Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-05-29
WILLARD WAS WATCHED
Teachers and Admitting Citizens
Present Retiring Superin-
tendent With Watch.
Delightful Presentation Affair at
the Home OF the Board
President.
Mr.. Sears Remarks on the
School Situation Very Fav.
orably Received.

S,perintendent F. e. Willard was UNI
President Hull last evening by the
teachers of the public schools and ad-
1niring friends among the citizens, who
had conspired to present him with an
e1esant gold watch and chain as an ex-
preston of his excellent work at the
head of Marshalltown's public school
system. The watch is a riverside
works encased in a solid gold hunting
case with a solid gold chain.
Mr.. r. f. Sears was called upon TO
make presentation speech, to which
Mr. Willard replied, and the teachers
who had suggested the affair served
refreshments. Mr.. Sears said:
professor Willard: Six years ago
our school board faced great respon-
sibility. The interests of more than
1000 children and the good name of our
city and schools were at stake. We
were in the throes of dissensiona ana
sorrow was with us. The breach can
not be healed, said many. l pity the
new SUPERINTENDENT said others. 1t is
impossible for him to unite the factions,
to heal the wounds that have been
made You were selected by that board
as the new superintendent and the YER
dict for six years has been: The board
has made no mistake You took up the
reins of our school government. Wise,
discreet, tactful, diligent modest, pa
tient, honest, you have more than veri-
fed the statement of the president OF
the school board made us before your
election that Willard is young in years
but old in judgment
During these six years you have not
only smoothed away all dissensions and
healed all wounds, not only done rever-
ence to the iabors of your predecessor
by maintaining his high standing of our
schools, but you have kept them ad-
vancing until they stand today in the
very first rank in the state. j am
Marshalltown teacher is today the best
of introductions.
so modest withal have you been,
that only those who have come in per-
sonal contact with you as director or
teacher have known the breadth of
your capacity as an educator and the
depth of your character as a man.
know not which to commend the most
your knowledge of your profession.
your tactfulness in management or the
integrity of your ways. But when all
three are united in one man, we have
then the ideal educator, the ideal SUI
perintendent, the ideal citizen. Your
departure from us and the severance Of
the ties that have hitherto bound You
to us are the source of real grief to all
classes of our citizens, especially to the
members of the school board and to the
r.any teachers who have had the good
fortune to be under your supervision.
MIR. Willard, on behalf CT the mem
bers of the school board, on behalf of
the large corps of teachers who per-
laps more than all others appreciate
what your departure means to our
schools, on behalf of our citizens, am
instructed and it becomes my great
pleasure to present to you this watch
as q slight testimonial of their regard
and love for you. Whenever you hear
its tick, may it suggest to you that the
warm heart of Marshalltown is throb-
bing for you. Whenever you look upon
Its face may it bring to you and yours
success and honor and happiness
Mr.. Willard will leave Marshalltown
as soon as his school work for the year
is closed, to accept position in the
Chicago Office OF Houghton Miff1in &
Co. as assistant to the manager. His
work will involve some editing and will
lead to place of large responsibility
and salary as soon. as Mr.. Willard ac-
quaints himself with the business.
Houghton, Miffiin & Co. have very little
to do with school book publishing, but
their general publications give the firm
rank among the very highest class pub
fishers in this country, and Mr.. Willard
considers that he has a field for his
best endeavor.