Evening star., 1928-05-06
PRESS OF WORLD WILL HONOR
LEADER ONCE PRINTERS DEVIL
Homage Win Be Paid to Wal.
ter Williams. Eminent
Journalist.
Founded Missouri School OF
Journalism 20 Years
Ago.

Special Dispatch TO The star,
COLUMBIA. Mo, May S.-The press
Of Missouri and Of the world will pay
homage May IL to A man who began
life a printers devil, who served his
time as editor of a tiny country news
paper and who then became this State S
best known citizen of the world man
who. 20 years ago. founded the worlds
first school Of journalism and whose
hand has directed the preparation o.
nearly thousand young men and
women for careers in the profession
which he has loved and followed-the
making of newspapers.
That man is Walter Williams, dean
of the School of Journalism of the Unl-
verSity of Missouri. chosen mheSltating-
IL by members of the university board
of curators for the post when they be-
came pioneers in 3 new field OF pro-
fcSSional education in April, 1908. ana
whose life and work for the past two
decades. COSMOPOLITAN as it has been,
has wrapped so inseparably with the
school that throughout the world his
name and that of the school which ne
directs are almost synonymous.
Holds journalism Patriotic.
Exempifying a phrase from his own
Journalists Creed-"I believe that
journalism which succeeds best
is profoundly patriotic while sincerely
promoting international good will and
cementing world comra0eship." Dean
Williams activities have been by no
means limited to the work of his school,!
since it was founded. He is known
throughout the world for his work IN
promoting the international organiZa-
ton OF newspaper men IN order that
better understanding OF the races may
prevail
Dean Williams started on his career
at the age of IL as a devil in a news
paper Office in Boonville, Mo, soon was
writing items for the paper and at the
age of % was its editor, About this
time he was elected president OF the
Missouri State Press Association. ana
when but 80 years old was chosen
president of the National Editorial AS
sociation. besides having been on the
staff of the Kansas City Star. the St
Louis Republic, New York Sun and
having twice circled the globe as COM
missioner 90 the foreign press OF the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition. During
all this time Walter Williams had wash
ed inky rollers, swept copy paper from
floors. written editorials. edited news
papers and hobnodded with ROYALTY
dll0 dAAAA&Ad AGo AL CNNAE N(NAaNA@ as
which he visited.
Refuses Political Pests.
No sooner had Dean Williams started
sending university trained journalists
into the world TO add distinction TO the
profession and to spread the fame OF
the Missouri school 10 the world than
he came to be offered political posts
and to be urged 70 become candidate
for every Office in the State of Missouri,
ranging from city councilman TO gov
ernor On many occasions have Demo-
cratic party leaders in the State urged
Dean Williams to consider running Tor
the nomination for governor.
Friendships. are better To me than
governorshipS. Dean Williams told the
writer recently when asked concerning
his political career,
OF the 1000 who have been graduated
from the first school Of its kind in the
world. some 80 per cent are still en-
gagged in somc~ phase of journalistic
work Such a remarkable record brings
no small amount of pleasure 70 Mis-
souri's illustrious journalist who de-
lights to sit back In his easy chair and
mention some of his prominent grad
yates who now represent the school in
all parts of the world aany OF them
are now among the outstanding news
paper men of the world.
The close friendship of Dean Williams