Handbook N-P - Fulton County Public Library

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PURDUE, A. V. [Rochester, Indiana]
PROF. WHITMER RESIGNS AS HEAD OF SCHOOLS
COMPLETES 31 YEAR RECORD; PROF. RANKIN IS SUCCESSOR
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Nearing the completion of his 31st year as Superintendent of the Rochester City schools,
Prof. A. L. Whitmer, on April 9th, submitted his official resignation to Dr. Chas. L. Richardson,
president of the Rochester City School Board.
Meeting in special session late Wednesday, the School Board accepted Mr. Whitmer’s
resignation and selected Prof. Fred W. Rankin as Mr. Whitmer’s successor, with duties of his new
office becoming effective as of June 1st, this year
Efficient Record
Prof. Whitmer’s long tenure of office sets a new record in the school superintendency
regime in the Rochester City schools and perhaps may also be a state record. The retiring
superintendent came to Rochester in the year of 1907 from the Spencer, Ind. schools. In his long
tenure as head of the city schools Mr. Whitmer was responsible for many marked improvements,
both educationally and materially in the school system. The retiring superintendent who was
seriously injured in an auto accident in Ohio last winter, has not as yet, definitely decided on his
plans for the future, it was stated today.
Prof. Rankin, the newly appointed superintendent, came to Rochester in the fall of 1922
and was employed as an instructor of physics and mathematics. In the year of 1929 he was
advanced to the principalship of the Rochester High school, in which capacity he has served most
efficiently.
The new superintendent is a graduate of Hanover Colleg. He holds master degrees in
Mathematics, Science and Education from Hanover, and in October of 1933, he received his
master degrees of Science and Education with a first grade administrative’s license from Indiana
University.
Prof. Rankin is a member of the Rocheser Kiwanis Club, the Northern Indiana Principals
Club, the National Educational Association, the Athletic Council of the I.H.S.A.A. and is
president of the Athletic Conference of the Central Indiana H. S. Conference. Mr. Rankin is a
member and elder of the First Presbyterian Church of this city.
Mr. and Mrs. Rankin reside in their own property at 418 West 7th street. They are the
parents of two children, Suzanne,aged 8, and David, aged three.
A. Vernon Purdue was appointed by the Board to succeed Prof. Rankin to the
principalship of the Rochester High school. Mr. Purdue has been the assistant principal of the
High school for the past nine years.
Prof. A. V. Purdue, the new principal, became associated in the Rochester schools in the
year of 1925. He obtained an A. B. degree from Central Normal College in 1929 and his M.S.
degree from Purdue University in January, 1938. Upon completion of his college course, Prof.
Purdue taught for five years in rural schools in central Indiana. He was principal of the Columbia
grade school, this city, for four years and became assistant principal of the R.H.S. in 1929.
The new R.H.S. principal is a member of Rocheser Masonic Order, the Methodist Church
and the Kiwanis Club. Mr. and Mrs. Purdue reside at 500 West 9th street.
[The News-Sentinel, Thursday, May 12, 1938]
PUROIL SERVICE STATION [Rochester, Indiana]
BUYS BUSINESS
William Thomas, Jr., recently honorably discharged from service in the U. S. Navy, has
purchased the Puroil service station at Main and Fourth streets from Max O. Nichols who plans to
devote his time to his farm and trucking business. Mr. Thomas has taken possession of the
business.
[The News-Sentinel, Saturday, November 18, 1944]