Mexico Missouri message., 1909-08-19

At meeting of the board Of Gu.
rators of the University Of Missouri,
held in Kansas City on July 20, Prof.
f. b. Mumford was unanimously elect
ed dean of the Missouri College Of
Agriculture and director of the expert
ment station. He has agreed to ac-
cept.
Prof. Mumford was born In 1868 in
Moscow, Mich. He is the son of
prominent farmer, was educated in
rural school and graduated from
country high school. He later studied
at Albion college and finished the
agricultural course in the Michigan
agricultural college, graduating with
high honors in 1891. He was imme-
diately offered a position in the col
lege, but declined and undertook the
management Of his fathers large and
excellent stock farm. Later on, how.
ever, after the graduation of a young.
er brother from the agricultural col
lege, who assumed the management
of the farm, he returned to the Mich
igan agricultural college as instructor
in agriculture. At the end Of one
year he was promoted to assistant
professor. He took the degree Of
master of science in Agriculture in
1893, and in 1895 he resigned his
position in Michigan to become pro-
fessor of agriculture in the Univer.
sity of Missouri. In 1900-1901 he was
absent on leave to study in Europe,
during which time he was a student
at the universities Of Leipzig and
Zurich. When the department of ag,
riculture was divided in 1904 Prof.
Mumford became head of the depart.
ment of animal husbandry and he has
become known throughout the coun'
try as the ablest professor of animal
husbandry in America. He Is rec.
ognized authority on animal breeding
and has conducted the largest cattle
feeding experiments in America, in.
volving over 1000 head of cattle and
$50 distinct Investigations. His pub
locations in all phases of animal hus'
bandry have been extensive and have
brought him and the University Of
Missouri credit among agricultural
educators. No man connected with
the University of Missouri is so well
known among the cattle breeders and
livestock men of Missouri.
Prof. Mumford is not an untried
man in the work of administration.
From 1908 to 1905 he was acting
dean of the Missouri College Of Agri.
culture and acting director Of the ex-
pertinent station. During this time
the college and station enjoyed a
period of unusual prosperity. The
enrolment in the long course of ag'
riculture increased more than 80 per
cent In the two years, while the en-
rollment in the short courses in ag.
riculture were more than doubled. He
secured the first appropriation for
and inaugurated the first soil survey
of Missouri, which has come to be
one Of the most important enterprises
connected with the experiment sta
ton. He becomes dean and director
after fourteen years OF splendid ser
vice to the university and the farm
ing interests of the state. His 10y
atty to the university and the state
has been demonstrated on many &C.
casions when he has declined fiatter-
ing offers of higher salaries in order
to continue the work of his depart
ment in Missouri.
Dean Mumford is man of splendid
scientific training, in full sympathy
with farm life, a systematic and bust
ness-like administrator and gentle
man Of the highest moral ideals and
integrity. The Missouri agricultural
college will doubtless develop with
rapid strides under his administra-
ton.