State

June 30, 1934 THE STATE Роде Nine Frank Graham: - - Still a Pal ★ By JOHN MARSHALL PARHAM ★ /^ЛОМЕ men uro born great, * other» achieve greatness. And Kj still others have it thrust up¬ on thorn.” Something to that effect wag once said to describe those who have left lasting impressions of value upon the world. While falling into the first of these two classes, I)r. Frank Graham, Presi¬ dent of the Greater University of North Carolina, instead of greatness, has had to have the honor of hu) achievements thrust upon him — the heritage thut is rightfully due every man of his intelligence, religious fer¬ vor and high ideals. When compelled to accept the honors he has won, he is modest almost to the point of timidity. Hut the man he is speaks so loudly — his unselfishness, his complcto under¬ standing of human nature and its weaknesses— that his protests against acceptance of reward cannot be heard by thoso who know the Frank Graham of yesterday and the University Presi¬ dent of today. Prior to three years or so ago, there was a history "prof" on the “Hill” (Chapel Hill) who, though he always had the dignity that a history “prop should have, put himself down into the rank and filo of the student body. He understood them all, their problems, their failures, their successes. He would walk great distances out of his way to pass a friendly greeting with any of them. And somehow that history "prof” could make us smile — even when for some of us failure to work at some job meant "no supper to¬ night" or failure to spend the same time in study meant “busting’” a course. Kvorybody respected his po¬ sition as "prof” and yet between him and the students, the relationship was pals. Around .June, 1930, a small portion of the student l>ody may have felt a little anxious. He was rightfully cho¬ sen President of the University of Xorth Carolina— just forty-four years after his birth at Fayetteville, North Carolina. He was the students' friend. He would soon occupy the exalted po¬ sition as head of the Institution from which he was graduated in 1909. What of the gulf that ex¬ ists between a Freshman a u d the President of the University? But not oven thut could change Frank Graham. Tho he is Dr. Frank Graham now, the relationship still is — pals. The qualities that characterize him as u leader have put him in ihe first ranks of education in tho State and South. His aptitude as a scholar, his thorough under¬ standing of tho ramifications of student life and tho capacity to cope with all types of emer¬ gencies u n d e r any circum¬ stances — along with other quali¬ fications — were reasons w h у General Hugh S. Johnson called upon him to serve along edu¬ cational lines, but the heavy duties of tho Greater University, his Alma Mater, and his regard for tho Carolina stu¬ dent caused him to decline. Dr. Graham, tho son of Dr. Alex¬ ander Graham of Charlotte, who, for twenty-five years was city Superin¬ tendent. of schools there, and who is credited for having established at Fay¬ etteville the first graded school in North Carolina, attended the public schools at Charlotte. Ho was also a student at a prep school at Warrenton, North Carolina. As a student at Caro¬ lina, he was exceptional, lie barely missed being President of the Phi Beta Kappa society by a tiny margin. At Columbia University und the Univer¬ sity of Chicago, he made outstanding DR. FRANK GRAHAM records. While at Chicago, he com¬ peted for and won the Amherst Fel¬ lowship, enabling him to study one year iu the United States and one year abroad. While abroad, lie was connected with tho University of I.on- don and studied at Oxford and in Paris. When he was n stulent at Chapel Hill, he was a leader on the campus. He was elected to practically every office that was open to him, although he never was a candidate for any. He was, among other thing». Presi¬ dent of the Student Council. After graduation, he was secretary of the Y. M. C. A. at Chapel Hill. He was ( Continued on page twenty-two)