Arizona republican., 1910-07-25
FATHER AND SON WERE
 IN SCHOOL TOGETHER
They Were Intimate Friends of a
 Tempe Man.

l The following dispatch to the Los Angeles Examiner was read with good deal uf interest yesterday by Ray Alexander. The father and son referred to in it attended school with him at the University of Missouri and were his intimate friends.
 Columbia. Mo. July 23-When the senior class at the University of Ms souTi stood to receive degrees at com mencement three weeks ago, the visit ors at the University of Missouri saw
 for the first time in their lives q father and his son receive undergrad uate degrees in the College of Agricul- ture of Missouri. They are F.. F.. Van atta of Vandalia, Mo. 46 years old, and his son. Earl s. Vanatta, g years old. Both these have taken the same course except that the father completed the course in three years while the son required four years to take his degree.
 Four years ago F. F. Vanatta was d farmer near Vandalia. Mo. He sent his son Earl to the University of Mis- souri to take the four years course in agriculture He did not dream that Earl's letters home would be so inter esting thst ne would be induced to give up his farm, move to Columbia and enter up in the College of Agriculture for the same course that his son is taking, but such is the case. Earl's letters home about the scientific way of raising corn and wheat and his ex- pert advice to his father about raising stock aroused a desire in Vanatta sen iors mind to learn for himself the things about farming that Were not dreamed of in his own boyhood days
 CATCHES UP TO HIS SON.
 This he did. He did more, for he rented his farm at Vandala, moved to Columbia. and although his son had one years start, he entered as a regular freshman in the College of Agriculture 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 tAat he was last year made a member of the Alpha Zeta the highest honorary fraternity in the College of Agricul- ture. Earl. who is also good student, became q member of the Delta Theta sigma, another honorary fraternity in the College of Agriculture.
 
 him to distinguish him from his son. was a student in the University of Mis- sOuri in lSS3-4, but did not finish his course because he fell in love with and married a girl in Stephens College in Columbia. He quit school and bought farm near Vandalia. Mo.
 When their son Earl had completed his high school studies they sent him to Columbia to take the agricultural course. Earls letters were too great temptation. so they got the farm off their hands and moved to Columbia Then the students experienced the sen sation of having a real live father sit ting in class with them. Earls work | improved immediately for he could not | stand the gibes from the other boys l about his father getting better grades l than he did MAKES DAD WEAR DINKY CAP. |
 When Vanatta senior was al fresh ! man. his son Earl was a member of the | that enforced the sophomore | rules against his father and compelled | him to weI- a dinlly freshman cap | with the other green freshmen. How | ever. when it came to studies, the "Old i man" got the better of it, for student | nOps" and Co-eds did not bother him | and keep him from his lessons. He did | such good work that he was permitted | to take sufficient extra credit to catch | up with his son. All this year they i have sat in the same classes. The pro fessOrs in calling the class rolls say ''Vanatta senior" and "Vanatta junior" to distinguish them.
 Mir. Vanatta has become immensely popular with the students in his de- partment through building for them H' large clubhouse, where the leading students in the department live on the cooperative plan. Mrs. Vanatta is chaperon at the house. Mir. Vanatta has always taken part in student ac- tivities at the university. He belongs To all the class organizations and the clubs. and it is not infrequent for half I dozen students to gather in his room lt nights and work out difficult prob ems that have come up in their stud es. His work in agriculture has been very successful because he already had he years of experience which the stu lents will have to acquire after gradu- ltiOn
 MT. Vanatta has done exceptional , york in agricultural chemistry and , will probably become teacher in that inc of work after graduation. EarI :: Intends to become farmer and will III probably take charge of his fathers Il arm.