Description
This image shows the dedication of the Romy Story Monument on October 24, 1953. Romy Story was a Watauga Academy/Appalachian Training School student. Proceedings were presided over by I. G. Greer of Chapel Hill (right of monument), professor of history and citizenship at Appalachian from 1910-1932. To the left of the monument is Dr. Blanford Barnard Dougherty, Appalachian's president from 1903-1955. Also pictured is Honorable John W. Umstead Jr., representing the University of North Carolina. The monument was placed at the edge of College Field, just south of the second Administration Building, built 1924, visible in the background. The monument reads, "Romy Story, Dec. 12, 1882-Sept. 13, 1907, Student Appalachian Training School (now Appalachian State Teachers College), 1899-1903, organized the first baseball team here and was its captain. Student of the University of North Carolina 1903-1907. In both he stood without a rival. 'His life was gentle, and the elements so mixed in him, that nature might stand up and say to all the world, "this was a man".' This marker has been erected by his friends and admirers among University alumni and the Southern Appalachian Historical Association." The monument was located approximately where the Rankin Science Complex now stands, built 1963-2003.
Source
Pritchett Collection, 2003.080, Dedication of Romey Story Monument October 24, 1953, C14.1.4.1
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