• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1950-05-08_Vol17_No15_08

Page 8 THE WESTERN CAROLINIAN PROFESSOR FRANK BROWN Frank H. Brown, Prof. Of Chemistry Monday, May 8, 1950 PAUL A. REID INAUGURATED PRESIDENT OF WCTC; SENATOR FRANK P. GRAHAM SPEAKS When the last whistle blows and the last class rises to leave this year, Professor Frank Brown will lock the doors of the chemistry lab and turn away from forty-two years of his life. Yes, the man that has been and always will be the chemistry department at Cullowhee will retire. But one cannot retire forty-two years for they, are a monument to a man's goal. The story remains. Six years before Professor Madison came from Virginia to the mountains of Western Carolina to found the school at Cullowhee, Frank H. Brown was born to Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Brown of Cullowhee. That was in 1883, February 23, to be specific. Frank Brown started to school at tho Cullowhee school hou§e, In -those days it. was not unusual for the farm boy to rise at the grey of dawn to perform the chores, then trek two or three miles over mud covered roads to the little School. The winter months were the only months that school was in session, for the boys had to help do the farming in the spring and fall. And during these months ■was the worst time to go to school for the roads were poor and the school houses were dark from the leadened skies. In high school Frank Brown was the youngest in the class. "Back then," he reflected, "high school students were much older than they are now. I recall that the eldest student in my class was "twenty-eight years, while I was the youngest, being fifteen years of age." It was, also, in 1882, while Mr. Brown was in high .school, that the Cullowhee School received an appropriation from the state to establish a department for teacher training. "I told some of my classmates," said Mr. Brown, "that I had no intention of teach- 3n« MhOOl even if they did estate' Jish a normal department at Cul- jowh.ee". ttOwever, when Mr. firOwn graduated from high school, he found time to teach a four month school the next year, which was in 1899. He continued to teach school until 1904 when he took a job in the commissionary of a .gold mining company in Georgia. In August of 1908 Mr. Brown •came back to Cullowhee to accept the duties of science teacher at the young normal school. Cullowhee Normal was the first all (Continued from .page 1) who attended were: President Arthur M. Banner- -Tian, Warren Wilson College; Mrs. Ralph H. Ramsey, Jr., Coker College; President Hoyt Blackwell, Mars Hill College; Business Manager Alfred S. Brower of Duke University; President Bonnie David Bunn, Chowan College; President Glenn L Bushey, Asheville-Biltmore Collegte; Clarence C. Christman, American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguse; Morton L. Church, Har- Hniversity; President Eugene J. Coltrane, Brevard College; and President Dennis H. Cooke, High Point College. Dr. E. Emmons Corcoran, The Citadel; the Rev. C. Grier Davis, Davidson College; President Phillip L. Elliott, Gardner-Webb Junior College; President Raymond W. Fairchild, Illinois State Normal University; Marvin R. Farley, Mercer University; Alvin M. Fountain, N. C. State College; President Foye G. Gibson, Emory and Henry College; Mrs. Thelma H. Harrill, Scarritt College for Christian Workers; Mrs. G. E. Haven, College of William and Mary; President Henry H. Hill, George Peabody College for Teachers; teacher training school in the state and at the time Mr. Brown began his duitks it had two state built buildings, the old Madison Hall, which stood where the present Madison Dormitory stands, and Davies Hall, which was built in 1905 as a dormitory for young ladies. There was not a boy's dormitory, so consequently the young men lived off campus— some at the Brown residence. The student body, then, came largely from Buncombe, MadisOn and Henderson counties in the east and from all the counties west