The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1921-09-24
HALF MILLION GIVEN
McCOMB FOR SCHOOLS
$25O,OOO Win Be Endowment
for InstitutiOn-Wm. Nc
COlgan is Donor.

McComb, Miss, Sept. 21.-Mc-
Comb City schools are to receive the
magnificent sum of nearly half mil
lion dollars. This is the gift of VIM.
McColgan. millionaire philanthro-
pist, in the name of McColgan bro
Ihers and sister, for the establish
ment and endowment in perpetuity
of trade or vocational high school
to, be part of the city school sys-
tenn.
One hundred and fifty thousand
dollars for a building and $25O,000
for the endowment is probably the
largest gift ever made to a city
school system in the history Of Mis-
stssippi, and one Of the largest in the
history Of the entire south. The
announcement of this gift was made
today at the Exchange Club lunch
con by Xavier A. Kramer, business
associate of Mr.. McColgan. 1t came
as surprise to most of the members
and was receive with wild enthu-
siasm. ''Mr. Bill" as Mr.. McColgan
is affectionately called by the school
children, himself member of the
club, was given an ovation.
In making the announcement, Mr..
Kramer said:-
Months ago promised to reveal
great secret to this club and told
you then that it would be the big
gest and best thing that ever hap
pened in McComb. l will be brief,
but l will not disappoint. Many
years ago William McColgan, now a
prominent citizen of our town and
state, but then an obscure mechanic,
began life working for the Illinois
Central Railroad. He was without
influence and without money. He
had only the average education of
his day, but had a good head and
kind heart. The story of his sue
cess by reason of hard, honest work
and consistent effort is well known
to all here present. Mr.. McColgan,
as you well know, is keen observer,
but his extreme interest in the edu-
cation Of the youth of the land has
been known only to a few of his
closest associates. His own exper-
fence has taught him that one of the
most valuable assets that a young
person can have is a good education.
and he knows that without it, while
success in life is not impossible, it
is made much more difficult. With
out children of his own, having re-
mained bachelor. yet he feels a
great interest in the children of his
community, the children of the pres
ent as well as those yet to come. Mr..
McColgan is philanthropist, as you
will hear.
In casting about, therefore, in an
effort to decide on what he could
best do to benefit humanity with a
part of his large fortune, it was easy
for him to decide that he would de-
vote his efforts and his money to the
better education of the children. l
am today announcing only his tenta-
tive plan, which is this:- Mr. McCol-
gan will build and donate to the city
of McComb a modern fireproof school
building, the estimated cost of which
will be $150,O0O. But this is not
all. He proposes to endow this
school in perpetuity with the magni-
ficent sum of S250,0OO. The inter
est alone is to be used for the main
tenance of the school for all time to
come.
WILL ESTABLISH VOCATIONAL
SCHOOL.
Now as to the kind of school Mr..
McColgan has in mind. 1t will be
a trade or vocational high school.
He has observed the tendency of our
local high school to teach principal
ly the literary courses, which are
certainly necessary and proper. But
he believes that the boy is taught
that in order to become successful
man or prominent citizen, he must
be a lawyer, doctor, or preacher,