Huron College is celebrating its 58th anniversary today. To review its founding is to be made aware once again of the dreams of the far-visioned educational and religious leaders of more than a half century ago, and of the fulfillment of those dreams by the men and women who have carried on their work. In the words of its administrations, "Huron College aims to give young people, through accepted educational procedures, with Christian emphasis opportunity to develop mental capacity, enrich cultural appreciations, and deepen the spiritual life."Conceived by several loyal Presbyterians, among whom was Dr. Harlan Page Carson, and incorporated in October, 1883, by the newly-organized Presbyterian Synod of South Dakota, the insitution, then located at Pierre, was opened as Pierre University under the presidency of the Rev. Thomas M. Findley, who was succeeded in 1885 by Pres. William M. Blackburn.
Moves Here
When a number of drought years made a continuance of the institution at Pierre impossible, the synod, refusing to admit even a partial defeat and encouraged by the unwavering optimism of Huron business men of great vision, decided to move the school to Huron. The building now known as the Royal Hotel was purchased by a $5,000 purse contributed by Huron citizens and given to the synod to house the enterprise. Several names for the new school were proposed, after which President Blackburn pointed out "You may attempt to call it by another name but it will always be known as Huron College," and so it was christened.
The building in which the college was to begin its work was devoid of equipment and furniture, and the women of Huron, assisted by the synod, churches villages and even Indians of the Dakota Presbytery took steps to furnish the rooms that were to serve dormitory purposes.
Blackburn Resigns
In this same eventful year of 1898, Dr. Blackburn resigned and was given the chair of President Emeritus and professor of normal science, economics and geology. The Rev. Calvin H. French, principal of the academy located at Scotland, was made the new Huron College president, while at the same time the academy was united with the college.
In 1902 the Chicago and North Western Railway gave four blocks of land, then on the edge of town to the college for a campus. The first building was the Elizabeth R. Voorhees dormitory for girls, dedicated in October, 1904. A main building, with the heating plant was completed in the spring of 1907. Then college life was wholly transferred to the campus.
Endowment
When immediate material necessities had thus been supplied, the next concern was endowment. The large contributors to the first endowment were James J. Hill, of St. Paul; Dr. D. K. Pearsons, of Chicago; and the General Education Board of New York. The sum of $500,000 was subscribed by Nov. 11, 1911, and collected by August, 1916.
In July, 1913, Dr. French resigned the presidency and was succeeded by Pres. H. M. Gage. In 1923, during the administration of Dr. George S. McCune, the city of Huron subscribed $125,000 for a building to serve as gymnasium and auditorium. It was dedicated in June, 1926.
Other presidents followed: Royal Clyde Agne, 1927-1932; Frank L. Eversull, 1934-1938, and Milton Carsley Towner, 1939-1940. In the spring of 1941, George Francis McDougall was made president.
The standing of Huron College in the educational world is attested by its membership in the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools, in the Association of American Colleges, and in the Presbyterian College Union.
Its courses lead to the degrees of bachelor of arts and bachelor of music, and to certificates in music, education, and secretarial work.
HURON H.S. GRADUATING CLASS TO BE LARGEST ON RECORD
169 Seniors Are On List to Receive Diplomas
Prof. George McCarty of State College to Deliver Address June 1; Baccalaureate Next Sunday
As pupils of the Huron public school system moved into the examination week "zero hour" of the current term, preparations were being made for graduating the largest senior class in the history of the local high school.
The 138 senior class roster, as announced tentatively by Principal O. D. Dunbar, lists 169 eligible for diplomas at commencement exercises the night of June 1. Of this number at least 160 will be graduated, Principal Dunbar said, there being eight or 10 on the list whose credits may be insufficient for graduation.
The previous record class to be graduated from Huron High School was in 1933 when 152 seniors received diplomas.
