Robert F. Powers '47, president of Holcroft, detailed that labor in Stillman's
Clarkson
at
75
.
As the plaque attached to the concrete base of the pole states, the flagpole was erected by the men of
Holcroft in memory of Jack St. Leger who was killed in an automobile accident shortly before the start of the fall
1941 semester. But known only to a handful is the labor of love that went into the fabrication and erection of Jack's
memorial.
The record of Holcroft weekly meetings show that on April 7, 1942, Reese May '44 called for a
discussion of a St. Leger memorial, and Bob Hanson '44 suggested raising a flagpole. Anything involving an
outlay of much cash was out of the question-even the sum of $4.50 a week for room and board was a burden for
most of us.
We managed to hold the cost to $26.41 by doing all the work ourselves. Hanson, who claimed he knew
how to weld, and others salvaged pipe of telescoping sizes from a junkyard on the Canton road. Behind Old Main,
Bob succeeded in welding them into a pole. The civil engineers, with Carl Lawton '42, leading, mixed, and poured
the concrete into which the support channels were embedded. The large bolts which pass through the channels and
the pole were turned on the old belt-driven lathes in the machine shop in Old Main.
Reese May, I believe, with the help of Mac Ryan '42, and others, made the sand mold and poured the
plaque.
The gin-pole rigging equipment from the ROTC department was borrowed for the erection job, but we
were able to man-handle the pole into an upright position, and slip the lower bolt into place.
I wish I could say that a girl from Potsdam State had made the flag for us. The flag itself was one of the
few things we didn't make; it was donated by Luke Higgins' father.
A dedication ceremony and dinner was held on a beautiful sunny day, with Jack's parents the guest of
honor. To those of us who stood on the hill that day, the flagpole is more than a memorial to Jack; it is an instant
reminder of full days when a group of Clarkson/Holcroft men put their hands and hearts into a real labor of love.
Prof. Powers' Advice.
During the war, Prof. Powers had some good advice for Clarkson men
when he said:
It is the duty of every man to do his college work the best he can, because, whether the Army takes him or
not, with a good record, he has a definite probability of a reasonably competent technical training.
Sugar Rationing.
From May 4 to May 6, all Clarkson students were given the opportunity to
register for ration books to purchase sugar. Boarding houses usually were provided with enough
sugar without needing the student ration books.
Thomas on War Board.
Dr. James Shelby Thomas, immediate past president of Clarkson, was
called to Washington to become "Training Specialist" in the Training and Business Contact
Branch of the War Production Board. Ironically, during Dr. Thomas' administration, Clarkson
had established the ROTC Engineering Unit: a prophecy of things to come?
Pep Rally.
On Thursday, September 24, Clarkson men held their first pep rally of the year.
With a rousing cheer from the large group of freshmen and sophomores in front of Old Main,
the rally began officially at 7:30 p.m. After several more cheers and a boisterous rendition of
I'm a Ramblin' Wreck
, the upperclassmen headed toward the business section of town. Quick to
get into the swing of things, the frosh, with the aid of the sophs, formed a line, and snake-
danced downtown.
Zig-zagging from one side of the street to the other, the procession headed to the
intersection of Elm and Market where it formed a large circle which "unintentionally" stopped
traffic for a few minutes. After several rousing cheers, the group proceeded toward the
