Another Wreaths Across America (WAA) event is in the books, having taken place here in Frederick’s Mount Olivet Cemetery on the beautiful, and unseasonably warm, Saturday afternoon of December 16th, 2023. It was spectacular weather, considering it was just nine days before Christmas with no aspirations of a “white," snow-filled holiday to come. We had an estimated crowd of about 700 volunteers on hand taking part in decorating the graves of over 4,300 veterans. These patriots connect to various periods of our country’s illustrious military history with veterans of the 1700s, 1800s, 1900s up through the present. In performing my duties as emcee of the WAA Opening Ceremony, I took the opportunity to tell our audience that we have 4,935 veterans in total, laid to rest at Mount Olivet, at present count. On this day, we would be placing three wreaths on behalf of the 138 veterans buried within our mausoleum complex. We would also be laying one wreath for 408 Confederate soldiers re-buried here in a mass grave in Area M. These southern soldiers were previously interred on the farms involved in the Battle of Monocacy of July, 1864 and would be moved here in 1879 to join 306 others buried beneath upright stones. These soldiers did not die on the battlefield, but in local hospitals during the Civil War, and their graves constitute Confederate Row on the northwest boundary of Mount Olivet. We placed a grand total of 4,381 wreaths when all was said and done. In my remarks, I suggested participants do something in addition to laying wreaths in a reverent fashion after saying each’s name and thanking them for their service. I invited them to fully bring the memory of each of our veterans “back to life” on this special day in which 4,000 cemeteries across the country would be holding Wreaths Across America events. I implored the group to photograph the gravestones and markers on which they placed wreaths. I asked each participant to repeat the name of each veteran they had earlier decorated at dinner, and a third time at bedtime. I suggested that they post photos of their wreath-decorated veteran’s grave with on various social media pages, with or without themselves in the picture. Lastly, I invited participants to perform a Google internet search on their veteran’s name to see what details, if any, they could learn about the life of these soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, etc. As the ceremony ended, the crowd of volunteers went in various directions to areas throughout the cemetery where wreath chaperones waited to greet them and distribute four wreaths each to distribute. I was able to snap a few action shots with my smartphone camera, and luckily had others doing the same. It was so refreshing to see so many people of different ages and backgrounds. One of our FOMO members, Ray Crough, actually built a gallery of photos from a day. I also gave some impromptu history lessons as I came upon participants in the vicinity of vets whose life stories I was already familiar from—mostly thanks to this “Stories in Stone” blog series. These included Charlotte Berry Winters (the oldest living female veteran of World War I at the time of her death in 2007 at age 109), Col. Henry Cole of Cole’s Cavalry (1st MD Cavalry, Potomac Home Brigade) of Civil War fame who fought a battle atop Loudoun Heights in a falling snow in January, 1864, and Calvin Cannon who grew up in Yellow Springs north of Frederick City and lost his life on Omaha Beach on D-Day. As the afternoon passed, the cemetery slowly emptied of the living as the main work of the day was done with the coverage of the 4,300+ veterans. Meanwhile, other families from around the region were here on holiday decorating missions of their own families, placing other wreaths and decorations on the resting places of husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, siblings, children, grandparents, great-grandparents and beyond. It too, like Wreaths Across America, is a family ritual and annual tradition this time of year. At the end of the day, I caught up with one of our key volunteers from our FOMO group. Heather Sutton assists with veteran research and logistics for this big event which has been skillfully orchestrated under the watchful eye and leadership of FOMO member Sylvia Sears over the past three years. On Saturday, Heather served as a wreath chaperone for Areas A and B at the front of the cemetery, and was in the process of doing a final check of the 50 veteran gravesites in A, and 44 in B. She was almost done Area A, and was tired and asked if I could finish up the job as I had my son Eddie with me. I immediately found a few individuals for which I had familiarity based on past “Stories in Stone.” I soon saw the completed wreath to Thomas Johnson Grahame, grandson of Gov. Thomas Johnson and a member of the First Maryland regiment from the War of 1812. He grew up in Rose Hill Manor, the home built for his parents as a wedding present. There was Conradt Mehrling, of the First Maryland Potomac Home Brigade, Maryland Infantry who was killed at Loudoun Heights across from Harpers Ferry in late May, 1862. He was the first Frederick City resident