"STUDENTS' HOLD 'BOB WILSON DAY' AT DAHLGREN

From: McLeansboro Times Leader, date unknown.
Contributed by Sue Wilson McKinsey.

Former High School Teacher Honored With Speeches and Gifts

          Robert Wilson, who served as Superintendent of the McLeansboro City Schools, principal of the Broughton High School, teacher in the McLeansboro High School, and County Superintendent of Hamilton County, was paid tribute Sunday, October 12, by a group of pupils who had attended Dahlgren High School while Professor Wilson served as principal and teacher there from 1923 to 1930.

          Former pupils with their families gathered at the beautiful home of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson in Dahlgren and enjoyed the morning greeting old friends and renewing old acquaintances.  At noon a bountiful table was spread from picnic baskets.

          Kenneth Cross, assistant principal of the Mt. Vernon Community High School, acted as master of ceremonies.  Mr. Cross commented on the trying times the pupils had subjected Mr. Wilson to, but said that being the great teacher, character builder, and understanding the person he was, "He was always able to see some good in all of us and most important he took up where he found us and went on from there."

          The teacher's present who had taught under Mr. Wilson in Dahlgren were given the opportunity to speak.  K. L. Piatt now a teacher in the Belleville community High School, Albert Webb now and outstanding and prosperous farmer of Webb's Hill near Ewing, Mrs. Farrell Jenkins, wife of Reverend Farrell Jenkins, pastor of the First Methodist church of Centralia responded.  They lauded Professor Wilson for his exemplary life, patience, kindness, cooperation and the inspiration that he had been to them as their principal.

         Letters and telegrams received from former pupils who were unable to attend were read.  After which Kenneth Cross presented an F. M. radio, a beautiful four piece lawn or porch set, a box of cigars, and a sum of money to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson as a token of the great appreciation and love that these pupils have for him.

         In acceptance Mr. Wilson reminisced of the good times they had.  Many times the group burst into laughter as he called to their minds incidents that had taken place during those years.  With fullness of speech, he expressed his appreciation for the beautiful gifts from "his boys and girls of Dahlgren," who, he said were of the finest caliber that he ever met during his fifty years of school service.

          Those signing the guest register were: Mr. and Mrs. Nellie Wicks, Mrs. Alma Bogan and daughters, Kenneth Musgrave, Mr. and Mrs. Otis Sodders and daughters, Mr. and Mrs. Omer Allen, Mr. and Mrs. O. B. Witters, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Austin and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Risley, all of Dahlgren.

          Those from Mt. Vernon were Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Cross and children, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Sodders and children, Helen Hart Wiecke and children, Ralph Hart, Reba White, Mrs. Ruby Holt and Rozan, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Loehr, Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Witters and children and Mr. and Mrs. Rozier Scivner.

          Those from a distance: Dr. and Mr. Joe W. Daily of Champaign, Earl Bartlett of Evansville, William McPherson and mother of E. St. Louis, Mr. and Mrs. K. L. Pyatt of Belleville, Irvin Cross of Mackinaw, Gene Wilkerson of Vincennes, Ind., Albert W. Webb of Ewing, Mo., Mr. and Mrs. Harold Wilson and Sue of Indianapolis, Ind., Virgil Bartlett, Evansville, Ind., Mr. and Mrs. Sam M. Hunter, Carbondale, Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Sigler, Alton.  From McLeansboro were Mr. and Mrs. Fred Stull and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Black and Miss Marjorie Munsell.

To view photo of Mr. Wilson and his Dahlgren students, click here.