January 5: On This Day in Eureka History
Samuel Glenn Harrod (Class of 1903) was born on this date in 1882. After graduating from Eureka College, Harrod was a professor at the College from 1909-43. He was Dean of the Faculty from 1923-26 and Dean of the College from 1936-43.
Many of Dean Harrod's speeches on campus and in the larger community often ended with a mantra that he coined: "Eureka College: Many larger, few smaller, none better."
And now for the Great Eureka College Gubernatorial Trifecta:
It was on this date in 1899 that William A. Poynter (Class of 1867) was inaugurated as Governor of Nebraska. He served one two-year term from 1899-1901. During his inaugural address, Governor Poynter said, "We recognize that the primary power rests in the hands of the people and that this, their will, should at all times be considered supreme. Partisanship may be bitter before election, but the will of the people having been expressed, citizenship should rise above partisanship. It is my most sincere desire that we shall cooperate for the best interests of the state." He died in 1909.
It was on this date in 1906 that Frank Frantz was inaugurated as Governor of the Oklahoma Territory. Frantz was a native of Roanoke, Illinois, and he studied for two years at Eureka College during the 1880s. In 1898 he served in Cuba during the Spanish-American War as a member of the famed Rough Riders who were organized by Colonel Theodore Roosevelt.
Frantz was the last Territorial Governor of Oklahoma. He was defeated in an attempt to run for Governor once Oklahoma became a state. During that campaign, Frantz was the target in a failed assassination attempt. He retired from political life and became involved in a successful career in the oil business. He died in Tulsa in 1941.
It was on this date in 1967 that Ronald W. Reagan (Class of 1932) was inaugurated as Governor of California. Reagan would go on to serve two terms as governor of that state (1967-75), and later became the fortieth President of the United States (1981-89).
"Eureka College: Many larger, few smaller, none better." Overall, not a bad day in history for a small school.