killed in the American Civil War. I also saw Edward Sims Boteler, another 1812 soldier who fought with an Ohio volunteer regiment of dragoons and was captured at Detroit. His daughter-in-law, Alice, operated a boisterous oyster saloon on Court Street during the Civil War era, and was one of the first female bar owners in our history. I checked off a former US congressman who served in both the senate and house, representing the state of Pennsylvania, in Civil War general James Cooper (1810-1863). He would die while serving as commandant of Camp Chase, a military staging, training and prison camp near Columbus, Ohio. To round out Area A, it was a pleasure seeing the grave of Richard “Cha Cha” Baumgartner. The World War I vet was better known as a big band era crooner earlier in life. He was featured on national radio programs and a regular at noted clubs in the nation’s capital. Baumgardner’s true claim to fame was his standing as a talented restaurateur who gave us the famed Peter Pan Inn once located in Urbana. He went on to open a series of eateries, called Kapok Tree Inns, within the state of Florida where he lived the final decades of his life in the Clearwater area. I also came upon two individuals in Area B, whom I was vaguely familiar with in name, but not in life. Both would live great portions of life away from Frederick—one in Florida, and the other in Texas. Louis Eichelberger His surname literally means “acorn mountain” and is as German as they come. Louis E. "Coach" Eichelberger, of Frederick, passed away on September 6th, 2016 at the age of 91. Born on March 30th, 1925, he was the son of the late Louis E. and Susie M. (Hammond) Eichelberger. Louis was a graduate of Frederick High School class of 1942. Louis served in the Maryland State Guard in 1942 and entered the US Merchant Marines from 1943 to October of 1944. He then enlisted in the United States Army in 1944, serving with the 32 Red Arrow, Division Co. E. 126 Infantry, Heavy Weapons in the Philippines. Louis served on the S.S. Henry Ward Beecher, S.S. Sweetwater, S.S. Salmon P. Chase, making trips to Oran Africa, Naples Italy, Liverpool England, and Glasgow Scotland. Louis had many ribbons and metals from the merchant marines and the U.S. Army, including a Combat Infantry Badge, the Bronze Star and many others. During his government career, Louis worked for the Veterans Administration, the U.S. Postal Service, and the U.S. Department of Navy at the Regional Medical Center in Jacksonville, Florida. In January of 1988 Louis retired and moved back to Frederick. He began working for Washington Millinery Supply and the FCNB Bank in Frederick. He was a life member of the Merchant Marines, US Navy Armed Guard, a life member of the AMVETs Post 2, Frederick and a life member of John R. Webb VFW Post 3285, where he served as commander from 1991-2000. Louis also held District #7 offices for the VFW. Louis was also an avid baseball and football fan-loved the Orioles- and loved all his animal companions throughout his life. Travis White Many are familiar with the town of El Paso for two iconic things in popular culture: a brand of taco, tortilla and burrito dinner kits and related Tex-Mex style food items from General Mills, so named under the Old El Paso label; and a beautiful, sultry and apparently wicked Mexican maiden named Felina. This young vixen would cause the eminent demise of a wild, young cowboy in a ballad written and recorded by country singer Marty Robbins in 1959. Our Frederick connection to the border town is another one of our 4,935 wreath recipients at Mount Olivet in Travis White occupying Area B’s Lot 97. Born in Frederick on July 3rd, 1894, Littleton Travis White, was a World War I vet who went on to become a noted attorney in El Paso. His father, John Kearnes White, was a Methodist Episcopal clergyman from a prominent family of Portsmouth, Virginia. His mother, Carrriebell Travis (spelled a variety of ways), was a graduate of the Frederick Female Seminary and possessed talent as an artist, poet and writer who would play a role in the local suffrage movement. Carriebell had ties to Frederick through her mother's Carmack family, but her father hailed from the Westchester, New York vicinity. Our subject was born a year after his parents married in spring of 1893. "Travis" first appears in the US Census of 1900, but his father is missing from the household in 1900. I found that his parents divorced and John Kearnes White (1869-1943) eventually married a Thurmont woman and for a time was editor of the Catoctin Clarion according to his obituary. He died in Thurmont, but is buried in Arlington, VA. Travis appears to have been a standout student who participated in a number of activities in his youth as his name can be readily found in the local newspapers of the time for all the right reasons. He would graduate from Frederick High School in 1911 and received scholarships to attend the University of Virginia where he would earn a law degree. Travis White would eventually begin his law practice in Staunton, VA, at which place he resided during the war when he enlisted in the US Army. His service, however, would be limited due to