Evening star., 1941-08-26

tapped for honors early in the spring
by Georgia's distinguished tobacco
chewing chief executive, Mr.. Barron
has jumped over the heads of older
and much better-known educators
with the same ease with which he
hurled tacklers two decades ago.
Gov. Talmadge, who is purging
the Georgia University system Of
all "furriners," has asked Mr.. Bar
ron to become dean of men at the
Georgia School of Technology, but
confirmed rumor has it that before
he can accept he will be asked to
take the position of vice chancellor
of the entire university system.
Another confirmed rumor has IL
that he will yield to the Governors
request" and lay down his gold
football, varsity letter and head
guard for mortar board and gown.
When Mr.. Barron was tapped for
| dean of men at Georgia Tech the
students who like their football on
Saturdays only raised noisy OBJ
| lection. They raised the question
as to whether Mr.. Barron had ever
received his simple B. S. degree. back
20 years late, but his friends argued
that this made it an even more inn
pressive B. S. degree-that a 1941
degree was bound to be more mod
ern, more streamlined, and have
more chromium on 1t than any he
could have earned as a student 20
years ago.
The students didn't like this.
They burned Mr.. Barron in efigy
and paraded the campus with ban
ners bearing the slogan "Talmadge
is unfair to Stumpy Thomason and
Father Lumpkin." Thomason and
Lumpkin, it will be remembered,
also were all-America football backs.
who had to 60 out in the cruel world
without degrees.
When Mr.. Barron was mentioned
as possible vice chancellor, 1t was
suggested by the man on the street
and the newspapers that the out
side world might not understand a
State having vice chancellor who
didn't have doctors degree.
Things are worked in a mysterious
manner in Georgia, now that Eu-
gene Talmadge is again at the ship
of state, swapping his red suspend
ers and numbering the Kings Eng
lish with blunt instrument every
time he opens his patrician mouth.
Almost before q fellow could say
GO of right tackle, Red" Mr..
Barron was made a doctor Of laws.
1t was conferred by the John Mar
shall Law School. an institution
which has made such progress in
its six years of existence that it now
occupies whole floor over a bank
in suburban Atlanta.
1t is night school, but the lights
are very bright in the study hall
and lecture room. and the dean,
to whom I talked, is optimistic over
the chances of John Marshall's
eventually being recognized by the
American Association OF Law
Schools. 1t isn't recognized now.
but they issue mighty pretty LII. D.
on paper and DR.. Barron is one Of
the two men who have been honored
by John Marshall.
Out of pure curiosity and not out
Of spite, because I have known Mr..
Barron since he made Ripley's car
toon 20 years ago by playing through
a full season with wired-up
broken jaw, I asked Dean Fenster
of John Marshall Law School just
why they gave Mr.. Barron a degree.
HE is great educator" the dean
said.
"On what count?" asked.
where has he done his great
work?"
He is president of the Georgia
Vocational and Trade School of
Monroe, Ga" the dean replied,
You must know the school 1t was
formerly Monroe Agricultural and
Mechanical School and played the
toughest schedule of any North
Georgia high school football team"
I recalled the school Immediately.
When was a student at Tech High
in Atlanta the Monroe Aggies Red
Barron, president, used to beat
such Rose Bowl contenders as
Moultrie High, Valdosta High and
cambridge High, The more 7
thought of Red Barrons qualifica-
tions, the more I could understand
Gov. Talmadges enthusiasm over
Red as an educator. He was not
only president of Monroe, but
coached the football team, and
secuted q little bit for Georgia
Tech, too, and sent them more than
one hide-bound sophomore tackle
or ball-toter.
I talked to Gov. Talmadge about
his choice of Mr.. Barron for the
second highest educational post in
Georgia and the Governor had
ready answers. With an adroit twist
of his tobacco quid, he explained
that Mr.. Barron had character.
ST don't care nothing for them
Vienna and Heidelberg-trained fur
riners," the Governor said. when
a father and mother send their
children of to school they want
them to be taught honor. Barron
is full of honor. I hear tell that
there Is a chance that Georgia's
universities may be taken on the
accredited list by some association
or other. That suits me fine. That11
save the State money, because I'll
just cut the professors salaries In
half the day that happens. The
degrees they help the students get