Ilion High School - Class of 1923

Utica Daily Press - June 26, 1923

Appoint E. P. Watkin School Superintendent

Article 5

Appoint E. P. Watkin School Superintendent

Members of Board Make Selection After Careful
Deliberation - New Superintendent Has Fine
Record As Educator - High School Commencement Held This Evening

Ilion, June 26 - The new Board of Education held its meeting last night and selected a new superintendent of the public schools to succeed H. M. Schwarts.

The board had 26 applications to select from and each candidate was given careful consideration and after having fully investigated every candidate and everything in connection with the appointment they voted unanimously for E. P Watkin of Waterford, at a salary of $3,500.

Mr. Watkin received his education in the Camden High School, graduating in 1908, he graduated from Hamilton College with degree Ph. B. in 1912; Ph. M 1917 and attended the State College of Teachers' Summer School in Measurements and Junior High Schools in 1922.

His experience consists of Principal, Union Springs, N. Y., 1912014, vice principal. Lansingburg High School Troy, 1914-16; principal, Clinton 1916-18 and 1919-20 was in the United State Army in the Signal Corps radio school for signal officers at College Park, Md., June to December, 1918; superintendent of schools and director of part time school, Waterford, 1920 to date.

Mr. Watkins is 33 years of age, six feet high, weighs 160 pounds, married and has one child and is a member of the Prsbyterian Church, F. & A. M. and American Legion.

He gives as references President F. C. Ferry, Hamilton College: Dr. J. Coyce Morrison, specialist in educational measurements, State Department of Education, Albany: Prof. J. S. Kingsley, Middlebury College, Middlebury, Vt.: John W. Ford, president Board of Eduction, Waterford.

The board also passed the following resolution:
"That is is the sentiment of the board that Ilion teachers be given preference, qualifications being equal.

Give Diplomas To Graduates This Evening

Ilion, June 26 - The commencement exercises of the High School graduating class will be held at the High School auditorium this evening and a highly interesting program has been arranged. The class this year has 72 graduates, with 10 honor students. The following are the members of the class and those with a star opposite their names are the honor students:

General Course -
Ruth M. Barnes,
* Ruth E. Bedford,
Helen Irene Beirne,
J. Chester Brand,
* James P. Bunting,
LaMont M. Burnham,
Charles V. Byrnes,
Elizabeth C. Carney,
Clare E. Cole,
Katherine Frances Cutler,
Earl F. Derby,
A. Lyman Dolan,
Elizabeth A. Ellis,
Signe O. Fredin,
Fred Hartford, Jr.,
Jessie M. Hawks,
Milton P. Hegeman,
H. Edgar Hendrix,
Gerald R. Hoke,
Alfred William Jess,
* Jack Jones,
Elizabeth Evelyn Kieffer,
Charles H. Lory,
Robert I. Mallery,
Florence C. McTague,
James W. McTague,
James Marshall O'Neil,
Durland H. Patterson,
Robert H. Patterson,
Arne B. Paulseo,
Madeline J. Perry,
Mary Ellen Rasbach,
Richard S. Redway,
Margaret A. Reed,
* Sally A. Rhodes,
Malcom D. Roberts,
Allen J. Seckner,
Mary Frances Smith,
Antoinette L. Stewart,
Arthur J. Sullivan,
William J. Tillinghast,
Clarence Tjeerdsma,
Margaret E. Van Alstine,
Myron L. Walker,
Catherine B. Walmsely,
M. Luellea Wenner,
* Dorothy T. White,
George Edward White,
Hazel G. Williamson,
Frank E. Wilson,
J. Irene Wright,
Kenneth C. Yeoman.

Classical Course -
Harriet L. Ashley,
* Mary Elizabeth Beckwith,
* Alfred J. Brown,
Helen Jessica Goodwin,
* Margaret B. Harter,
Mary E. Harter,
Mary Ashton Hollis,
* Catherine Elizabeth Pierce,
Paul Martin Schneider.

Commercial Course -
Mabel R. Heinrich,
William James McCloud,
Pauline A. O'Neil,
Marian Jane Paddock.

Scientific Course -
Francis Hayes Brennan,
* Arthur Osgood Burgess,
Louis B. Corbin,
Lester James Malley,
Russel L. Schwartz,
George Wilfert,
Clarence E. Young.

Miss Dorothy White, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel N. White of Otsego street, is the valedictorian of the class and Miss Elizabeth Beckwith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Franklin Beckwith of Second street, is salutatorian of the class.

Varied Program

"Stars and Stripes Forever," (Sousa), High School Orchestra; invocation, The Rev. J. Smallwood; salutatory,"True Leadership," Mary Elizabeth Beckwith; "The Battle of Oriskany," Arthur O. Burgess; "The Failure of Success," James F. Bunting' "Conservation of Natural Resources," Catherine E. Pierce; "Apple Blossoms," Op. 12, No, 1. Mabel Daniels, Girls Double Quartet; "Prohibition, an Asset to the Country," Alfred J. Brown; valedictory, "Builders," Dorothy T. White. Awarding of prizes, Principal J. G. Prindle; presentation of diplomas, superintendent of schools H. M. Schwartz; benediction, the Rev. J. Smallwood; "The Golden Sceptre" (Schlepegrell), High School Orchestra.