MDUTTES OF HEE BOARD OF TRUSTIES



by his voluntary resignation of the office of Trustee which he has held by appoint-

ment for nearly twelve consecutive years. His eminent ability, his fine education -

broad, liberal, thorough - his high character for honor and integrity, his distinguished

reputation for patriotism and practical statesmanship and his unswerving loyalty to the

beat interests of the Commonwealth, all combined to make him a Kentuckian and an

American citizen of the highest type. During his long connection with the Board of

Trustees, Mr. Clay gave dignity and prestige to its proceedings. His straightforward-

ness, his manliness, his well defined opinions upon organization and policy, his utter

impartiality, and the energy and earnestness and intelligent breadth of grasp with

which he expressed his convictions never failed to make a deep impression on his

colleagues. By all he said and did the conviction was borne in upon all, - Here is a

just man and a great, in vfhom justice and truth are the impelling and controlling

elements of his being.

     During the forty-eight years of its existence, the State College - now the State

University of Kentucky - had no more distinguished member of its Academic Board, no

more intelligent and impartial director of its organization and management, no more

scholarly guide in framing and co-ordinating its policies and no more impartial and

just arbiter in differences which emerged in relation to its activities and control.

     The untimely death of this distinguished man adds poignancy to the regret felt

because of his voluntary severance of his relations with us. Not the State University

only, but his State and the Nation are distinctly poorer today because of the passing

of such a man. In the language of the Latin poet whom he loved so well,

          "Quis desiderio sit pudor aut modus
          Tam cari capitis?"

     When Milton bewailed the untimely death of Lycidas, Lycidas was young. Mr. Clay,

though somewhat advanced in years, was young in spirit, full of intellectual vitality

and vigor, in full accord with all his efforts to advance and elevate mankind. In him

was youth ripened by experience, but youth still. With equal propriety, then, and with

equal sorrow and regret we may paraphrase the language of Milton:



December 9, 1913