The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-06-17
EAr4ER ANo SOL GRADUATES
Both Took College Degrees at the
Same Time.

Both Took College Degrees ar the
Same Time.
Columbia, Mo-, June l7-When the
senior class at the University of Mis-
souri, received degrees at commence
ment yesterday the visitors at the
University OF Missouri for the first
time in their lives saw a father and
his son receive undergraduate de-
grees in the College of Agriculture of
Missouri. They were e. E. Vanatta
of Vandalla, Mo, 46 years old, and his
son, Earl S. Vanatta, % years old.
Both have taken the same course, ex-
cept that the father completed the
work in three years, while the son re-
quired four years to take his degree.
Four years ago L. h. Vanatta was
farmer near Vandalla, Mo. He sent
his son, Earl, to the University of
Missouri to take the four years course
in agriculture He did not dream
that Earls letters home would prove
so interesting that he would be in
duced to give up his farm, move TO
columbia and enter the College of Ag-
riculture for the SAME course his son
was taking but such is the case.
Earls letters home about the scienti-
fic ways of raising corn and wheat,
and his expert advice to his father
about raising stock, aroused a desire
in Vanatta seniors mind to learn for
himself the things about farming that
were not dreamed of in his own boy
hood days.
This he did. He did more, for he
rented his farm at Vandalla moved to
Columbia, and although his son had
one years start, he entered as
regular freshman and in two years
overlook his boy. Now they are both
seniors and will receive their degrees
together at commencement. Vanatta
senior did such excellent work in his
studies that he was last year made
member of the Alpha Zeta, the high
est honorary fraternity in the college.
Earl, who Is also a good student be-
came a member of the Delta Theta
Sigma, another honorary society in
the College of Agriculture.
Vanatta senior, as the students call
him to distinguish him from his son,
was a student in the University Of
Missouri in 1884, but did not finish
his course because he fell In love
with and married a girl in Stephens
College in Columbia. He left college
and bought a farm near Vandalla, Mo.
When their son, Earl had complet-
ed his high school studies they sent
him to Columbia to take the agricul-
ture course. Earl's letters were too
great a temptation, so they got the
farm off their hands and moved TO
Columbia. Then the students exper-
fenced the sensation of having a real
/ live father sitting In class with them
Earl's work improved Immediately
for he could not stand the gibes from
the other boys about his father get
ting better grades than he did.
When Vanatta, senior was n fresh
man, his son was a member Of the
committee that enforced the sopho
more rules against his father anG
compelled him TO wear "dinky'
freshman cap with the other greer
freshmen. However when II came
to studies. the old man. got the BET
ter % q, for student hops" and co
eds did not bother him, and keep hin
from his lessons. He did such gOol
work that he was permitted 10 taxi
sufficient extra credit TO catch nj
with his son All this year the,
have sat IN the same classes. tn,
professors I'm calling the class rolls
say "Vanatta senior and Vanatt
junior to distinguish them
Mr. Vanatta has become immensel.
popular with the students in his de
partment through building for them
large club house, where the leadin
students In the department live Of
the cooperative plan. Mrs Vanatt
is chaperon at the house. Mr.. Var
alta has always taken part In stud
ent activities az the university II
belongs to all the class organization
and clubs. and II Is not infrequen
for a half dozen students TO gather I
his room az nights to work out diff
fllcult problems that have come up Il
their studies. His work In agricul
ture has been very successful b
cause he already had the years OF e,
perience which the students will hav
10 acquire after graduation.
Mr.. Nanatta has done exceptions
work In agricultural chemistry. an
WIN probably become n teacher Il
that line OF work after graduation
Earl intends 10 become q farmer. an
will probably take charge Of his fatf
er's farm.