SEMI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 73 



Yes indeed, our professors had splendid timber to fashion, and 

 less wonder is it that their strokes were heavy and true. 



PRESIDENT JOSEPH R. WILLIAMS 



This College was peculiarly happy in its first president. He 

 was a man of fine physique, pleasing presence, keen, active 

 intellect, and possessed of a ready humor, that made him the 

 ever-welcome companion of the student. He was also a man 

 of broad, tolerant views, and were he alive today, he would 

 keenly appreciate the proposition of a "square deal." The 

 peculiar ideas which dominated in the early history of the 

 College, whose wisdom was affirmed by results, originated 

 largely with President Williams. When we remember that 

 this was the pioneer agricultural college and that he was emphati- 

 cally a pioneer, blazing a path in an entirely unexplored realm, 

 it is a marvel that he fashioned so wisely and well. Moreover, 

 he had no experts, as we have now, to whom he might turn for 

 aid, in guiding this new enterprise to a successful issue. His 

 masterful mind was well illustrated in his selection of the men 

 to assist him in the new experiment. Mrs. Williams was a 

 real colaborer, and the home of the first president was a bright 

 spot for many a student who enjoyed its ever-open hospitality, 

 in those days when agricultural college was parsed in the singular 

 number. 



PROFESSOR CALVIN TRACY 



Among the first of the professors whose pleasure it was to 

 throw light into dark places, was our tall, eager, enthusiastic 

 professor of mathematics, Professor Calvin Tracy. He had 

 written books that had won high praise. His health was poor, 

 as indigestion was his constant companion. He told me more 

 than once that he did not know what it was to feel well, and yet 

 how ready and cheerful he was to help us over hard places! 

 He was not only a close student but he was so transparently 