of the college. They were a hard working body, as Mr. Brown recalls. The boys especially, for they often had to walk two or three miles from their residence to the campus. The extra-curricular activities were limited to the Friday night meetings of the various literary societies. "Much midnight oil was burned," said Mr. Brown, and he meant what he said for oil lamps were the exclusive source of illumination in those days. The first teaching duties of Mr. Brown were many and varied. He caught in those first years a conglomeration of subjects including math, history, geography, physics, biology, and physiology. However, chemistry was to become the one, dominating subject. The first chemistry class that Mr. Brown taught was held in a stairway room of the old Madison-Hall, It was cramped for space and the meager furnishing were enough for only five or six students. Later, as the department began to expand, it was housed in the little Arts Building, which stood where the present classroom building now stands. At this time Joyner was being constructed, so at its completion in 1913 the chemistry equipment was moved up the hill to the new building. For a short time the class was located where Hugh Battle's Book Store now is, but was soon moved to What is now known as J-4. This room was used ag both a classroom and as a lab up until the old Cullowhee High School was built, then the lab was moved to the basement of Joyner. In 1932 Professor Brown decided that the lab needed an enlargement He took his plan, which called for rooms to be dug from the basement foundations under Joyner Building, to Dr. Hunter, president President Merritt E. Hoag, North Georgia College; Lamar Hocker, Texas Christian University; and Roy T. Houts, Jr., Salem College. Edward N. Howell, Northeast Missouri State Teachers College; Henry B. Jones, Wake Forest Col- President Alvin R. Keppel, Catawba College; George W. Mc Creary, Iowa State Teachers College; President John R. McGregor, Montreat College; President John D. Messick, Eastern Carolina Teachers College; Isabelle J. Moser, Southern Illinois University; Business Manager David H. Perosns, Jr.. Guilford College; George R. Patterson, Lenoir Rhyne College; Charles W. Phillips, Woman's College University of North Carolina; and Robert Pollard, Jr., Virginia Polytechnic Institute. President William C. Pressley, Peace College; Lee F. Reynolds, Ball State Teachers College; Bernard L. Rosswog, Belmont Abbey College; Samuel L. Sanderson, Washington and Lee University; Charlotte Fox Smith, Centre College of Kentucky; President Leon E. Smith, Elon College; Virgil L. Sturgill, University of Kentucky; Luther R. Taff; Louisburg College; Rabbi Sidney E. Unger of Temple University; President Theodore O. Wright, Oak Ridge Military Insti- MAY COURT: From left to right, first row: Jean R ;id, Frances Finger, Martha Blankenship, Freda Arnold. Center: Evelyn Davis, Maid of Honor and Dorothy Sut Sutton, May Queen. Back row: Winona Cotter, Pat Sawyer, Julia Ann Fitchett, Ann DavUson, Jo Morgan, Betty Jo Rogers, Ross Cook, and Mary Ann Elliott. of the college. Mr. Brown said, tUte; E" Travis York' Jr- A1abama 'President Hunter was against excavating under Joyner for he thought that the foundations would surely be weakened. But when I got the approval of Mr. Coxe, an enginetr, and also the (approval of the) state engineer, President Hunter agreed to the plan. When it came time to get an appropriation from the state for the enlargement, President Hunter told me that the .money could not be raised. r gave up the idea for the time being . . . Later that same summer I was asked by the business manager of the college if the lab Polytechnic Institute; Alice A. Benton, Southern Association for Physical Education of College Women; and Major Thomas A. Cox Jr., University of the South. President B. B. Dougherty, Appalachian State Teachers College; John A. Nichols, Rollins College; Hattie Parrott, Association for Childhood Education