health reasons connected with tuberculosis. A move west for a different climate was prescribed for health purposes. Travis would move to southwest Texas and continued his practice of law in El Paso. He would eventually become City Attorney and served for more than three decades. I learned in a newspaper interview that Travis White had a "self-proclaimed" addiction as a recreational hobby. This was the trick-taking card game of contract bridge, or “bridge" for short. He would be recognized as a national authority on the subject and was a regular contributor to the “Bridge World” with tips appearing in local and distant newspapers. In 1934, he authored a book entitled “Odd Tricks,” a book on the popular card game. It has been reprinted and is still available today on Amazon.com. On the personal life side, Travis White married in 1937, but like that of his parents, the marriage would not last. The couple had one daughter, Dorothy (White) Morse and these ladies would eventually re-locate to Albuquerque, New Mexico, when Travis’ ex-wife remarried a man named Edwin French. Travis White’s civic involvement was notable as well. His tenure as El Paso's city attorney throughout the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s ranked as one of the longest in the country and earned him recognition in the form of El Paso holding “A Travis White Day” in his honor in May, 1972. Travis White passed away the following year while on vacation visiting relatives prior to Christmas. This occurred December 8th, 1973 in Maryland while he visiting his sister Roxanna living in Annapolis. She was married to a professor and president of St. John's College. Travis had taken ill and died shortly thereafter, 1,949 miles from “Rosa’s Cantina” and his west Texas home. He would be buried in Mount Olivet in the White/Carmack family lot in Area A. Travis White would be placed next to his mother who had died in 1954. I first learned of Travis White when a friend of mine, Lori Swerda, asked me to help her find his grave to pay respects on behalf of a relative. She had recently stayed in a Bed & Breakfast owned by Travis' daughter, Dorothy (White) Morse. Ms. Morse is in her 80s and lives in Albuquerque. Interestingly, Lori Swerda, a former Frederick resident and author, moved to "the Lone Star State" a few years back. Before doing so, she had penned a novel entitled Star Spangled Scandal, and we hosted her for our first annual "Flag Day Author’s Talk" event back in June 2021. Lori’s book centers on the brutal and sensationalized death of Francis Scott Key’s son, Phillip Barton Key, in in February, 1859. This connection is quite special because Travis’ gravesite offers a terrific view of the Francis Scott Key memorial only 50-60 yards away to the northeast. Of greater interest, there is a family tie to Travis White's family, and that of a central character in the death of Mr. Key who served as the district attorney of Washington, DC at the time of his murder. Lori Swerda had quite an experience writing her book, one that was written in minor part based on my cheerleading. I had conducted a private tour for Lori and her children as part of a class field trip to the cemetery back in 2017. She had espoused her interest in Francis’ son Philip Barton Key (1818-1859), who had been shot and killed by a brash New York congressman, and later Civil War general, named Daniel Sickles (1819-1914). Key was found to be having an affair with Sickles attractive, young wife, Teresa (Bagioli) Sickles. After learning about the tryst, the congressman murdered Phillip Barton Key in broad daylight outside the Sickles home in the vicinity of Lafayette Park across from the White House. Not only was this murder especially noteworthy and shocking due to the nature of each man's profession, but the killing was in plain sight of several eyewitnesses and bystanders. The Key murder trial of 1859 that followed received national attention because of the notoriety of both defendant and victim. Not only was Philip Barton Key the son of a patriotic celebrity songwriter, but he was currently serving as the district attorney for the District of Columbia at the time of his death. You may be familiar with the outcome of the case as Sickles would be acquitted for the heinous crime— the first successful use of the temporary insanity plea in our country's history. Lori was interested in the motivation for the murder as evidence and hearsay surely point to others in DC's power structure at the time. She also became enthralled with Teresa DaPonte (Bagioli) Sickles (1836-1867), a tragic figure in her own right. Lori's research would lead her to New Mexico where she was a guest of our subject Travis White's daughter, Dorothy as mentioned earlier. The reason Lori sought Dorothy out was due to the fact that Mrs. Morse had inherited a unique necklace/locket (from her father and grandmother) that had once been owned by Teresa Sickles. Apparently, Teresa’s mother, Elizabeth C. (Cooke) Bagioli (1819-1894) was friends with Travis White's maternal grandfather named LeGrand Travis (1830-1909). LeGrand is buried in the same lot as Travis White in Area A/Lot 97. He was a friend of