MEMORIAL EXERCISES 425 



was eminently successful. The school prospered under his direction, 

 increasing in numbers, in general character, and in the extent of its 

 professional instruction. 



He commanded the respect and confidence of his associates in the 

 institution, and carried with him, when he resigned the principalship^ 

 their affection and kindly remembrances. 



The faculty of the school and the students who knew him gladly unite 

 in these services in his honor, testifying in this way to his nobility as a 

 man, to his integrity and uprightness as a citizen and public officer, and 

 to his worth and worthiness as an associate and as a friend. 



PRESIDENT WILLITS FROM THE STUDENTS' STANDPOINT. 



H. B. CANNON, '88. 



When Mr. Willits came to the Agricultural College the student body 

 almost at once recognized in him a master hand in administration. There 

 was an atmosphere of hope about him. He came with splendid plans to 

 execute; his eminent attainments and honors captured our imaginations. 

 We felt that the old College was at the dawn of a new era. The students 

 were proud of their president, and felt sure that his influence with the 

 great world outside would bring again to the doors a stream of students. 

 Our hopes met with realization; more students, more departments of 

 instruction and more buildings we saw as time went on. 



To the students Mr. Willits stood as an example of a great man. He 

 had made a name for himself and won reputation in the hard school of 

 the statesman and law giver. He now essayed feats in executive lines. 

 His judicial fairness and firmness brought him respect. His sympathy 

 with the victims of disorder or his hatred for its perpetrators was such 

 that he won our love. The venerable look of the man, his fatherly ways, 

 his eagle's eye — all impressed us and moved us. We believed in President 

 Willits; and I am sure he knew it, and that the thought did him good. 



He had been a poor boy and his sympathy was quick to note the strug- 

 gles of the poorest of us, and come to us in ways of helpfulness. He had 

 made sacrifice for an education, so understood the meaning of a thirst for 

 knowledge. He gave praise and counsel as he might. The president's 

 ''W^ell done, my lad," rang in one's ears for weeks, so hearty and stimu- 

 lating was the tone of his voice. Not only did President Willits believe 

 in the College and the students, but he trusted to the good sense of the 

 people to support the College when it could be properly brought to their 

 notice. The Farmers' Institutes afforded him a chance where his skill as 

 a speaker might do great good. The result was that he captured audi- 

 ence after audience to the great satisfaction of his student admirers who 

 believed so heartily in his prowess and wisdom. 



Through all the four eventful years there was not an hour in which the 

 good man felt quite at peace. AVhile College was in session there was 

 always danger that the restless spirits might give trouble and then the 

 "Institute" season or the legislative session with its burden of care fol- 

 lowed. "I never slept without fearing that something might go wrong,"" 

 he once told me. And many a night when we were sound asleep our 

 noble president was pacing the campus, keeping watch and ward. 

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