Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-21
EDUCATION BOARD
HONORS GULL|ON
The Stars Champion Orator
Officially Commended in Ex-
erciseS at Western High.

Tribute was paid to Edmund Gullion,
Western High School graduate student,
for bringing distinction to his country.
the recent national and international
oratorical contests when the official
commentator of the Board Of Eiuca-
ton was presented to him in unusual
exercises at Western late yesterday.
DR.. Charles +. Carusi, president of
the School Board; Mrs. Philip Sidney
Smith and Henry Gilligan, School
Board members; DR.. Frank w. Ballou,
superintendent Of schools, and Theodore
w. Noyes, editor Of The Star, news
paper sponsor Of the contests in the
National Capital and vicinity, were
among the eminent who journeyed
over to Western High School to express
appreciation to the 1e-year-old stu
dent. The ceremonies attending the
presentation Of the Board of Educa-
tons oficial commentator of young
Gullion were marked by q general
assembly Of students, In which the
entire student body Of the high school
sought to fit itself into the compare
lively small auditorium.
DR.. CAruA Speaks
DR.. CaTusi was the principal speaker,
as it was he whom the School Board
designated to carry It's praise to the
world champion orator. DR.. Elmer 8.
Newton, principal Of Western, presented
DR.. Carusi to the audience, which
greeted him with thunderous applause,
whistling and cheering.
i assure you" DR.. Carusi began,
that the Board of Education shares
with you the pride IN the fact that
world distinction was won by an Amer
lean youth. With you we are proud
that that youth was q product of the
Washington school system, and lastly.
and perhaps more essential here, that
that youth Is one of your own Western
High School students"
The United States, DR.. Carusi con-
tinued, Is a Nation given to cempeti-
tons with people willing and anxious
to confer high hor1ors upon the victors
1t Is the practice, he explained, for
newspapers to sponsor certain of the
better known contests.
THE Star, Of which Mr.. Theodore
w. Noyes here is editor, has chosen a
unique contest to sponsor-the National
and International Oratorical Contest"
DR.. CaruSt declared. This Is a con-
test which Is unique because 1t Is a
competition based solely upon intel
lectual proves rather than upon mere
physical feats Of strength.
I'VE of the school board, as an off,
cial body, want to emphasize to you
that laurels can be won in fields other
than athletics and that these laurels
carry with them honors and rewards
commensurate with the effort put into
the winning Of them"
Cites Olympic Games.
The school board president explained
that he was by no means opposed to
athletic contests, assuring his audience
that to the contrary he was a sup
porter Of physical competitions But,
events placed in a position out Of all
proportion to their genuine worth. He
cited the famous olympic games of
ancient Greece and the world renown
they gained.
who remembers, however, the names
Of any Of those who won the palms
in those famed contests of physical
prowesS?" CaruSi asked. ION the other
hand, who is it today, after 2,400 years,
has not heard the name of Demos
themes, famous orator of those times?
Demosthenes is remembered after all
these years, not only because he was
a great orator, but because Of his serv-
ice TO his country. He was q great
patriot first and then a great orator.
Nov don't know whether our
young friend Gullion ever will have an
opportunity to use his great powers in
the defense of his country and I can't
guarantee that he will be remembered
for 2,400 years, but do know that the
accomplishments he already has at
tanned by winning in a truly great and
significant contest In which better Gov
eminent and love of Government is the
primary object are the reasons we are
here to honbr him today, and I, for
myself and the Board of Education, do
honor him."
GuIliOn Acknowledges Letter.
DR.. Carusi then requested Harry o.
Hine, secretary Of the school board, to
read the engroSsed letter Of commenda-
ton which the board had adopted and
ordered transmitted to the world ora
torical champion.
When Mr.. Hine had read the letter
Gullion himself stood 10 acknowledge
it, while his classmates cheered them
selves hoarse.
AS letter of appreciation, Gullion
declared, the document was addressed
to the teachers of Western High School
and his other instructors who assisted
him in his preparation for the con-
tests as much as 1t was directed to him.
"If the results of this past years
contest are TO be the criterion, let us
hope that we have inaugurated a real
winning streak for The Stars future
oratorical contests"
Mr.. Moves next was presented to the
enthusiastic audience by DR.. Carusi
The editor whose newspaper sponsors
the oratorical contest in Washington
- Akzr NaA4r~ -
ginia and Maryland told his listeners
that he was glad to be present to add
his own and The Stars appreciation to
that Of the Board Of Education for the
accomplishment of Mr. Gullion.
Mr.. Gullion," Mr.. Moves asserted,
has brought distinction 70 his country
and he has brought distinction to his