Mrs. (Cooke) Bagioli (Teresa's mother) and an eventual executor of her estate. Their connection comes with being former residents of Croton Falls, Westchester, New York. In fact they could have been related as well due to Elizabeth’s sister marrying into the Travis family. Another genealogy link to Travis White comes also from his father's side as his paternal grandfather Littleton Harrison White married a Margaret Cooke. Regardless, LeGrand Travis, an attorney, would come to Frederick upon his marriage to Catharine “Kate” Carmack. To this union came daughter Carriebell who married Rev. John Kearns White. In 1894, Mrs. Bagioli died, and her granddaughter, Laura B. Sickles gave LeGrand Travis a necklace that belonged to her mother, Teresa. This heirloom would be handed down to Carriebell to Travis and then to Dorothy. The necklace plays a role in Lori’s novel, and all these former, deceased owners of said necklace are in our Area B (Lot 97), not far from the father of Teresa's lover. Was Phillip Barton Key the man who gave her the necklace/locket? We may never know, but here is some info on Carriebell (Travis) White, taken from her obituary: “Mrs. CARIBEL TRAVIS WHITE, formerly of Frederick, died early Thursday morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs. John S. Kiefer, 139 Market Street, Annapolis. While she had been in ill health for some time her death was quite sudden and was due to cerebral hemorrhage. Mrs. White was born in Croton Falls, West Chester County, New York, the daughter of Le Grand H. Travis and Catherine Carmack Travis. She lived most of her life in Frederick, but since 1935 has made her home in Annapolis.” Lori Swerda’s book (Star-Spangled Scandal) can be found on Amazon.com. Meanwhile, there is one more roundabout genealogical connection between Key and this family from New York. Carriebell’s mother, "Kate" was a Carmack as said earlier. You will also find here in Area B/Lot 97 the grave of Samuel Carmack (1792-1879), a War of 1812 veteran who participated at the Battle of Bladensburg in late August, 1814. Carmack was 4th Sergeant in the Maryland Militia out of Frederick County. He recently received a wreath on his grave, just like another nearby veteran who participated in that same infamous battle often called the Bladensburg Races (because our militiamen did more running away than fighting against the attacking British who would march into Washington and set the White House ablaze.) This eventually resulted in Carmack’s compatriot earning everlasting fame weeks later when he went to Baltimore and wrote the Star-Spangled Banner while viewing the siege of Fort McHenry. Of course I’m talking about Francis Scott Key. As we have a great legacy of Francis Scott Key and his fellow War of 1812 veterans here at Mount Olivet with interpretive exhibits and special veteran markers, Travis White has a lasting reminder of his life and accomplishments there in El Paso. While it might not be a prominent monument, he does have a municipal park named for him. The surrounding residential development that encompasses Travis White Park also takes this former Frederick native’s name and currently boasts nearly 4,000 residents. It just goes to show that where you find a veteran wreath placed during "Wreaths Across America," you are bound to learn an interesting or entertaining life story which connects to so many other lives , places and events—some of legendary stature like Mr. White's.
I’ve just illustrated a few of the many "Stories in Stone" that exist in two small, and early, sections sections within Mount Olivet. The memory and deeds of the men and women whose mortal remains lie below ground, can be channeled above ground this time of year through the beautiful flags and wreaths complementing existing grave markers. Within military history, US flags signify patriotism, while wreaths carry special layers of meaning including victory, bravery and peace. The tradition of wreath-laying is a reverent gesture marking sacred ground. Thanks to the service and sacrifice of all our veterans. And thanks to our hundreds of wreath sponsors and Wreaths Across America day participants. The purpose of this event is to show a united front of gratitude and respect across the United States of America as we REMEMBER the Fallen, HONOR those who serve and their families, and TEACH the next generation the value of freedom. Mission accomplished once again.
