Evening star., 1951-07-13
Gregory, Knox
Lead Aspiirants
For School Post
Armstrong Principal
Fovored by Corning te
Head CoIored System
By Colt HendIey, Jr.


The two top candidates for the
position of assistant superin-
tendent in charge Of colored
schols in the District are Francis
A. Gregory, principal OF Arm
strong High School. and DR.. Ellis
o. Knox. of the Howard University
faculty, it was learned today.
School Supt. Hobart M. Corn
ing's choice for the important
job as one Of his three top assist
ants is Mr.. Gregory.
The Board of Education met
earlier this week in special ses-
sion to fill the position. The va
cancy was created by the retire
ment of DR.. Garnet C. Wilkinson.
who is 70 and has been in the
school system for 48 years.
ImpaSse Reached.
An impasse was reached, how
ever, and the boards personnel
committee sent the matter back
to DR.. Corning for reconsideration.
1t did not reject Mr.. Gregory but
could not reach a decision because
Of the support of DIR. Knox by
at least one board member.
The colored members Of the
board have split as to whom they
want for the assistant superin-
tendent of colored schools.
johnson Supports Knox.
It was learned that DR.. Phillip
r Johnson, colored board mem
ber, supported DR.. Knox vigor-
ously.
Mrs. James w. Williams, the
second colered member, fought
for Mr.. Gregory. Wesley S. Will
liams. the freshman colored mem
ber, took an active part in the
discussion at the secret meeting
but apparently did not commit
himself for either side.
DR.. Wilkinson also favors Mr..
Gregory as his successor and was
reported to have made a strong
plea for his appointment at the
meeting.
A number of the white school
board members repeatedly are not
too much in favor of DR.. Knox
because of his intense activities
In opposing segregation.
Adelbert w. Lee. vice president
of the Board of Education, also is
chairman of the personnel COM
mittee, which must act first on
DR.. Corning's recommendation.
Under the procedures, the board
either rejects or approves DR..
Corning's nomination but does not
select its own man for the posi-
tion.
Other members of the person.
mel committee are DR.. johnson
and Albert E. Steinem.
Earlier Situation Recalled.
The impasse recalled the situa-
ton two years ago. when the
Board of Education rejected Miss
Eleanor McAuliffe after she was
recommended by DR.. Corning for
the principalship of SoUsa Junior /
High School. Later the board
changed its mind and voted her
into the position.
Mr.. Lee led the opposition to
DR.. Corning's selection in the
Sousa case. But, apparently. so
far. this impasse over the as
sistant Superintendent's position
is not a case of Mr.. Lee opposing
the school superintendent.
DR.. Corning is eager to have the
position filled as soon as possible
so that organization of the
colored schools can be accom-
plished this summer under the
new assistant superintendent. The
school board probably will meet
in another special session to
thresh out the problem. as soon
as DR.. Corning completes his re-
study.
Native Of Harrisburg.
MIR. Gregory, native Of Harris
burg, Pa, is 43, and has lived in |
Washington since he was 9. He
was graduated from Dunbar High
School and then received a bache-
lor Of science degree in electrical
engineering in 1928 from Case
Institute of Technology in Cleve-
land.
He taught. for three years at
the A. g. T. College, Greensboro,
N. c., and a year at Tuskegee In
stitute in Alabama. He earned
a masters degree in electrical
engineering at the Massachusetts,
Institute of Technology on q
Rosenwald Fellowship.
Mr.. Gregory came to the District
public schools in 1882 as an elec-
tricity and radio teacher at Arm
strong High School. Nine years
later, he was made principal Of
the Phelps Vocational High School.
He held that position for three
years and then was named prin-
cipal of Armstrong in 1943.
He lives at 4015 Massachusetts,
avenue Sc. is married and has al
son, Frederick, 10, a student at the
Mott Elementary School. His
activity in Boy Scout work here
earned for him the coveted Silver
Beaver award.
Knox is Californian.
DR.. Knox is So and a native of
California. He received a bache-
lor's degree from the University of
California in 1922; a masters de-
gree from the University of South
ern California in 1928, and al
doctor Of philosophy degree from
the same school in 1881.
He taught in a Phoenix (Ariz.)
high school for year and wasl
principal for four years. He trans
ferred to the Los Angeles cityl
school system in 1926 and taught
for two years before becoming al
supervisor.
In 1881, he came to Howard
university's faculty and is now
a professor of education.
Extremely active as an oppo-
nent of segregation in the District,
he has served as educational con-