Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-26
CHAMPION ORATOR
WON THOUGH I'LL
Severe Cold Was CIimaxed
by Nose Bleed Shortly
Before Contest.

The world champion high schoo
orator won last night in the face of Ill.
ness, which at the last moment
threatened to keep Edmund A. Gullion
the victor, out Of the contest.
This was revealed by parents of the
victorious 17-year postgraduate stu
dent at Western High School, Lieut.
Col. Allen w. Gullion, U. S. A, anc
Mrs. Gullion, after their son hac
throng of admirers from the stage, witt
the championship in his possession.
Delayed by Nose Bleed.
Edmund had been fighting a severe
cold all week, and the climax of the in
disposition was reached few moments
before the youth was to leave home fol
Constitution Hall last night. A severe
nose bleed, which def1ed all home eff
parture, and necessitated calling OF
physicians. EXpertly applied packing
was resorted to, and the orator downed
the first cup Of coffee of his lifetime
and so supported assembled the rostrum
When seen by representatives of The
Star, the newspaper which sponsored
his participation in the contest, the
Western High School graduate declared
he felt At and fine, for the trial. with
4lO ulclLlOH dt OH VI II1G IIyulB cApCIl-
ence through which he had just passed.
AS he stood patiently while battery
Of newspaper photographers made fash
light pictures of him and DR.. Cloyd
Heck Marvin, George Washington Uni
verslty president, who had presented
him the cup, and his parents, Edmund
appeared weary and 'let down."
Is Glad 1t Is Over.
"It has been an awful grind and I
am glad that 1t Is over" he said. But
my own happiness-andI must admit
this-in the completion of the job isn't
In 1t with my pleasure at bringing back
the championship to the United States.
The title has been away from US, you
know, since that boy (5erbert Wenig
Of California; won it the first year."
Between the fiashlight flares and the
noise of clamoring youthful admirers,
who beseiged stout doors for the cham
pion's autograph on a contest program,
Edmund managed to look ahead to. his
new ambition. Having been graduated
from Western High School last June,
less than a month after he won the
national finals, in the contest, Edmund
returned to Western for postgraduate
work this year. He said last night, how
ever, that he still Is determined to go
to Princeton University. There he will
take academic courses ntClng MN Ior
legal training later, should he desire 1t,
and at the same time, giving him a
sound education for literary work.
st want to do some kind of writing;
some kind of paying writing, like the
work you are doing" Edmund told The
Star reporter.
Victor From Kentucky.
While Gullion has been identified
rather widely as "Washingtonian," he
admitted last night that actually he is
O Kentuckian. It was in that State
that he was born, IT years ago. Hence
Kentucky may claim q national cham
pion for the second time, for 1t was
that State which sent James Raeburn
Moore of Somerset to the National
Capital to win the United States finals
two years ago. The new world cham
pion has lived in washington with his
parents for six years, with year inter-
vening during which Lieut.. Col. Gullion
was on duty elsewhere. The Gullions
make their home here at $3.50 North
ampton street.
The interview with the champion
was cut short last night when he and
his fellow contenders for the oratorical
honor were marshaled and escorted TO
the home of Mr.. and Mrs. Frank C..
Henry, at 1845 Belmont road, where
an informal party had been planned as
O toast to the victor.