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AUTHOR'S NOTE: The following "Story in Stone" was researched and written by Hood College senior Luke Jones as part of his internship with us here at Mount Olivet Cemetery (Fall Semester 2023). Here’s a question: How much have you thought about the design of your furniture, or a special woodcraft item? Chances are that you have not given it much thought once you bought it and put it in your home. Yet at the same time, many could not imagine their living space without intricately patterned wooden furniture or decorative objects. Plastic seats and toys do not invoke the same feeling of homeliness and completeness. The person to thank behind these designs in the woodwork is called a turner. A turner is one who works in woodturning, the craft of carving wood into various shapes and patterns using a lathe and handheld tools. Like a potter does with clay, a turner turns a seemingly ordinary piece of wood into something new and improved, connected to yet distinct from what it was before. Now, there are not any famous or revolutionary woodturners known to be buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery. But there is a “turner” interred here that did help craft materials into improved versions, and just like many turners, he has often been forgotten despite the great impact he had. I am referring to one Andrew G. Truxal (1900-1971), third president of Frederick’s famous Hood College as well as the first president of the renowned Anne Arundel Community College. Mr. Truxal fits the turner mold in two ways. “Truxal” is derived from a German word for “turner,” with the name having many variations including Troxel and Traxal. Like many surnames, people likely received it due to their professions as woodturners. Mr. Truxal was far removed from any woodturning ancestor, but he fit the term in a more metaphorical way. Just as a turner turns wood into something new and special, Mr. Truxal as an educator helped turn young minds to more knowledgeable and moral individuals. It is even more fitting for him specifically, as he was especially concerned with the character of his students, perhaps selectively so. Andrew Gehr Truxal was born on February 2, 1900, in Greensburg, Pennsylvania to Jacob Q. Truxal and Elizabeth S. Truxal (née Gehr). At the turn of the century, Greensburg, like much of the rest of the United States, was going through great changes as new technologies such as automobiles became more common and industries more expansive. Greensburg was continuing to grow from a small town to the largest city in Westmoreland County, spurred by the large coal mines nearby. Andrew Truxal was part of a long lineage. Germans had been a key demographic in Pennsylvania since the foundation of the original colony by the Quaker William Penn. Their descendants, the Pennsylvania Dutch, continue to have social and cultural influence on the state and adjacent areas, and many Pennsylvanians state that they descend from Germans according to census data. It appears the Truxal family that led to Andrew first arrived in the mid-1700s with Johann Daniel Troxell or Trachsel (1725-1814), who was born in the Saarland in what is now Germany. Note how the surname changed over time, becoming more anglicized, likely the result of living near English-speaking colonists causing linguistic drift as well as perhaps a desire to fit in, or it could simply be a transcription mistake. Whatever the reason, the Truxal family remained remarkably sedentary, never leaving the region in and around Westmoreland County. Truxal family members witnessed many national events, such as the American Revolution and the Civil War; in fact, Jacob Dotterer Truxal, Andrew’s paternal great-great-grandfather, was a soldier in the Continental Army. For his part, Andrew was no exception to seeing conflict and crisis. During his youth, Andrew saw worldwide tensions boil over into the First World War, and during his adult years before Hood he saw the Great Depression and the Second World War. In fact, Andrew’s whole career would coincide with great changes in the United States and the world, and those changes provided context for his actions and beliefs. But that’s for later in this story. Going back to Andrew’s early years, there are few records of his childhood. He left no personal recollections outside the school records he wrote during his later duties as administrator. But by researching around him, a general picture can be constructed. He was the fifth child and third son of Jacob and Elizabeth Truxal, who were probably thankful for his survival; a previous child, Hazel, sadly died at only a year old. Unfortunately, that would not be the only untimely passing in the family. Two years after Andrew graduated from Greensburg High School in 1916, his older brother Jacob, Jr. was killed while serving in France during the First World War, and then eight years later his other older brother, Todd, died at the untimely age of 34, leaving Andrew as the eldest living Truxal son. In addition to mourning expected by the family, there was also undoubtedly pressure on the young Andrew to succeed as the primary heir of the Truxal name and legacy. It is possible these early deaths in the family pushed Andrew towards familial sociology and earnest Christian faith as an adult to seek understanding and comfort. Despite these tragedies, Andrew continued with his higher education. For a very brief moment, Andrew was drafted into the Army in the final months of World War I, but the war ended before he saw combat, sparing him from his brother's fate. Resuming his education, he obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the renowned Franklin and Marshall College in nearby Lancaster in 1920, specializing in sociology, or the study of human relationships and interpersonal functions, but also focusing on history, social statistics, and religion. He also joined Phi Kappa Psi, a noted