Evening star., 1959-12-23
LA GORGE
Continued From First Page

MS JTaV6l ana WTlLlng ne naQ
friends in nearly every coun-
try on earth, so the sorrow at
his loss will be world wide.
For me. DR.. La Gorce was
friend and mentor from my
childhood. He was my teacher
at National Geographic for 35
years. His friends in the busi-
ness, religious and cultural life
of Washington will know that
in the passing of DR.. La Gorce,
an era passes.
Retired in 1857
DR.. La Gorce retired from
Office on January 8. 1857, and
was unanimously elected vice
chairman of the board of
trustees of the society. He lived
at 2l20 Kalorama road NV.
The sweep of interests Of this
unusual man was tremendous.
He was an author, expert on
sunken treasure, a collector OF
armor and curios, a supporter
of expeditions to the far corners
of the earth and a deep sea
fisherman. He served geog-
raphy. science and education
during his long and rich career.
+ DR.. La Gorce was honored
by President Eisenhower, Vice
President Nixon and the late
Secretary of State John Foster
Dulles, among other notables.
He was also extolled by numer-
Gus countries and lauded by
explorers, statesmen, educators
and others in outstanding posts.
Helped Society Grow
He saw the National Geo.
graphic Society grow from only
/ 10000 members in 1905 when
he joined it to well over 2
million members. He became
the third employe of the Or
ganization. which now has
some 1900 on its payroll.
Many Of the society's useful
and interesting projects DR.. La
Gorce originated, DR.. Gros-
venor declared.
HE has labored with love
and ceaseless energy to help
develop the organization and
bring it to the dignifled posi-
ton it now holds in the life
OF our country" DR.. Grosvenor
asserted.
Born In Scranton
This long and interesting
career of DR.. La Gorce began in
Scranton, Pa. on September
%. 1879. Because he was born
a few days earlier than ex-
pected, while his parents were
in Scranton. he missed being a
native WaShingtonian. But in
the long years ahead, he made
up for this by being one OF
the National Capitals biggest
boosters and making the or
ganization with which his life's
work was so closely identified
a real business asset to the
community.
DR.. La Gorce was the son OF
a French nobleman who was
graduated from st. Cyr, the
famous French military school,
became a colonel and came to
the United States as a min
eralogist. He was Count Gabriel
H. de la Gorce. The count was
a cousin of the noted French
Historian Pierre de la Gorce.
Telegrapher at IA
DR.. La Gorce became an ex-
pert telegrapher by the time
he reached IA years of age. His
mother. who learned the Morse
code and worked in a railroad
telegraph Office as a young girl,
taught him.
He was educated in the pub
lie schools and Georgetown
University and had been a
lieutenant commander in the
Naval Reserve.
The story is told in the fam
lily that mother and son, at the
dinner table, would tap out
messages in Morse with their
knives.
! His first important job was
as a press telegrapher in
Scranton and went all over the
State in handling dispatches.
Then he came to Washington,
where he served as Western
Unions manager on Capitol
Hill for two sessions OF
Congress.
Then he became a newspaper
man. He specialized in fea-
ture stories on geography. his
tory and the natural sciences.
He spent many hours in the
Library of Congress. pursuing
facts, to write for magazines
and newspapers.
Outstanding Writer
His writings brought him to
the attention of DR.. Grosvenor
who with Dr.. La Gorce and one
clerk in 1905 formed the entire
staff of the National Geographic
Magazine.
DR.. La Gorce was assistant
secretary 1867 and then
began the steady climb that
brought him to the presidency
=