Seventy Years Of The Worcester Polytechnic Institute: Page 302

Hollis at the close of the meeting, thereby terminating a service of fifteen years as president of the Board, preceded by twelve years' service as treasurer.

Another provision of equal significance in the new by laws was the vesting of virtually fall control of college personnel and property in an executive committee, consisting of the president, the treasurer, the secretary, and five members elected by the Corporation. These two changes materially altered the status of the Board of Trustees. Instead of the compact group of earlier days, each of whom shared responsibility under the leadership of the Salisburys, judge Aldrich, or Mr. Washburn, there was now to be a typical business directorate, in which responsibility was to be shared by a small group, at times almost completely by one or two, and the activities of the large group were to consist chiefly of attendance at meetings, listening to and approving acts of the executive committee. Such a result was inherent in this type of organization; perhaps its adoption was inevitable.

The chairmanship of the Board placed heavier responsibilities on Dr. Hollis, which he was now better able to carry because he had been relieved of problems of the national engineering societies. His widespread contacts with engineers and his great popularity as a speaker continued unabated. The force of his logic, his command of language, and his art of delivering an address were equalled by few engineers of his time. One of his masterpieces was an address in March, 1921, before a meeting of engineers, managers of industries, and students in colleges of Greater New York, entitled, "The Rise of the Industrial Worker in Organized Society." He treated the subject from the points of view of the increase in numbers of the industrial workers, the gain in power through combination, their wealth, the opportunities for advancement, and the satisfactions in life derived from their occupations.

In June, 1921, Dr. Hollis was one of a distinguished group of American engineers who went to England for the purpose of conferring upon Sir Robert Hatfield the John Fritz Medal.

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Last Modified: Fri Jul 30 11:15:25 EDT 1999