Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1935-07-11
DIR. w. e. SEALOCK, OMAHA,
DIES FROM SELF POISONING

Il
DR.. w. E. Sealock, aged about S.
years, former resident of this coun
ty, and nationally known educator
and college president, died late Sun
day night at his home in Omaha
Neb., from poisoning said to have
been self administered. DR.. Sealocl
wo had been president of the Mu
nicipal university of Omaha fol
four years, was dismissed as SucI
about two weeks prior to his death
under circumstances which it i:
stated the board Of regents did no
explain, and it is stated that hi:
death threatened to bring into the
hurled in secret session of thai
board. In his last words he saiG
that efforts to reinstate him were
futile because of bitter feelings al
ready engendered. AS he lay dying
a request from his friends was in
the mail on it's way to Washington
D. c., asking the American Associa
tion of University Professors to in
vestigate his dismissal. City news
papers in an Associated Press re-
port stated that DIR. Sealock said to
his wife and daughter at his bed
side "It will be all the same a hun,
dred years from now, I'm dying
Papers all over the country carried
accounts of his passing.
William E. Sealock was born ir
Morgan county, in the state of Ohio
not far from Rural Dale. For q
number of years he resided on the
farm Of the late r. L. Evans in
Bristol township, and attended
school in that township, and later
he and his mother resided on what
was then the M. R. Devol farm, now
owned by Dow Ross, in East Bloom
Borders school. When a boy, Mr.
Evans discovered that he had q
keen mind, and noted that he was
of fine disposition and good habits
and he saw in him future possibili-
ties, and encouraged and assisted
him to continue his school studies
which he did in spite of his hum
bic home life. In due time he Sc
cured teachers certificate. He
taught his first term at Patterson's
school, Meigsville township. He
was a successful teacher. He was
married to Miss Nancy Whitney oil
Bristol township, and it was
through her encouragement and in
fiuence that he entered Ohio State
University, graduating from that
college. He later took higher de-
grees at Columbia University, where
he also taught for two summers
His first high school work was al
Lowell, o., and from 1906 to 1912
he was superintendent of the Cir.
cleville schools. The years 1914
1915 he was supervisor of the higf
schools of the Ohio state depart
structor at Iowa state college fol
several years. This was followed b!
ten years as dean of the teachers
college at the University of Nebras
ka; and in the year 1881 he &C
cepted the presidency of the Mu
nicipal university of Omaha, Neb.
at salary of $4,000 per year
While at the University of Nebras
ka, he was offered professorshiF
at Yale university, but declined the
appointment. He was recognized
nationally as an outstanding educa
tor. and college head.
The writer of this has known the
deceased ever since we were boys
in Borders school, and upon his re-
turn to his home county we always
felt honored in the friendly sociable
calls Mr.. Sealock made us; and
were ever impressed with his mag
netism, personality, his learning
and his kindly, considerate manners
in general. knowing him as we did
we feel that We can never bring
ourself to believe that he was guilty
Of any wrong doing which should
have led to his dismissal. Two
weeks ago last Saturday Mr.. Sea-
lock and his wife made a visit here
and elsewhere in the county, with
relatives, and since his tragic death
they recall that he in maAy respects
was not at that time his former
self, and that something was ap-
parently weighing heavily upon his
mind.
In DR.. Sealock's passing we have
suffered a distinct loss, and to his
wife and their daughter Miss Thel-
ma Sealock, we along with their
many friends in his old home coun'
ty, extend our heartfelt sympathy.