The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1912-09-20
Caused By Bad Health
And Injuries.
Has Not Been Well Since Railroad
Accldent-Dr. Geo. A. Gates a
Physical Wreck-Now at His
Home in Vermount-Board
Accepts Resignation ReIuc-
family - Committee in
Charge.

vi a. AOdJg ONPAChlUEl lOlng III lllC
little town OF Glover, Vermont, DR..
Geo. A. Gates, who has been at the
head Of Fisk University since Octo-
ber, 1909 called his wife to his side
and after serious consultation de-
cided that the time had come for him
to tender his resignation to the Board
Of Trusees of Fisk University as
the President of that institution.
This decision was reached after the
recovery from relapse suffered by
DR.. Gates a short while ago. The
resignation was accepted by the
Board, reluctantly, because they
knew that the htart of the man was
wrapped up in Fisk University, but
they also knew that Dr. Gates has
been physically unable to handle the
affairs of a large school since last
spring. For, it will be remembered
that while en- route from Nashville
to New York he was a passenger on
a train which was wrecked in Penn
sylvania, and was among the injured.
He made every effort to conceal the
seriousness of his injuries, but his
friends could see that he was not
himself. Upon his return from that
trip he was advised to take vaca-
! tion in the mountains of North and
South Carolina He was away all
spring but returned in time for COM
mencement He looked much i'm
proved after having spent a few
weeks in the mountains, but it was
evident that his vitality was still
weak.
After the close of school DR.. Gates
with his wife went to their home IN
Vermont, where they have spent the
summer. 1t was hoped by his friends
that he would rally sufficiently dur
ing the vacation to resume his duties
at the opening of school, But as
time rolled on it was evident that
nature was failing to respond, and
while the members of his board re-
GREETED very much to give him up,
it is said that they were not sur
prised when they received his resig-
nation with the statement that his
health had failed him.
The affairs of Fisk University will
be handled by a committee of three
composed of Dean H. H. Wright,
Prof. M. v Metcalf and Prof. c. w.
Morrow 1t was learned that the out
look for the opening which will take
place on the 23rd, is very promising.
Dean Wright informed a Globe rep
resentatiVe that they were forced sew
eral days ago to stop receiving girl
, students and that only a few vacan-
cies are left in the boys domitory.
He said the outlook for the year is
e very bright. The class of students
is of an exceptionally good charac-
. ter, and every indication points to
one of the best years in the history
: of Fisk University.
; When asked as to who would prob
/ ably succeed Dr. Gates, Prof Wright
5 said he had not the least idea, as the
. Board has not had time to take any
. steps in that direction; but that he
felt certaia that diligent search
D would be made in the near future
} and that the Board would exhaust
every energy to give Fisk University
: man who will be worthy repre-
! sentative of those who have preceded
: him.
DR.. Gates is the third president of
Fisk University. He came to Nash
vile with many years of experience
in school work. He was for thirteen
years President of Grinnell College
in Iowa and was for seven years at
the head of Pomona College in Cali
fornia. Just before coming to Fisk
he Travelled extensively, and when it
was learned in this city that he had
been selected to succeed DR.. Merrill
: it was predicted that Fisk University
would be pushed to the front and
d maintain the enviable position she
has held for many years among the
educational institutions in the South
for Negroes.
The vacancy caused by the resig-
nation of DR. Gates will doubtless
, bring up again the question of Ne
gro for President of Fisk. This
question is becoming more pertinent
every year as was evidenced when a
new president was to be selected for
Howard University in Washington,
D. G. No names have been advanced
as far as could be learned, but it is a
known fact that the Negroes Of this
country are strongly in favor Of the
heads of some of these institutions
being members of the race.