Seventy Years Of The Worcester Polytechnic Institute: Page 332

manufactured by W. P. 1. alumni, or models, samples and pictures of alumni products.

At the time of this reunion, eight members of the classes of 1871 and 1872 gathered at a dinner to organize the FiftyYear Associates. The idea of establishing this group of alumni whose classes had been out for a half century or longer originated with Edward K. Hill, '71, and he became its first president. Solon P. Davis, '72, was chosen as secretary. Others who attended the initial meeting were: Frederick W. Bateman, '71, Edwin H. Whitney, '71, Simpson C. Heald, '72, Herbert S. Rice, '72, George H. Scott, '72, and Kirtland M. Smith, '72. Other surviving members of these two classes were subsequently enrolled and each succeeding class was initiated upon reaching the golden milestone.

The years from 1916 to 1921 had laid heavy burdens upon Dr. Hollis, the strain of which was apparent to all his colleagues. His erect carriage was gone, and the effort of climbing Boynton Hill was almost too great for his strength. He became irritable over small matters, was at odds with several members of the faculty, and frequently gave evidences that the duties of his office were increasingly irksome. When his decision to resign was made is not known but it was announced to the Board of Trustees in February, 1923. He was then nearly sixty-seven. In the remaining years of his life he hoped to travel, to read, and to write a history of engineering, a task for which he had long been making preparations.

In March and April, 1923, Dr. Hollis went on a tour, circling the country as representative of the Council, American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Dr. Haynes was acting president in his absence. In June the Trustees appointed Prof. Alton L. Smith assistant to the President. Edward E. Pease, '97, was appointed assistant treasurer in 1925.

No immediate action was taken on Dr. Hollis' resignation, for he had expressed his willingness to continue until the Trustees found the right man to succeed him. In the fall of 1923, the Board selected a committee of six, Paul B. Morgan,

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