The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-07-19
ALLISON TENDERS HIS
RESIGNATION At "Y".

?
George F. Allison, general secre-
tary and physical director of the Y.
M. c.. A. at Mankato, has resigned
his position to take effect August
Is. At meeting of the board Of
night, his resignation was reluc-
family accepted. Every effort has
Mankato, and the board of directors
are at a loss whom to secure in
his place, as Mr.. Allison has been
one of the most efficient men, and
has helped make the Y. M. c. A.
what it is today. But better fields
for larger work opened themselves
to Mr.. Allison, and because of the
lack of entire harmony with the
board of directors, and some of the
conditions of the city, Mr.. Allison
decided to leave Mankato, after two
years of efficient service here.
Mr.. Allison's experience in connec-
ton with the Y. M. C. "A. covers
nearly a score of years. He is now
nearing thirty years and has been
connected with the Y. M. c.. A. in
different parts of the country since
he was eight years old, having prac-
tically grown up with the work. He
came to Mankato as physical direc-
tor two years ago, from Hamilton,
Ohio, where he was physical director
for four years. .es@aa
In his first year here he trebled
the attendance at the gymnasium
classes, recognized the physical de-
partment, which was followed by a
general boom in attendance. When
he came here, the facilities for GYM
nasium work were very small and
inadequate, but he finally succeeded
in securing better equipment and APP
paratus and helped to make the
work more efficient. He organized
some of the largest classes in the
history of the association. s
Mr.. Allison specialized in boys
work, and since his coming here the
boys work has been of the best One
of the most unique as well as larg-
est boys classes in the country
was organized by Mr. Allison, this
class having membership of 1856,
and known as the Boys Gospel Reg
iment. There are only two classes of
this kind in the United States, one
at Hamilton, Ohio, also organized
kato. This was the subject of con-
siderable comment by the twin city
dailes last winter. 81
Mr.. Allison was also at the head
of two of the largest circuses ever
put on the stage by any Y. M. c. A.
organization. The one given last
spring was considered success
from every point of view, and it was
due largely to his diplomacy and di-
rectorship that the circus was staged
in such an elaborate form, and with
out mishap, besides drawing such
a large attendance. His work as
publicity agent is one of the features
of his stay here.
However, he will probably be best
remembered in Mankato for his work
in organizing the Y. M. c. A. Twi-
light league, and thus furnishing an
incentive to youngsters to develop
their abilities as baseball artists.
Through his enterprise, Lewis Ath-
letic field was improved, fenced in,
and the diamond repaired, while he
was secretary of the league, and
worked hard to finance it. There
were times when it was thought that
not enough money could be secured
to carry on the games, but he finally
got the business men together and
succeeded in holding the league IN
tact until the end of the season. This
year the Twilight league is playing
great ball. '7
He took prominent part in the
Men and Religion Forward Move
ment here last winter and spring,
and had charge of the Boys Work
department Too much cannot be
said of his work, for it was through
his efforts that the physical depart.
ment of the Y. NJ. c. A. is what it is
today. He has been offered the
physical dictatorship at three places,
Lansing, Mich, Fargo, N. D., and La
Porte, Ind. He finally accepted the
latter position because of its incen-
tive to larger work. The association
has built large new modern build
ing there, the city is an industrial
center, and contains better facilities
for big work, with new equipment.