Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1911-10-04
DIR. DENNY GOES TO ALABAMA
Tenders Resignation as President of
Washington and Lee

PRESIDENT george IL. Denny mas
decided to accept the presidency of
the University OF Alabama. This
information was made known by the
publication in Tuesdays papers of
his letter OF resignation addressed
to DIR. G. B. Stricken, rector of the
Board OF Trustees of Washington
and Lee University, under date OF
September Both.
President Denny left Lexington
the latter part OF last week and
spent several days in Richmond,
where numerous friends urged him
to decline the call to Alabama. AT
ter mature consideration he decided
that greater opportunities tor ser
vice in the cause of education oher-
ed at the head OF the University of
Alabama than at Washington and
Lee, and in consequence he decided
to accept the call to the Alabama in
stitution, his resignation to take
effect January l, 1912, the begin
ming of the winter term at Washing
ton and Lee.
Following is President Denny's
letter addressed to the Washington
and Lee trustees and mailed from
Richmond:
September 30, 1911.
DIR. G. b. Stricken, Rector, Wash
ington and Lee University, Lex
ington, Va:
My Dear DR.. Stricken: More than
six weeks ago a committee of the
trustees Of the University OF Ala
bama came to Virginia and asked
me to accept the presidency OF tha'
institution. consented to give
the call serious consideration, pro
vided l should not be expected tC
render a decision until the college
year had fairly begun. l have no
acted hastily. have proceeded
with the utmost deli5eration. l
has been a most difficult question t.
decide. / have searched my hear
to try to find if this was indeed thu
task for me.
After giving to the whole mattei
the kind OF consideration that
promised &c give it, have reached
the conclusion that it is my duty t,
go to Alabama. | believe that l au
INFLUENCED in this decision by an,
sort OF ambition SaYe to'render ser
vice. / am, therefore, transmitting
through you to the trustees IN.
resignation as president of Wash
ington and Lee University to tax
effect January l. 1912, or at sucl
other time as the trustees may, in
their wisdom, choose to accept it.
mention particular date for the reas
on that l am persuaded that the in
terests of Washington and Lee wOul'
be best conserved by having tn
change take effect at that time. TIL
trustees are entitled to a longe
notice, if they choose to ask it; an,
if l did not feel sure that my success
sor would be handicapped for
time. in case his administration ha
to begin at some later period in tn
= year, l should not venture to max
, this suggestion.
1t would be an impossible task I
describe the wrench and sorroN
T that this decision has cost me. sha
: not attempt it. I recall that, te
? years ago, when / was scarel
3 thirty and quite unknown, the ca
I to this service came to me as a sue
den and unexpected summon:
: Indeed, l hesitated t. accept i
e AS l look back over these eventfr
{ years, however, l feel grateful tina
{ l have been permitted to share tn
i high privilege of administering q
q institution that has been so greatl
b. distinguished in its heritage
r great names, great traditions ar
d great memories; that has for so lor
J. period illustrated a steadfast d
votion to the highest ideals of co
duct and achieve ment and that
today serving, without sham
D. pretense, the Common wealth al
t. the nation with greater power al
r efficiency than at any other peri
t. Of it's remarkable history.
l take this opportunity to EXPIRE
b. to the trustees nv high apprec