International; Mrs. L. R. Taff, Greensboro College; Dean Paul H. McEwen, Lees-McRae College; Chancellor Robert B. House, University of North Carolina; Lieuteant Governor H. P. Taylor, N. C. Board of GRADUATION PLANS ALMOST COMPLETE the situation, whereupon, he promised to try and raise the fund when the legislature convened that summer. Within a month I received (Continued from page 1) Wilkesboro Pat Murphy Hunt, Box 482, N. Wilkesboro Ruth Ellen Hyatt, Whittier Bitha Lucille Jackson, Rt. 1, Hendersonville Kenneth Adam Johnson, 401 Cotton Grove St., Lexington Robert Bryan Jones, Williamston Todd Kimsey, Hayesville Vernon C. Langley.III, Wiliam- ston James Roger Lindsey, Sylva Leon Brady Lowman, 106 Bart- lett St., Asheville Martha Ellen Lynch, 15 W. Wil- Joe Conrad White, Hickory Carroll Weldon Wilkie, Fletcher Edwin Thomas Williams, Andrews Ralph Kemp Williams, Monroe Ivory Coleman Wilson, Rt. 4, Marion Bachelor of Arts Degree Nicholas Bonarrigo, 21 Patton Ave., Canton John Carroll Pettit, 169 Laurel Loop, Asheville Robert Kennedy Phillips, 26 Greene St., Augusta, Georgia Dewey Richard Whitaker, Horse Shoe James Albert Wood, Andrews was to be enlarged. I explained ] Education; Cora Daisy Reeves, Michigan State Normal College; Randolph K. Shotwell, Virginia Military Institute; President Marshall S. Woodson, Flora MacDonald a telegram from Raleigh giving College; Anne Kerr Brown, Queens | sori) Mooresville me the green light to start | College; and Raiford E. Sumner the digging. The next morning'Mary Washington College of the j Canton when Dr. Hunter arrived on the University of Virginia. . _ _ ■ . „ Judson Baylus McGinnis, Rt. 3, Mrs. J. W. McDcvitt, Maryville Lincolnton Colltge; Col. Allen M. Burdett, 'j Jack Loraine McCracken, Rt. 1, Congratulations PRESIDENT REID and WESTERN CAROLINA TEACHERS COLLEGE * Home of Better Values Phone 278 H. J. LANDI8, Mgr. Sylva, N. C. <► campus he was surprised, startled and somewhat sceptic, for the digging had begun. President Hunter was never sure of the foundations of Joyner after that." In 1911 Frank Brown was the representative from this county at the state legislature. The big fight which he distinctly remembers was the attempt to move the college to Asheville. At that time Dr. G. T. Winston, who was at one time president of State College at Raleigh, was pushing the legislature to move the college to Asheville. Mr. Brown along with the help of Frank Gray, senator for the district, fought this move. President Dougherty of Appalachian State College joined sides with the move to keep the colleges out of the larger cities, for he realized that if Cullowhee went so would Ap- palachia. Of course we all know the outcome of the battle. When asked whom he considered the most outstanding personalities that he had met, Mr. Brown told a very interesting $££f, "While at State College," related Mr. Brown, "a roudy, good-natured boy roomed across the hall from me. That boy was a football player, an outstanding football player. Little then did I think that that boy, Max Gardner, was to some day become the governor of North Carolina." But there were other men, great men who Professor Brown came into contact with. Drs. Withers and Wilson, heads of the chemistry department at State College, were two professors that Mr. Brown held in high esteem. Also, Professor Brown had the acquaintance of Dr. Joyner, State Superintendent, and one of the truly great men in public education. Those who have worked under Professor Brown will always remember his patience and his honesty. He was always fair with the student, never passing a grade to University of Tennessee; Rosser H. Taylor, Campbell College; Carl D. Killian, American Psychological Association; Mrs. Melvin Taylor, N. C. Congress of Parents and Teachers; Thomas H. Spence, Jr., Presbyterian Junior College; Truman Pierce, Teachers College of Columbia University; J. U. Crum, American Association of Physics aseigee Teachers; Joseph J. Stone, University of Mississppi; Mrs. Gladys