Girls Win Honors
Top scholastic honors in the 1938 graduating class go to two rural girls - Ruth Bevier and Eleanor Olson. Miss Bevier, who claims a high school average of 92.28 percent, is the class valedictorian, and Miss Olson, with an average of 91.65, is the salutatorian.
Commencement week activities got underway last night with the annual class day exercises, conducted in the senior high school assembly room and attended by a large gathering of parents and friends of the graduates. All other public graduation functions will be held in the Huron College auditorium.
Members of the 1938 senior class will reach the end of their prep school careers commencement night, June 1, when diplomas will be awarded and the commencement address given by Prof. George McCarty of South Dakota State College. Special awards will also be given to high rating members of the senior class.
Baccalaureate Sunday
The Rev. Sander Tollefson of the American Lutheran Church will preach the annual baccalaureate sermon next Sunday night, the services opening in the college auditorium at 8 o'clock.
Seniors will mingle with high school mates and faculty members Friday evening at the annual senior farewell ball at which the 1938 class will be host. The dance will be held in the high school gymnasium.
Junior High School promotional exercises have been announced for Tuesday evening, May 31. The program will also be held in the college auditorium with the Rev. Walter H. Riley of the First Congregational Church to deliver the address. Junior High School Principal G. G. Bell has listed 213 ninth graders eligible for promotion into senior high school Of these 147 are June graduates and 66 are those who completed their ninth grade work in mid-year and already have entered senior high school.
Today marked the final day of regular classroom schedules in the public schools, with final examinations slated to start Thursday. "A" Club pupils will not be required to take the final tests.
The school year will formally close the morning of June 1 when approximately 2,500 pupils will report at their respective buildings to receive report cards. The 1938-39 term will open the first week in September.
Senior List
The tentative list of senior high school graduates as announced by Principal Dunbar today is as follows:
Robert Adams, Maxine Alley, Milford Ames, Doris Anderson; Ethelyn Anderson; Jack Arends; Marjorie Bastian; Ethelyn Beck; Evelyn Beck; Mabel Bergerson; Robert Berndt; Ruth Bevier; Veron Bice; Betty Bjornson; Anne Bloomberg; Florence Bowder; Tad Boyle; Buenetta Brandmire; Della Brandvold; Creva Brown.
Margaret Brown, Wyla Brown, Dennis Bruner, Bette Burns, Margaret Caldow, Calvin Calendine, Harriett Carlson, Robert Carlson, Shirley Carlson, Velma Clemens, Norma Cranston, James Crawford, Corrine Crowell, Robert Curry, Harry Daum, Ardyth Dethlef, Robert Devers, Lila Dubro, Melvin Dugdale, Virginia Dumdey, Normal Englebretsen, Alene Gibbs, Margie Goodlander, John Gorman, Bernice Grace, Donald Green, Edward Greschke, Irma Groves, Ronald Gustafson, Irma Groves, Ronald Gustafson, Milton Gulbranson, Marceile Hadley, Norma Haffner, Arthur Hagedorn, Esther Hagemo, Mary Haney, Andrew Hanson, Milton Hanson.
Carl Hay, Carrell Hay, Leland Hayes, Billy Hebron, Kenneth Helseth, Mickey Higgins, Ione Hill, Harold Hines, Violet Hohm, Helen Hornbeck, Chester Howard, Harold Huntington, Corothy Jancks, Edith Jensen, Lois Kennedy, Marjorie Kenner, Allen King, Olive King, Robert King, Virginia Kittleson, Anne Kleinsasser, Ruth Elaine Knapp, Dale Koch, Delores Koppert, Marjorie Kretchmer, Evelyn Krug, Margaret Kuehn, Sigmund Kulawik, Kendall La Craft, Karna Ann Larson, Arthur Lindal, Solveig Linnett, Eugene Lothrop, Forrest Lueth.
