318 Proceedings of the Ohio Academy of Science 
common University concern we usually followed Dr. Mendenhall. In 
the field of our educational policy he exercised a directive mind. Other 
professors keen and able in their several subjects, were less attentive to 
the interests of the institution as a whole, or too individualistic to secure 
agreement with their suggestions. We were fully awake to the trend of 
various propositions brought before us and our discussions, though 
usually courteous, were earnest and now and then sharp in tone. A 
determination that the work of the institution should be exacting and 
of high quality was always evident, and any suspected failure to main- 
tain that quality occasioned sharp criticism. In the maintenance of 
these high standards. Dr. Mendenhall was foremost and his pungent wit 
seldom missed its mark. When later he withdrew from the University 
to enter a different scientific field his former colleagues deplored the loss 
of a beloved comrade, notable scientist and leader in education, but 
followed his brilliant career with affectionate admiration.”’ 
For many years following 1901 a break in health forced him to retire 
from active scientific and educational work. It was with great satisfac- 
tion therefore that some of us heard in June, 1919, that the Governor 
had appointed him to be a Trustee of the Ohio State University, on the 
first faculty of which he had served so efficiently many years before. 
His wise leadership soon caused his election as Chairman of the Board, 
a position which he greatly honored. His interest in the University 
never lagged and his faith in its future was evidenced in many ways. 
One of his last acts was to sign the diplomas for the graduates of the 
winter quarter of 1924. 
In the year 1920, on the occasion of the celebration of the fiftieth 
anniversary of the founding of the University, Dr. Mendenhall gave to 
the University a sum of money for the endowment of a gold medal to be 
known as the Joseph Sullivant Medal. This medal is to be awarded at 
five year intervals to ‘‘that son or daughter of the University who shall 
have done or have completed, within the five-year period since the last 
award, a really notable piece of work in either the Liberal, the Fine, or the 
Mechanic Arts, the pure or applied Sciences, including the various 
branches of Engineering.’”’ The first award was made in 1923 to Mr. 
Benjamin Garver Lamme, of the Class of 1888. 
Dr. Mendenhall’s active connection with our Ohio Academy of 
Sciences began shortly after his return to Ohio in 1912 and he has been 
a devoted and helpful member interested in promoting its every interest. 
Almost as soon as he had acquired membership he was elected President, 
a quite unusual proceeding. This occurred at the Oberlin meeting, 1913, 
and he served for the year 1914 with such skill and enthusiasm as to give 
us all renewed courage and confidence in the mission of the Academy. 
As Trustee and for a number of years Chairman of the Research 
Fund of the Academy, serving from 1916 to his death, he was greatly 
interested in the use of the Academy funds for research and used rare 
discrimination in the assignment of its limited income to secure the 
largest benefits in the encouragement of research. 
He was particularly interested in the securing of larger support for 
the Academy and served most faithfully on the legislative committee 
