420 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE 



successor. The success of his administration of the affairs of the Normal 

 School had been substantiated and known tliroughout the State, and his 

 reputation as a successful, broadminded educator had been well estab- 

 lished. Col. McCreery, then a member of the Board, and myself were 

 appoiuted a committee of the Board to interview him, and by appoint- 

 meut we met him at his home in Ypsilauti. At that time I became very 

 much impressed with his personality. He at once entered into the si)irit 

 of the business in hand. I was delighted with his frankness and candor. 

 Almost his first remark was, "Gentlemen, can I make the Agricultural 

 College a great and useful institution, a power for good in the State? If 

 I cau't, I don't want to consider your offer for one moment. I am well 

 situated at present. I believe I am doing some good, and unless you 

 can invite me to a broader field, where I can do more good, I must not 

 think of a change." 



We spent the evening with him talking over the prospects of the 

 College, presenting our side in the best light we could, and left him with 

 the promise on his part to consider the matter favorably, and after con- 

 sulting with Mrs. Willits, and giving the matter thorough thought, would 

 see us again by appointment. * 



After much thought and thorough investigation, he came to the Col- 

 lege sji its president. He at once won the confidence and respect of the 

 Board of Agriculture, the faculty and students. While he was a man of 

 great ambition and untiring energy, his zeal was tempered with justice 

 and discretion. He felt that much good might be done to a class of young 

 men in the cities and towns if they could become interested in the 

 mechanical lines connected wdth the College course, and he at once set 

 about reaching this class, hence his great interest in the development 

 of that department, which owes its present importance as a department 

 of the College as much, more perhaps, to him than to any other cause. 



When called to the Department of Agriculture at Washington as 

 assistant secretary, he left the College, but I am quite sure regretfully. 

 On his receipt of the telegram asking him if he w^ould accept the appoint- 

 ment, I received from him a telegram saying, "What shall I do?" He 

 has never lost his interest, and in all our correspondence has expressed 

 his love for the institution and manifested a great desire for its success. 



Although he had passed the meridan of life, he was strong in body and 

 mind, and to all appearances had a long and useful future before him, 

 but he has gone, not lost, only gone on before to another and be1i:er 

 country. 



A TRIBUTE FROM GOVERNOR RICH. 



It was my good fortune to know Hon. Edwin Willits well. Like many 

 another man in this country he owed his success in life to his own exer- 

 tionfl. While not born in Michigan, he was practically a Michigan 

 product, as he came here when only six years of age. He came of good 

 stock, from the Empire state, to w^hich Michigan is indebted for many 

 a maa whom she has delighted to honor, as well as being honored by 

 them. Mr. Willits did what he attempted well. In all the positions of 

 trust and honor which he was called upon to fill he acquitted himself 

 with honor; and in all these positions his work was done in such a man- 

 ner as to make his administration more than ordinarily conspicuous. 