Claude Lundgren, Darlene Lyle, Donald Lyle, Josephine McDermott, Vincent Mcinty, Gordon McNarama, Merle McNutt, Eleanor Madden, Gladys Mantz, Kenneth Martin, Meredith Maul, William Mead, Muriel Meiselbach, Harold Melby, Clinton Meyer, Perry Miller, Laida Minski, Eugene Moore, Delbert Munster, Forest Nelson, Mavis Nesson, Dorothy Norris, Valerine Norum, Lorna Oakland, Gene O'Connor, Eleanor Olson, Marian Olson, Virgil Olson, Cecil Persing, Vincent Peterson.
John Phelps, Dorothy PicKell, Irene PicKell, Margaret Reese, Margaret Sainsbury, Blanche Schleuter, Gerald Schroder, Leona Schroder, Robert Shaw, Alyce Simpson, Owen Sloggett, Betty Jane smith, John Smith, Illene Sorenson, Mina Sporrer, Erwin Stahl, Juanita Stam, Nine Stevens, Henry Struck, Fern Swanson, Roy Taylor, Mildred Thompson, Byron Tilman, Edith Timperly, Dorothy Tobin, Jean Trotter, Menno Tschetter, Susanna Tschetter, Gene Van Winkle, Gerald Wagner, Isaac Waldner, Lillian Waldner, Lucius Weaver, Ruth Westling, Bernice Wheeler, Maxine Wheeler, Mary Whitney, Fern Whyte, Arlene Williams, Fern Winter, Arthur Wipf, Betty Jane Wright and Dorothy Young.
From a donation solicitation put out by
Huron College at Thanksgiving, 1939
Milton C. Towner, President (1939), B. A., Coe College; M.A., Ph. D., Iowa
Herbert G. Titt, Dean (1923), B. S., Washburn; A. M., Michigan; Litt. D.
Ella McIntire, Director of Studies and Librarian (1909), A. B., B. L. S., Illinois
Grace Watkins, Dean of Women (1938), B. A., Jamestown; M. A., Iowa.
Edward W. Hale, Director of Admissions and Professor of Philosphy (1939), B. A., Beloit; M. A., B. D., Yale.
Ralph Walton, Admissions Counsellor and Recorder (1939), B. A., M. A., LL. B., University of Omaha
Lamar Burling, Instructor in Violin and Piano (1939), B.M.E., Northwestern University
Edwin DePoncent, Professor of Modern Languages (1929), A.B., Ozark College, Ph.D., Central University
Grace Finley, Instructor in Piano and Theoretical Music (1916), B.M., Central College
Raymond Greb, Professor of Biology (1938), B.S., M.S., Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh
Mrs. Edward W. Hale, Assistant Professor of Latin and Bible (1939), B.A., Vassar
Walter Kaloupek, Professor of Social Science (1938), A.B., A.M., Ph.D., Iowa
Orus F. Krumboltz, Professor of Chemistry (1939), B.S., Iowa State College; M.S., George Washington University; Ph.D., University of Chicago
Gerald E. Parker, Instructor in Physical Education (1937), A.G., University of Nebraska
Elisabeth M. Reid, Professor of Engish (1900), Ph.B., College of Wooster; A.M., University of California; Litt. D.
Leon M. Reynolds, Assistant Professor of Physics and Mathematics (1939), A.B., A.M., Iowa
Mrs. Leon M. Reynolds, Instructor in Physical Education (1939), A.G., A.M., Iowa
Mrs. Miriam Speirs, Instructor in English (1925), A.B., Huron College
Leo Spurrier, Professor of Economics and Business Administration (1938), A.B., A.M., University of Kansas
Erie T. Volkert, Associate Professor of Dramatics and Speech (1939), B.A., Lawrence College, M.A., Northwestern University
Loftus H. Ward, Instructor in Voice, Organ, Public School Music (1933), B. S., Drake University
D. Earl Zook, Professor of Education and Psychology (1939), B.S., Central Missouri State Teachers College; M. A., Ph. D., University of Chicago
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