Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1921-07-22
LOCAL BOY MADE
CIVIL SERVICE HEAD
GEORGE R. WALES PROMOTED
TO COMMISSION CHAIRMAN
Helped Through College After Loss of
Arm in old Register
Office

George Russell Wales Of Middlebury,
printers apprentice in the old Regis
ter office, graduate of Middlebury Col
lege and prncipD of the grade school
IN Bristol, has achieved high honor in
Washington in his recent appointment
by President Harding to the chairman
ship of the Civd Service Commission.
In naming Mr. Wales the president of
the board, the chief executive follow
ed the custom of promoting the senior
member in the event of vacancy IN
the charmanship but the many friends
OF the new commission head feel that
Mr. Wales was by long experience the
best choice for the position. He sue
ceeds Martin A. Morrison, resigned,
who was formerly an Indiana congress
man, and a democrat. Mr. Wales IS
a republican in politics.
George R. Wales has been connected
with the civil service commission for
nearly thirty years, since 1892 and has
been A member of the board since
March, 1919, receiving his appointment
at the same time as his predecessor IN
the chairmanShp, Mr.. Morrison.
Mr. Wales was born on Court street
in Mddleburv November %, 1862,
the son of Russell and Lucy Ann (Sum-
ner Wales. After attending the local
public schools he entered Middlebury
College, graduating with his Bachelors
degree in 1887 and three years later OBJ
tanned his Master of Arts from the
same institution He was a member of
the Dekes and of Phi Beta Kappa.
During the first two years after his
graduation he taught in the Bristol
graded school as principal Then he
went to the national capital as A law
student at the National University and
clerk in the War Department. In 1891
he was admitted to the bar Of the
District OF Columbia and was made an
examiner OF the T. S. Civil Service
Commission That connection with the
commission he maintained IN various
capacities, from promotion 70 promo |
ton until his recent choice for its
presidency
Annually Visits Middlebury
Mr. Wales married Josephine Brooks
Abel Of MOrri,town. n. J.. IN 1907
They are the parents Of two sons,
George Herrick and Robert Corning |
He has always maintained he llveliest |
interest in his native state and It's
affairs since hi, change Of residence .
He j, one Of the officers Of thc Yer /
mon. Town Meeting the association
D, natives Of the Grec1 Mountain
state Il The capital He spends hi, va
cation, annually in Mddleb uy. I'll. k +
n5 h., headquarters a. he Albion
House
incidentally Vermont and New
now enjoy the majority of
The Commission a, the senate only a
short time ago confirmed the appoint
nent OF ex-Gov. Bartlett of New
to membership The other
members is a woman and the only
democrat Mrs. Helen II Gardner of
Virginia.
Mr.. Wales Began as Printer
When the new president of the Com
mission was a youth he started in to
earn the printers trade in The Regis
r office His parents were poor and
'oud not afford to send him to college
The turning point in his career was an
lcc!dent on A platen press which cost
lim his right arm to the shoulder In his
liscouragement he was assisted by the
mother Of Robert Collins, a graduate
VI Middleburv and now London cor
eSpondent Of the Associated Press
Mrs Collins helped him through col
eye, where his talents and devotion to
lis books won for him the coveted Phi
}eti Kappa honors.