State

July 29, 1933 THE STATE Page Nine OLD MAN HORACE STARLIN WHITAKER A Character Sketch of One of the South's Most Interesting and Versatile Educators Thorn’s оно unfailing question which ovorv alum¬ nus of i ho University of North Carolina will ask anyone who has lately been at Chapel Hill, and that question is: “How’s ОЫ Man Horace getting along?” They refer to Professor Henry Horace Williams, the state’s most successful teacher and who possesses the highest regard of every¬ one who knows him. When they call him “Old Man Horace." they do so in a spirit of love and affection, and not disrespect. He’s going to be 75 years old nest month. August 16. to be exact. That is what might be called a ripe old age, but Professor Wil¬ liams never gives the ques¬ tion of age a second thought. He’s too interest¬ ed in life to bother about getting old. Every morning finds him up at an early hour. He prepares his own breakfast, which consists of oatmeal, fruit and toast, and he usually has eaten it before the cook arrives at his lovely old home on East Franklin street, in Chapel Hill. Why should he be a slave to the whims of cooks? If she’s not there when lie gets ready to eat, the logical thing to do — ns he sees it — is to do the cooking him¬ self. Obi Man Horace is far from being on the shelf. Anybody who may have had such an idea con¬ cerning him is sadly mistaken. He can ride horseback like a Texas broncho-buster, and still does. Not one of those wild and reckless broncho- busters. of course; but a sane, sensible and calm one. And you ought to see him drive a ear. He can handle it as nicely as anybody could ask. But, best of all, he enjoys to get out and walk. Not just a stroll of a block or two. but all over town. Mavbo a couple of miles before he finally gets back he registered as a fresh¬ man from Sunbury, Gates County. After having ob¬ tained two degrees — an A.B. nnd an A.M.— in the same year from Carolina, lie managed somehow to continue his studies. Be¬ tween 1888 and 1ЭД0 he was a graduate student at both Harvard and Yale. It was at Yale — where he spent three years —that the degree of Bachelor of Di¬ vinity was conferred upon him. His preference to study philosophy at Har¬ vard. instead of being or¬ dained as a minister, created much interest among the ] ample of North Carolina, for they had expected him immediately to enter the ministry. With the exception of one year at old Trinity, Old Man Horace has been a teacher at the University. Thousands of students have entered the world of busi¬ ness with a keener concep¬ tion of life. Many of them there are who attribute their success directly to his teachings. A genial soul, if there ever was one. During this spell of hot weather, you’ll see him strolling about Chapel Hill, dressed usual¬ ly in a loose-fitting linen suit. He has two hats, and only two. One is a black one for winter wear, nnd the other is a panama for summer. Nobody knows exactly how long lie has had them. A familiar gesture on his part, while talking to you, is to push bis headpiece far back on his head. And not many minutes pass that he doesn't look at the natty wrist watch which he wears constant¬ ly. He seems to be right proud of that watch. In talking to you. his tone is quiet and even. Seldom will you hear it raised above that normal, low pitch. He is an interesting conversationalist, ( Continued on page eighteen) PROFESSOR HENRY HORACE WILLIAMS of the University of North Carolina will be 75 years old next month, but he's far from being an old man. He probably ranks as the most popular teacher in this state, and he amply deserves this popularity. ★ home. And it doesn’t seem to tire him, either. There’s no handy man about the premises. None other than Old Man Horace himself. He also does his own shopping, and is a familiar figure in the shops at Chapel Hill. A grand old man, in every sense of the word. Professor Williams is head of the department of philosophy at the Uni¬ versity. While the great oaks on the campus were not yet full grown. I