national fraternity. Three years later, he received his Master of Arts degree from the same location, and that same year he completed his training at the Lancaster Theological Seminary of the Evangelical and Reformed Church, becoming an ordained minister of the titular church. In 1923, Andrew Truxal married Leah Deldee Groff. She was also a person of German descent in western Pennsylvania; she graduated from Goucher College in Baltimore in 1920 with a degree in mathematics, and she was a teacher from 1920 to 1923. How she met Andrew is unknown, though judging from the timing and background, it is likely they met in 1923 in Lancaster, though it is possible they knew each other earlier. While it may seem strange for a sociologist and a mathematician to fall in love, they were both interested in teaching. Combined with their shared ethnic background, Andrew and Leah were drawn to each other. They remained happily married and had two children, son John Groff and daughter Nora Deldee. The family’s long health and unity provided key support for Andrew Truxal when his other family members died. Above all else, Andrew Truxal was devoted to educational and moral teaching. According to a later piece for the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine, a friend suggested getting into law, with the eventual goal of becoming a judge. By Dr. Truxal’s own words, “They happened to be in a political position to do just that!” But rather than accepting his friend’s ethically dubious aid and advice, Andrew Truxal wanted to do what he enjoyed (while also getting paid). This was the first indicator that above all else, Mr. Truxal was both passionate and serious about being an educator, something that would remain consistent throughout his life. No doubt his skills as a minister were not only useful for teaching but also partially explained why he liked teaching; from a certain perspective, spreading the word of Jesus Christ and instructing the next generation are similar in their overall goals and methods. Andrew Truxal entered the teaching profession in a familiar place, serving as an instructor of history and economics at Franklin and Marshall from 1923 to 1925. He then went to another institution, this time State Teachers College in Millersburg, Pennsylvania, again serving as an instructor of history during the summers of 1925, 1926, and 1927. He might as well have been eternally in school during the Twenties, either as a student or educator. It appears he missed the heights of the Roaring Twenties, though maybe the general prosperity of the period permitted this thorough education and career. It is also possible he pushed through due to the deaths of his older brothers; the legacy of the Truxal name was resting on his shoulders. Evidently, Andrew Truxal was on a roll, for he then went to Columbia University in New York for his Ph.D., which he had earned by 1928. Once that was achieved, he went to Dartmouth College, an Ivy League school in Hanover, New Hampshire. It was the farthest he had ever gone from his home county, and it would be the next major chapter in his life. 28 year-old Dr. Andrew Truxal joined the faculty at Dartmouth in 1928. He appeared to have no prior connections to the institution. Considering the prestigious nature of the college, it seems Dr. Truxal was invited there due to his credentials. It certainly was not for the salary; Truxal later admitted that out of all the options, Dartmouth was actually the least attractive option in terms of earnings, yet he chose it anyway. If so, it speaks highly of him as a learned educator; not everyone is appointed as instructor at an Ivy League school they have never attended for relatively low pay. For the next twenty years, Dr. Truxal was part of the Dartmouth faculty, and it was during this period he started to earn greater renown for his skills and dutifulness. Initially, he was a mere instructor in sociology, meaning he was only teaching students rather than participating in the administration. Though, he must have been happy to actually teach his most preferred subject for once. In an article for Dartmouth Alumni Magazine, written in 1957 while he was President of Hood College, Dr. Andrew Truxal described his experience as wonderful and even joyous. He wrote: "To begin with, the administration of Dartmouth was so enlightened that we faculty members had confidence that our pursuit of the truth, wherever it might lead, would meet with the staunchest support from the President. This dedication to the principles of academic freedom provided a climate in which it was a joy to work. Likewise, the President felt that a good faculty member should also be a good citizen and participate in civic affairs. This led, in my case, to a most rewarding experience in town government." While transcribed years later, this does imply that Dr. Truxal’s dedication to not only knowledge but also moral character started early on. He enjoyed Dartmouth because, according to him at least, it produced and exalted good people, rather than just sharing good information. He continues: "In the next place, the students were a highly selected group of young men and, with very few