From His Friend of Pioneer Days in
Educational Work in North Carolina
Dr. E. McK. Goodwin was the best friend the
deaf of North Carolina ever had. The education
of the deaf was the ruling passion of his life.
He was the father of the North Carolina School
for the Deaf at Morganton. To its development
he devoted his splendid talents, his remarkable
executive ability, his indomitable energy, his ir-resistible
enthusiasm, and placed it in the front
ranks of schools for the deaf in the nation.
Through ages to come, let us hope, this school,
this best sort of monument to a great, good man,
will continue to brighten and bless the lives of
thousands and to make eternal the name and
multiply the influence of the life and work of its
founder.
Dr. Goodwin was a happy and rare combination
of the idealist and the realist. While the educa-tion
of the deaf was his major interest and work,
his interests and activities were not limited to
this. He was interested and active in the educa-tional,
civic and religious life and development
of his state and community.
He was one of that small group of young
men that were chiefly responsible for starting in
the nineties our educational renaissance.
As a public-spirited citizen and Christian, he
could always be counted on to do his part in
every movement for the betterment of his state,
his community, and his church.
"He is gone but nothing can bereave him
Of the force he made his own
Being here, and we believe him
Something far advanced in state,
And thai he wears, a truer crown
Than any wreath that man can weave him."
J. Y. JOYNER
For many years State Superintendent of
Public Instruction, now retired
Dr. Goodwin as A Board Member
Dr. Edward McKee Goodwin was elected a
member of the Board of Trustees of Meredith
College on April thirteenth, 1892. He served
in that capacity from that day until his death.
Dr. Goodwin was faithful in the discharge of
the duties imposed by this position, being present
regularly at the meetings of the Board unless
providentially prevented from doing so. He
was well equipped for service of this sort not
only by native ability but also by extended
experience in a similar enterprise. We can never
forget the fidelity and efficiency of his work for
Meredith College. He loved the institution with
a genuine devotion and all of us here will always
be grateful for having had such a true and
worthy colaborer. We shall always cherish his
memory with real affection. —Charles Edward Brewer, President
Meredith College, Raleigh
A Tribute from an Early Protegee
I first met Dr. Goodwin when I was thirteen
years old. My father had become superintendent
of his farm near Raleigh. Dr. Goodwin early
became interested in my education, encouraged
me, and recommended me to educational authori-ties.
He recommended me, when I was elected
superintendent of schools at both Morganton
and Goldsboro.
From my early life till his death he was my
friend grand and true. I had seen his rise to
power, beneficial service, and dignified service.
I wanted to be like him. I was able to forge
ahead, because he had done so, and because
he showed that he believed in me that I could
do so.
Dr. Goodwin was a benefactor public and
private. He was a public servant conscientious
and fearless. He was a Christian up-standing
and true. Within him was the divine urge to go
forward in human service. His was a guileless
spirit. —
j
os £ Avent, Ph. D., Professor
Educational Psychology, University of Tennessee
A Tribute from an Alumnus
Twenty-seven depressions have visited the
American nation since 1784. The history of
American business, pictured graphically, does
not show a permanent, continuous, uninterrupted
upward climb or trend. The North Carolina
School for the Deaf at Morganton was establish-ed
in a depression year—1894. During the panic
of 1893 construction of the new school went on.
Dr. E. McK. Goodwin, the superintendent, knew
other business panics and economic depressions.
He successfully steered the course of the school
through the panics of 1893, 1903, 1907, 1914,
1920 and 1929. Financial crises are events long
associated with the school. Due largely to Dr.
Goodwin's business ability, the school has never
been closed during national depressions or panics,
but has continued to function effectively, despite
reduced appropriations by lawmakers.
His administration was an able one; he was
a successful executive. Depressions and panics
found him a hard nut to crack. He was born
to direct, to lead, and to educate. Thousands of
deaf persons, who came under his wonderful in-fluence,
have made good in the world. Today,
they, including myself, still appreciate his labors
of love in our cause, and feel grateful to him. —Thomas W. Hamrick, Jr.
"Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of
these little ones a cup of cold water only in the
name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he
shall in no wise lose his reward."
—St. Matthew 10:42