2. THE WORK OF LEGISLATORS AND ADMINISTRATORS
For one who loves the University, an interesting task would be to scan
carefully the names of all the men who, since 1830 or thereabouts, have
composed the General Assembly of Virginia and filled the various responsible
offices in our state government—to do this with a view of ascertaining how
many of these men have at some time been students here. The number is
large, we may be certain; and we may also be certain that some of them,
doubtless many of them, have aided effectively from time to time in giving
Mr. Jefferson's ideas on education a functioning body in the laws and
procedure of the commonwealth. In so doing they have been true disciples
of our Alma Mater; and through them, whether in our own day or in the
days long past, we see going out a mighty stream of influence, carrying life,
dynamic life, to our common schools. For example, since 1902, fifteen
members of the Virginia State Board of Education have been alumni of the
University; and among these fifteen were Charles W. Kent, Lyon G. Tyler,
Joseph L. Jarman, James M. Page, Henry C. Ford, John E. Williams, James
S. Wilson, and four governors: Montague, Swanson, Stuart, and Davis.
