The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-11
M b N w o N E N
 A ND T H 1 N G s

l wish to heartily fellcitate the nominating committee and the trus- tees of Howard college on unani- mously electlng Dr. John c. Dawson president of the institution, for 1t comes as deserved honor and pro- motion, and will be heartily approved by the rank and file of the denomina- tion in the state.
 Personally, I am glad of the action, as it is in line with the selection of pr Spright Dowell to lead the Ala oama Polytechnic institute, g1vlng evidence of the fact that those in- trusted with the oversight of our cd ucational institutions in Alabama feel that when young men have made good at home that they should be given the best places to be bestowed.
 
 have known pr. Dawson inti- mately for some years, as I have been in close touch with him ever sinee he came to Alabama as the principal of the Scottsboro Baptist institute at Scottsboro, one of the schools under the care of the home board of the Southern Baptist con- vention, of which Dr. B. D. Gray. for years pastor of the First Baptist church, Birmingham, and great friend of Howard college is secre- tary.
 From the Scottsboro Baptist insti- tute he was promoted to a professor ship at Howard college, and by hard work and unswerving loyalty was made dean in the spring of 1917, which position he has held to the present time except for the time that he was acting president or on leave for study and during his ab- sence in France, where he was made dean of the American department of the Toulouse university, one of the really great institutions. of learning in the great republic overseas.
 
 Dr. Dawson has specialized all along in French, and today stands in the very forefront as an author ity on the language and literature of France. His special studies abroad before the war-for he made three trips--and then the opportunity he had on his fourth while dean at Toulouse. gave him a wonderful op- portunity not only for service to the American boys in France, but just the chance he craved to further per- feet himself in French while at the same time carrying on his research work.
 But Dr. Dawson is not merely scholar, but has had unusual advan- ta ges in administration as he has had ample chance since coming to How ard to try his hand at everything which goes into the running of de- nominational college. He has had wide and valuable experience and is looked rpon as being clear headed, conaeientions and courageous, three virtues ueedea by every man who ex- poets Go mako success in managing tn affairs es modern educational et'eslishlnspt-
 f may ns feankly stated that pr. 1awsoa is TO showy platform orator. but # x eqaally true that when he sqts I'D to tslk he. always has some Ans to say worth listening to, and hrs the art of quitting when he is through7 Tn these days of easy spsacN ar public "grandstanding," ! the- count it in his favor that
 not of the "spellbinding" type of elege president who makes good on hjs ours, but is weak at his desS fll take my reputation on the fact ha, ohm Dawson will be on the ieh at i7ward.
 This 6 no idle compliment. but comes fro a long study of the man and his methods. I have seen him cut soliciting students at the asso cations in his first years at the col iegs. 8 kind of acid test, and he made aood ih spite of handicaps I have watched his manner of teaching and his ability 10 handle his classes, and ms is C born teacher. I have seen nina on the campus and the athletic teia and snow that he is in touch with ne tr lent body, I have wit 4eaapd htU1 at commencements and sken ntm eside with grace and digptT
 knew that the alumni are behind lim, ard ! iu ther know that the fac uity wiil rejoice in his election and wili give hin oval support; and now that the trustees have unanimously Iut ain st the head of the insti- tuticn ! feel confident that the Bap- tists of Alahalna are going to get in behi,1 him and make 1t possi..e for hin, tO earry out his great ideals for i.owald rols gc. believe he is going to make ood, and knew that I am gainS to do my best to help him do
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