Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-09-12
UNUSUAL TRIBUTE
RETIRING PRESIDENT .
MAINE HEALTH ASSN,
(special to Kennebec JournaD

Especial to kennebec JournaD
Bangor, Sept. 11;-At the dinner
meeting of the Board Of Directors or
the Maine Publis Health Association
and association members, held to-
night at the Tarratine Cub, one OF
the most unusual testimonials ever
given to a Maine man in public SER
vice was presented to DIR. E. D. Mer-
rill of Dover Fovcroft who has jus.
retired as president of the Associd-
ton after serving in that capacity
since 1917. set
The testimonial. bound in. band
fooled leather, expressed the deep
appreciation of scores of leading
Maine men and women for the -ur.-,
selfish service which has been reno
cred the state of Maine by Dr. Merrill
during his seven years of service 20
the public AS president Of the Marie
Public Health Assn. "1 our breadth
of vision, your wise counceit your
willingness to put your shoulder tc
the wheel and keep IT there have
been responsible in boundless meas
ure for the success which our assc-
citation has achieved reads the testi-
monial part.
Included in the long list of sigma
lures to the testimonials are those
of Governor Baxter. Health Com
missioner Kendall. Commissioner OF
Education Thomas, DIR. B. L. Bryant,
Secretary of the Maine Medical Asso-
citation, Frank w. Ball. Secretary of
State, CRUDE 3. Cornish, Secretary
State Board of Charities. Charles Z
Gurney, Chairman Public Utilities.
Commission, III. A. Brinkerhoff. City
Manager of Portland. Charles +.
Crosby, Mayor of Bangor and scores
of others in Maine including editors.
bankers, attorneys. ministers. club
women. officers of local health or
carnations. health officers, nurs'
and many more. Included In the list
OF signatures also may be found the
leaders in national health work in
Guiding representatives of the Ma
tional Tuberculosis Association the
American Child Health Association.
the American Society for the Control
of Cancer, the National Health
Council, the American Public Health
Association. the National OrganiZa-
ton for Public Health Nursing and
other national groups with which
the Maine Public Health Association
is affiliated.
The presentation Of the testimon-
ial was made by Mr.. Henry Richards
NJ. P. H. A.. who was preceded by
DIR. A. o. Thomas, State Commits
sioner of Education who delivered
strong address on the Importance Of
child health and who described the
methods used in Maine schools to
conserve the health Of school chill
dren.
DR.. Clarence F. Kendall. State
Health Commissioner delivered the
principal address of the evening IN
which he discussed the advances
which Maine is making in Health
work. DIR. Kendall cited Maine f1e :
ures for the past year indicating that
the average length of life in Maine is
longer than the average for the
United States as a whole, and paid
a tribute to the effective work of the
Maine Public Health Association. =.
Mrs. Sarah Rideout Abbott. presi-
dent of the State Parent Teacher
Association delivered a stirring adj
dress on the importance of health il
it's relation to home, school and COM
munity life. Fluctuations on the sue
cess which the work of the M. p. II.
A. has achieved were extended By
representatives of the Maine Medical
Association. Health workers from al,
sections Of the state reported general
encoura cement over the progress
which Maine As making in matters
relating to public health.