic
mic plan and each year holds them
all over the county. He held last
year five of such picnics. At these
gatherings he pays out of his own
private. funds many dollars for
prizes and the like.
By his constant hard work and
untiring energy has become the by
word of every school boy and girl
in the county, and we doubt not if
each pupil in the county is not on
familiar terms with him. So eff
ciently did he perform his dutiey
during his first term of Office, that
in the last election he carried ever
precinct in the county except Lobs
ster, and received the handsome
of e67 over his on nponent.