BUNN WASHINGTON HACKNEY JR., Durham, N.C.
President-elect of Athletic Association; Captain-elect Basketball Team; Varsity Football; Varsity Basketball; President Sophomore Class; Student councilman-at-large,1925-26; all-Southern Guard; Track Squad.
RICHARD BEVERLY RANEY, Raleigh, N.C.
President Phi Beta Kappa; Tar Heel Staff 1925-26; Y.M.C.A. Cabinet
WALTER EDGAR CRISSMAN, High Point, N.C.
Vice-President Y.M.C.A.,1925-26; Ass’t-Secretary Y.M.C.A. 1926-27; Y.M.C.A. Cabinet; President-elect of Grail; Business Manager Carolina Magazine; Speaker Di Society; “Best Business Man” Senior Class.
ADDISON EXUM WARREN, Edward, N.C.
Student Council Representative-elect from Senior Class; Captain Boxing Team ’24, ’25, ’26; Captain-elect WrestlingTeam; Speaker Pro-tem Phi Assembly; Order of the Grail.
From the front page of The Tar Heel college newspaper, Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, May 1, 1926
By Joe R. Bobbitt Jr.
For the first time in the history of the organization the Senior Order of the Golden Fleece has deigned to tap only four men—a senior, two juniors and a fourth whose exact status is hard to define. The tapping of such a small number is entirely without precedent in the 24 years which the Fleece has been in existence and comes not only to blight the hopes and aspirations of ambitious undergraduates but as a startling innovation to the student body. Five is the lowest previous number of men initiated into the order and this, coming back in 1910, was considered extremely extraordinary.
Jeff Fordham, ruling Jason of the Fleece, presided over the ceremony and introduced Dean J.F. Royster who in turn humorously presented as principal speaker of the evening Dr. James Howard E. Donthaler [Rondthaler], president of Salem College. In a short address lasting scarcely half an hour, Dr. Rondthaler proved his reputation as a speaker and entertainer, and brought a splendid address on the “Paradox of the By-Product” in which he stress the value of the by-products of an education and its resultant effects on student leadership.
Immediately following Dr. Rondthaler’s address Jeff Fordham explained the purpose of the organization, stressed the qualifications which the Fleece considers for membership, and briefly reviewed the history of the order. He told how in 1903 two students met with Dr. Horace Willliams and after much deliberation and deep study of the needs, formulated the Senior Order of the Golden Fleece and how the order has strived since that time.
“Men are considered for what they are and what they have done irrespective of personal likes or friendships,” Fordham declared in part. “Party or group alignments are not taken into consideration.” Men are usually chosen who have excelled in the fields of scholarship, athletics, debating, religion or student government and any other outstanding achievement which deserves recognition. It must not necessarily tap men at the top in each field, for only men of outstanding ability and achievement are taken in, it was pointed out.
At the conclusion of his explanation of the criteria for membership and ideals of the order a large crowd of spectators wedged into the hall and filled the gallery and rear benches to overflowing. The massive doors guarding the entrance of the ancient building swung slowly open to admit the two black-robed and hooded figures, bearing a fleece of golden wool across their shoulders, and they marched in with impressive demeanor. They paused in the rear of the hall, but soon began stalking through and around the aisles amid an atmosphere of tense excitement.
These two representatives of the highest honor to which Carolina students may aspire performed their work with deliberate slowness, conveying to the whispering and craning audience the impressiveness of the ceremony. They circled the hall several times, holding at irregular intervals conferences with Bill Cocke and others in the rear.
Hackney Tapped First
Finally, with excitement at its peak and after prolonged waiting, one of the robed figures jerked Bunn Hackney, a junior out of his seat and pinned the gold and white ribbons of the order upon him amid the roaring applause.
Before the next man was tapped the argonauts again circled the audience and held another whispered conference in the rear. This time Beverly Raney, a junior who is graduating this year and who has thus been classed both as a junior and senior, received the prolonged applause of the students when the colors were pinned upon him.
In more rapid succession, but in a length of time which nevertheless seemed interminable, Walter Crissman, a senior, and Ad Warren, junior, were tapped.
As the two figures met in the back, walked straight to the platform and passed on out of the hall after tapping the fourth man, an appalling silence settled on the audience. Surely more than four would be tapped, for wasn’t it the usual custom to get at least 10 men? But, no, that was all, and thus ended the hopes and anxiety of a small group on the campus, the fulfillment of the aspirations of four others, and the speculation of the greater part of the student body.
Rondthaler Speaks
In dealing with the “Paradox of the By-Product,” after a lengthy and highly entertaining introduction, Dr. Rondthaler reviewed the criteria of character and achievement as laid down by the Fleece for membership and showed how particularly fitting it is to reward such men in college. Just as in manufacturing where the by-product is often more valuable than the original product, so it is with education.
“A man enters upon a course of mathematics, Latin, science or even philosophy and he may do but one or two things. In his pursuit of knowledge he may develop technical dexterity which in science approaches near perfection and he may easily do this and nothing more.” But he may also develop discipline, Dr. Rondthaler stated, and to his technic will be added accuracy of thought from mathematics, vision and interpretation of literature from languages, and he will not be the same man he was.
“This curricula then is the new found-alchemy of college life; this is that which takes men with their frailties and weaknesses and makes of them men of character and achievement.
From the front page of The Tar Heel, Chapel Hill, N.C., Thursday, May 6, 1926
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073227/1926-05-06/ed-1/seq-1/
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