Smyrna times., 1927-06-01
SUSSEX SPEEDS Soy ORATOR
James VI. Tunnel, Jr., Georgetown,
Given Send-Off As He Leaves For
National Finals at Washington

1
National Finals at Washington
With the plaudits of more than 500
of his townspeople still ringing in his
ears, James NJ. Tunnel, Jr, the Phil
adelphia regions champion boy orator
left Georgetown Thursday for the
scene of his major battle of wits and
words. Accompanied by his mother
and Congressman Robert G. Houston,
| the lad who Wednesday was the re-
cipient of a testimonial the like of
which never before was accorded a
Georgetown high school student, star
ted for Washington with a single
though, namely to do his best for
those 500 who expect him to "bring
more honors to Georgetown We'd
nesday was gala day in Georgetown.
Georgetown was out, Sussex county
was out, even the state was represent
ed at an enthusiastic rally to congrat-
ulate the lad who brough the foremost
honor in three states to the smallest
Of the three, that OF being adjudged
winner of the regional finals of the
Fourth National Oratorical Contest
on the Constitution. And this faxen
haired youth upon whom rests the
hope of three states in the national
contest which was held in Washing
ton Friday night, heard his fellow
townsmen publicly extol him as the
"Lindbergh Of Georgetown" with
shy modesty characteristic of this
Temperament.
He heard speaker after speaker
laud his accomplishments and, when
the audience by its applause demand
ed response, rose shyly, somewhat
reluctantly, it seemed, and spoke ex-
temporaneously. Nobody" he said,
"can prophecy the result in Washing
ton. | want you all to know that
will do my best for my school, my
town, my county, my state and for my
region The rally, held under the
auspices of the Rotary and Century
Clubs, was a spontaneous reaction of
the town and county to the boy who
brought both SO much honor. And
both responded. The Ryon Theatre
was crowded to the doors before the
program began. The students of the
high school marched in classes to the
theatre through flag-draped Market
st. When James arrived with his
family the audience arose as one and
cheered for several minutes, but the
youth slipped into an obscure seat and
did not go to the stage until Frank
NJ. Jones, president of the Rotary
Club, who presided, walked into the
audience and led him there.
Addresses, each of which paid trib-
ute to Tunnel and wished him success
in the national finals, We're made by
Professor John Shilling, assistant
State Superintendent of Public In
struction; George S. Williams, presi-
dent, of the State Board of Educa-
ton; Andrew Marvel, of the George
town Town Council; Mr.. Jones and
Howard Conway, a classmate in the
high school. Professor Shilling struck
a responsive chord in the audience
when he said: 81 hope this testimonial
to the honored student of our State
today is but a rehearsal Of a still
greater one to be held after he is
awarded the national title"
The audience cheered and James
flushed a trife when his schoolmates
rose for a school yell. But in his
speech later he let it be known he was
not confident, not even speculative. He
is out to do his best, and if the honor
Of being the first to bring national
laurels to the Philadelphia region
should be his, his townspeople feel it
will not exalt him unduly He will |
always be Jimmy Tunnell in
Georgetown, lovable, genuine boy
who spends most of his spare time
with chickens, pigs, horses, ducks,
pigeons and plants on the four acres
to his fathers attractive
home on Market street.
Music for the rally was supplied by |
the Lewes high school orchestra. A
gold watch was presented to James by |
the Rotary Club and a basket of flow |
ers by the Century Club. The theatre |
stage was attractively decorated with |
flags, the high school colors and flow
ers.
Friday night before an audience of |
more than 5000 in the Washington
the boy delivered in ma
tional competition the oration which |
won tri-state honors for him in the