New Britain herald., 1930-01-07
UP FROM THE RANKS


 hard time explaining how it has come to pass that David Sarnoff at 39 heads one of the nations big gcst new industries. Sarnoff came to the United States as an immigrant when a child. He was born in Russia. In the United States he went to the public schools in New York and then went to work at an early age Today he is president of the Radio Corporation of America.
 If some college had him on its rolls as a graduate he would be pointed out as a shining example of what "education" can do for man. AS it is, NIT. Sarnoff's only educa- tional advantage has been that he graduated from the University Of Hard Knocks.
 The day is not yet here, if it viii ever come, when a college course vii be a sure guarantee of leader ship. The collegiate training will al ways be an aid as it is now; but no collegiate course will ever be de signed to compete with what for practical purposes amounts to genius. Extraordinary native ability, talent and aptitude will always be of value in acquiring leadership. Di- versified learning can well cooper ate in developing worthy leadership, but it is of no maximum moment if divorced from inherent ability, in tcllgence and vigorous enterprise.
 When Mir Sarnoff was youth he was a very minor employee in a telegraph office. He tinkered with the machines and had a natural bent for mechanics. He made improve ments. Most important of all, he had initiative. He could recognize MT Opportunity when he saw the gentleman knocking.
 Thus it came that when wireless was invented young Sarnoff became intensely interested. While many people were merely discussing the new science young Sarnoft was making himself an expert in it. And while scientific college professors were trying to discover what 1t was all about young Sarnoff became one of the half dozen experts in wire less telcgraphy in New York City. He was picked, because of his knowledge, to become identified with the first wireless tclegraphy sct-up in this country, They were crude but young Sarnoff helped to improve them.
 He had practically no competition 1 in the field. The demand for persons who "knew something" about wire less telegraphy was great. Sarnoff supplied a slice of the demand. Con- stantly working at improving the new contraptions he soon was look ed upon as the best expert in New York.
 It was, in a sense, case of Edi- son all over again, except with thi: difference: That while Edison as ] young man expcrimented with { large number of inventions, Sarnof concentrated on wireless. Both fol lowed practically the same method: Of trial and error and success.
 MT. Sarnoff was picked as presi dent of the Radio Corporation be cause of his identity with wireles communication from the beginning and because he is an acknowledge master in that field. He was neNe more than mildly interested in radi } as an amusement. but preferred { ; regard 1t as a substitute for wires i sending and receiving communlca tions. He was one of the first wire 1 less operators.
 This of course, is in the nature 0 a success story. On reviewing tn , circumstances. however, one cannf help marvclling at it. From a Rus sian immigrant child to the head ( , one of Amcrica's giant corporation within approximately 30 years } something worth discussing. ? uIIIN FOX Ell RI&Y