24 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



During all these years of service, Mv. Wells has displayed a degree of 

 devotion to the best interests of the College, a purity of purpose, a will- 

 iijguess to give time and anxious thought to its business, a keen business 

 sense in the financial affairs of the College, a broadness and clearness of 

 conception and a firmness and steadfastness of purpose in regard to the 

 design and policy of the College, that has met with general and hearty 

 recognition. Especially have these qualities appealed to those who 

 ihroughout these years have been brought most closely in contact with 

 the man and have most intimately known his work. His is not a char- 

 acter which trumpets itself to the world, but it is one that by its modesty, 

 integrity, forcefulness and kindliness attracts and firmly holds the high- 

 est respect and esteem of his associates. 



In view of these facts, friends of Mr. Wells here at the College and 

 elsewhere have caused to be painted by Prof W. S. Holdsworth, of the 

 College, this portrait, and have purchased it with the view of placing it 

 iit the College as a i)ermanent memorial of 30 years of unselfish and 

 fruitful public service. Moreover, as a memento of the occasion, the 

 donors have caused to be prepared this album containing autographs of 

 tlie contributors to the Wells portrait fund, and photographs of asso- 

 ciates on the Board of Agriculture from the earlier days down to now. 

 in behalf of the friends who have planned and made possible this testi- 

 monial of esteem, I take great pleasure in jjresenting to the College this 

 portrait of the Hon. Franklin Wells, of Constautine, and to Mr. Wells 

 himself, this album." 



In accepting the painting on behalf of the College, the President of 

 the institution spoke, in part, as follows : 



"On behalf of the College, I accept this picture of Mr. Wells, and 

 j^romise to the donors that it will be given a conspicuous position in one 

 of our halls, and be carefully guarded from harm. 



This occasion is unique in the history of the College, or in the history 

 of any other public institution. It is very rarely that a good man is 

 l»ermitted to seiTe as a member of a board of control for 30 years. 

 There are not many men endowed with such natural ability and with such 

 genius for Avork as to entitle them to such continuous service. But above 

 all, men are few indeed, who, endowed with the capacity for such high 

 service, are willing to give the time and make the sacrifice without com- 

 l)ensation. Do vou realize what 30 vears of such service means? Could 

 all his work for the College be grouped into one period it would mean 

 mor-e than three years of time. Had all his trips to and from the Col- 

 lege been spent in one continuous journey, it would have carried him 

 twice around the world. But the labor of the days spent in actual 

 service is small in comparison with the thought, worry and anxiety for 

 the institution carried bv him, dav and night, for these many years. 

 I''or everybody who knows Franklin Wells knows that his own personal 

 business was never closer to his heart than the interests of this insti- 

 tution have been. ^Ve all know how faithful he has been to the trust 

 committed to his charge, and what valuable service he has rendered this 

 College. Why not tell him so? We all admire and love him because 

 he. is honest, because he is courageous, kind-hearted and true. Why not 

 tell him so? 



Those of us who know him well understand that while the memory of 



