The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-03
Formers Resignation Tender
ed Some Time Ago.
Committee to Recommend Man for
the Vacancy Was Unanimous
in It's Action and the
Trustees Acted in
Like Manner.
By D. w. McIver.

Tuscaloosa, June 3-(Special. )-Ths
Board of Trustees at 1880 o'clock this
morning unanimously elected Hon. John
w. Abercrombie President of the State
University to succeeded DR.. w. s. wy
man, resigned.
The committee appointed to consider the
matter and recommend a suitable person
for the position unanimously recommend
ed Mr.. Abercrombie and he was selected
with the same unanimity by the Board.
1t appears that his name has been
under consideration for some time and
the splendid record he has made as State
Superintendent of Education and the most
flattering endorsement from school teach
ers of the State who have been closely
associated with him have done much to
influence the trustees in their action.
and surroundings the man was found in
the State Superintendent Of Education.
Each member of the Board is convinced
that he will do all that is expected Of
aim and more. They believe he will
ring the University to the front rank
nd make it the pride Of every citizen of
the State.
Mr.. Abercrombie has been engaged in
teaching all of his life. He was born in
81. Clair County in 1896 and is just &c
Years of age. He attended the neigh
borhood schools of his home in st. Clair
and was graduated at the University in
the class Of 1887 as an LII. d.
He was superintendent of the city
schools OF Admission for several years,
where he made an enviable record, build
ing up those schools and giving them a
name second to none in the State. He
was chosen to represent Calhoun and Gle
burne Counties in the State Senate OF
1867 and in the midst Of his term was
chosen as State Superintendent Of Educa-
ton.
Mr.. Abercrombie was devoted to the
idea, from the beginning of his service
in that position. to promote and elevate
the public schools and to educate the boys
and girls of the State who were too poor
to attend the pay schools.
The trustees are enthusiastic over their
selection and they intend to place all the
power necessary in the hands of Mr..
Abercrombie to control the school and
make the impress of his genius and in
dividuality upon the future of that in
stitution.
There were other names canvassed and
discussed by the committee.
Among those considered were: DR..
Charles D. McIver of Greensboro. N. c..
DR.. Stomp of Texas. DR.. Ayres of Tulane
University, Louisiana; DR.. Montague OF
Turman University, South Carolina.
Mr.. Abercrombe was soon fixed upon
as the man they desired. AS one OF the
trustees expressed it, when it was
sought to get a great educator with a
record and a name it was found that
tEey all had good positions which they
were not willing to give up for the salary
and opportunity offered here, and IL was
then determined to find a man with all
the requisite qualities of greatness and
management in him and give him every
onportunity to make himself, and in so
what every Alabamian desires it to be
the greatest school of all the South. The
trustees feel confident the man of their
choice will not disappoint them
1t is understood that Mr.. Ahercrombie
will accent the position and will at once
take up the work and get everything IN
readiness for the opening of the next tern
in October
There is much enthusiasm here among
the alumni. the students and the citizens
over the selection. All are confident that
the University will move forward to great
renown and glory.
After the doors of the Trustees meet
ing was opened, Mr. Abercrombie was
found at his room in the dormitory. wher'
he had gone when his name was men
toned, and congratulated by his friends
He bore his honor modestly and expressed
gratitude for confidence and honor done
him. His fellow members of the BoarC
gathered around him and all had a kint
word and good wishes.