"A Tribute To Mary Rait" Speech by Esther Herr
Archival materials -- archival materials;speech
Identifier:
1975.334.4a.3Description
"A Tribute to Mary Rait" 3-page typed speech given by Esther Herr during the Delta Kappa Gamma program on Outstanding Women Educators of Mesa County, April 12, 1975.Transcription:
"A tribute to Mary Rait, given by Esther Herr, as part of a Delta Kappa Gamma program April 12, 1975, on Outstanding Women Educators of Mesa County.
I sought for a distinctive title, such as we hear --Mr. Republicn, Miss America, etc, --for Mary, but none seemed suitable. Then I thought I should take a dictionary definition, and I came up with these: a teacher--one who leads out, one who draws out; educator--one who instructs by precept, example, or experience; supporter--one who promotes the interests or cause of movements by her efforts. Mary Rait did all of those things with grest warmth and humanness.
She taught for four years in palisade before going to Colorado University in 1922. She later received her M. A. from C. U. and did graduate work at several other universities, including Washington, Columbia, and Northwestern. During her undergraduate days, she was an assistant to Dr. Eckhart in the History and Political Science Department, Colorado University. She also taught there in the summers of 1942 and 1943.
When she graduated in 1922 from C. U., she came to Grand Junction High School. When Mesa College was a fledgling institution, she was loaned by the then District I, as were several other Grand Junction High teachers, to the Junior College. Despite the inconveniences (coal stoves, etc.), hard work, and low salary, Mary stayed with the college when it moved from local support to C. U., and finally to state and public. She advanced from History Instructor to Dean of Women and finally to Vice President of the college in 1937-- this before Women's Lib as such.
/
But Mary never separated herself completely from classroom teaching or giving of herself to many community projects and programs. Both in High School and Mesa College she was always most actively associated with the International Relations Clubs, and she was one of the prime supporters of the local World Friendship Council. Because of her wide travels in Europe, the Orient, the Mideast, the year she spent in Europe and a summer's travel in Africa with a teacher friend there, she was peculiarly fitted to lead these International groups.
She was a charter member of the local American Association of University Women and attended an International Convention in Scotland. She belonged to many professional groups and served on the state and national level on many committees, particularly the Deans of Colleges.
Although she worked quietly and without fanfare, she did receive public recognition. In 1958 she was acclaimed the Colorado Teacher of the Year, sponsored by the Federations of Women's Clubs. As a result, on May 20, 1958, she was honored by radio and television broadcasting industry in recognition of her work at Mesa College. She was presented a "Learn and Live Key" fro the National Association of Broadcasters. In 1953 she was given the Distinguished Alumni award by C. U. Our first college residence hall was named for her. Her name has appeared in Who's Who in American Education, Who's Who Among American Women.
I hopw we in Grande Junction have appreciated her as we should have; I know her students have. After 43 years of teaching in /
this area, she retired in 1960, only to be drafted by Tim Aley, a former Mesa College executive, to help out in an emergency at Casper College, where he was and is serving as president.
After that she resumed her travels and other interests, and she is now very happily settled in the PEO Chapter House in Colorado Springs. Despite her eye problems, she still reads as she can, listens to broadcasts, etc., and keeps completely abreast of the times. As you know four of us have just returned from 6 weeks on the Costa del Sol, Spain, where she maintained a pace that was challenging to all of us. Mary is a lively, vital person, whom those of us who were privileged to work with her and know her as a friend also, really treasure."