H. Arnold, State Teachers College of Slippery Rock, Penn.; and Roy G. Sommer, Pfeif fer Junior College. JJa Marie Senter McGinnis, Rt. 3, Lincolnton Joe Thomas McKeldrey,- Andrews Theodore Aiken Martin, Jr., 151 Wentworth St., Charleston, S. C. Augustus J. Mayo, 1739 N. Fel- ton St., Philadelphia, Pa. Orville Ernest Middleton, Tuck- Frank Henry Monteith, Jr., Syl- Benjamin Harry Moses, Cullasa- Congratulations WESTERN CAROLINA TEACHERS COLLEGE and PRESIDENT REID WALLINS SHOE STORE Joe Wallin Prop. Also, among the special guests Agnes Franqueline Mullinax, will be the members of the Board 246 Hillside St"' Asheville of Trustees of Western Carolina Teachers Cbllc|t>! Chairman E. J. Whitmire Of Franklin, Mrs. Charles E. Ray, Jr., of Waynesville, Frank M. Weaver of Asheville, A. L. Pen- land of Hayesville, Arnold J. Hyde of Robbinsville, W. H. Crawford of Sylva, William Martin of Bryson City, Mrs. J. W. Davidson of Murphy, and Ralph E. W. Brimley of Winston-Salem. a personality. His theory has been based upon the individuality of the student. Teaching has been a new experience as each student passed into the realm of Mr. Brown's classes. And patience, the virtue of the teacher, has always been one of Mr. Brown's outstanding qualities. He has never lost hope in the student. Frank Brown has been ever willing to give a second chance to the offend- tr. When it came to wit, Mr. Brown was capital. His dry, subtle humor has been the starting point for many a session of jokes while the students waited around for various chemical reactions to take place. Mr. Brown stated no definite plans for his retirement. Perhaps a rest and then he will manage his farm. Congratulations WESTERN CAROLINA TEACHERS COLLEGE AND PRESIDENT REID Phone 49 Roger's Esso and Taxi Service Cullowhee, N. C. Robert Eugene Nelson, Arden Walter Ray Nelson, Candler Douglas Harrison Nims, Fort Mills, S. C. Carl Painter, Jr., Box 52, Canton Edward Gash Pearce, Oteen William Donald Penley, Candler George Edward Phillips, Hayes' ville William Clyde Pressley, Speed well Paul F. Rai&ne, Box 744, Way nesville James H. P. Ramsey, Box 711, Hendersonville Velma Huggins Ramsey, Hendersonville Wanda Joan Rogers, Robbinsville Joseph Neal Ross, Monroe Thomas J. Scott, Philadelphia, Miss. James Calvin Scruggs Robert Lee Seago, Speedwell Alvin Mills Sherlin, Cliffside Thomas Willard Simpson, Tuckaseigee Hugh Rich Sizemore, Arden Arthur Smith, Jr., Hazelwood " Rebecca Nan Smith, Cullowhee Don W. Splawn, Cliffside Bruce Emert Stiles, Box 549, Canton Richard Daniel Stott, Bailey William Faucette Swift, Jr., Waynesville Yolanda Afalda Taylor, Black Mountain Millard Brady Thomas, Rt. 7, Charlotte John Allen Thompson, Hayesville Ernest Brady Tinnin, 911 Caroline Ave., Durham James Donald Tomberlin Harry Lee Wade, Jr., Black Mountain David Engene Walker, 518 Foote Ave., Welbster, Mo. Steve Douglas Wallin, Marshall Congratulations PRESIDENT REID and WESTERN CAROLINA TEACHERS COLLEGE DEPENDABLE JEWELERS Ed Nicholson Congratulations WESTERN CAROLINA TEACHERS COLLEGE and PRESIDENT REID COLLEGE BOOK STORE Hugh Battle, Manager

The Western Carolinian is Western Carolina University’s student-run newspaper. The paper was published as the Cullowhee Yodel from 1924 to 1931 before changing its name to The Western Carolinian in 1933.

• Creator
  • Western Carolina Teachers College
• Format
  • Publications (documents)
• Type
  • Text
• Date
  • Date original: 1950-05-08;
  • Date digitized: 2017-08-23
• Extent
  • Dimension: 22" x 16"
  • Pages: 10 pages
• Subject - Topic
  • College student newspapers and periodicals
  • Cullowhee (N.C.) -- Newspapers
  • Universities and colleges -- North Carolina -- Cullowhee -- Newspapers
• Location
  • Jackson County (N.C.)
  • Cullowhee (N.C.)
• Source institution
  • Western Carolina University
• Source Collection
  • WCU Students Newspapers Collection
• Identifier
  • HL_WesternCarolinian_1950-05-08_Vol17_No15
• Repository
  • Western Carolina University Hunter Library