He helped pay his way through college playing professional baseball as a second baseman in the Three-I League and as a cornetist and violinist in musical ensembles.

He began his career in education after serving in the Army in World War I, during which time he attended officers candidate school.

During that time he supplemented his income by ghostwriting speeches for state legislators, sometimes penning remarks on both sides of a debate question.

He was named by educators from New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware and the District of Columbia at the opening session of the organization's sixty-ninth annual convention.

We are widely scattered today, but wherever we are, we hold the memory of a man who helped to give us direction, who earned the respect and esteem of his students, a mentor to thousands who stand a little straighter because of his guidance.