The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1923-11-29
TRIBUTE TO LATE w. S. DEAN

The following tribute In memory
of the late William S. Dean, has been
prepared by Charles F. Hendryx,
former Herald editor and an intimate
friend of the deceased:
'In the passing of William S. Dean
from the activities of busy life, a
life we'll spent in the service of his
fellow men, Sank Centre will long
have memories of the man; memories
which can and must be comprehended
with gratified pride and affection.
can intimate association of more
than score of years affords the writ
er rare opportunity of measuring his
personal worth and his influence in
achievements in behalf of the COM
munity.
ellis sterling integrity, genial bear
ing, and cordial goodwill challenges
the confidence and admiration of all
who fell within his influence.
"In every relation in life he dis
charged his duties with conscientious
fidelity. In the family, in the church,
in business and the community, as
a public officer or as private citi-
zen, he was faithful to duty, to re-
sponsibility, and obligations, and his
memory will be revered by all who
knew him. The world is truly en-
riched by such life, even though the
field of their endeavors be circum-
scribed.
"When Mr.. Dean took up his resi-
dence in Sank Centre the village was
still in it's chrysalis state-a frontier
settlement awaiting development. In
proportion to it's size it had more Wig
orous, capable citizens than the aver
age community of like proportion
but for the most part lacking in CO
ordination and cooperation. It's con-
nection with the outside world was
limited to one passenger and one
combination train to St. Paul, six
days in the week; its streets were un-
kept and almost devoid of sidewalks
were unlighted, affording an abund-
ant opportunity for livestock, and
yet it had it's attractive features in
it's future possibilities for men of con-
structive vision, and of such was Will
liam S. Dean. At this period its
greatest obstacle to progress was the
bitter feudN between the occupants of
Third and Main Street, and strangely
it was, not confined to those directly
interested; it permeated the entire
community to the extent that local
elections involving the choice of will
age trustees were not infrequently
fought upon that issue.
'"There were citizens who deplored
this state of affairs and who had Wis
ions of better future. From the
time Mr.. Dean took up his residence
in the then village, he joined his en-
thusiastic energies with theirs in the
progressive movement. His sound
judgement and rare. tact were recog-
nized, and while too modest in
demeanor to consider himself lead
er yet under the city charter which
broadened the opportunity for civic
improvement, he was elected Sank
4
Centres first mayor with little OPP
position; his administration vindicat-
ed the wisdom of his selection. A
steady and vigorous progress along
wholesome lines has made Sank Cen
tire the attractive, ever advancing
little city it now is. 1t is not at all
necessary to go into the beneficent
changes of the past forty years or
more but it should be born in mind
the impetus was started under the adj
ministration of William S. Dean,
your first mayor. No better tribute
can be paid him personally than that
of Mark Anthony of Brutus: Y
His life was gentle and the ele-
ments so mixed in him that nature
might stand up and say to all the
world, This Was Man. &c Charles
F. Hendryx.