exceptions, if they were treated with the respect due them as persons, one received their respect in return. Finally, the emphasis of the institution was on teaching and not on research. Consequently, my associations were with colleagues whose primary objective was teaching rather than spending the best working hours of the day on research and then, in utter weariness, meeting classes." In essence, Dr. Andrew Truxal was describing a close-knit community, rather than a purely educational facility. Dartmouth was a second home to him. Considering his focus on familial social connections, as well as the tragedies of his youth, such an institution would have greatly appealed to Dr. Truxal, explaining why he remained for so long. Of course, Dr. Andrew Truxal did not remain a mere instructor for twenty years; very few people could hold such a relatively minor position for that long. He quickly rose through the ranks of the Sociology department, becoming an Assistant Professor in 1930, before rising to become a full Professor of Sociology in 1935, being named the Chairman of the Sociology Department at Dartmouth and becoming more entwined with the faculty and administration. He held special courses on family and public welfare, fitting for a man of his interests. He also earned an honorary degree from Dartmouth in 1936. Dr. Truxal became a prolific figure at Dartmouth. By this time, he had joined the American Sociological Society, which was not so surprising. What is more surprising is that in 1940 he became a Selectman of Hanover, which was essentially a local government member in New England towns. In a way, the idea of joining the government first posited years before came to fruition, though in a different way than anybody expected. It was somewhat ironic, for he himself admitted if often referred to administration as “The Ad Building” in less-than-complimentary terms. Considering his focus on character as well as knowledge, it is possible that Dr. Truxal disliked the politics behind the scenes that interfered with his work. Yet ironically, administrative duties would become what Dr. Truxal was most renowned for. One person, recommending Dr. Truxal for Hood College, even said, “Dr. Truxal has served Dartmouth in every possible capacity except as President.” The same year he became a Selectman, Dr. Truxal also became President of Phi Kappa Psi, which he held until 1942. This man kept finding positions of authority, despite his interests in just teaching! By 1948, he had additionally finished his book, The Family in American Culture, which was one of the very few books he wrote throughout his life, though he had also written various articles, including at least one at Dartmouth concerning interstate migration. By the end of Dr. Truxal’s time at Dartmouth, the Dartmouth Alumni Magazine, along with other sources, noted, “He [was] recognized as one of the country's leading authorities in this field.” Renowned for his lectures on sociology and Christianity, it seemed he would have been happy to remain at Dartmouth for the rest of his life. Popular with faculty and students, Dr. Truxal certainly achieved his dream of improving others’ character, as well as his own. Dr. Truxal also served on various committees at Dartmouth, and not always under great circumstances. One committee was the Special Committee on Academic Adjustments, which handled academic opportunities for veterans. Dr. Truxal had an ever so brief experience in this realm, but was perhaps inspired by his long-deceased brother? Then in 1946, Dean Earl Gordon Bill became unable to do his duties due to a longtime illness, so Dr. Truxal, along with Bancroft H. Brown and W. Stuart Messer, became part of a triumvirate committee that directed the Office of the Dean of the Faculty in Bill’s absence. Sadly, Bill took his own life in November 1947 due to the pain of his illness, after he had retired. Dr. Truxal and his compatriots had to remain in their special committee until a new Dean could be found. Dr. Truxal co-authored a piece with fellow professor Michael E. Choukas that celebrated the Dean’s life. What Dartmouth did not know was that Dr. Truxal would soon leave them, too, though fortunately for much more optimistic reasons. In 1948, Henry I. Stahr, the second President of Hood College, resigned from his post. In anticipation, the Hood administrators called upon Dr. Andrew Truxal as the new potential leader of the Frederick institution. The nearly fifty year-old professor, with his years of experience in both teaching and administration, was a natural choice from a practical standpoint. But there were other probable reasons for Dr. Truxal’s appointment. Truxal was not only from Pennsylvania, a place relatively near to Frederick, but he also was part of the same Christian sect (German Reformed Synod) that Hood founder Dr. Joseph Henry Apple hailed from. There is no solid proof that Dr. Truxal and Dr. Apple knew each other personally, but at the very least, they must have been aware of each other considering how prolific both were within the Reformed Church and its descendant congregations. (The Reformed Church went through several mergers throughout the twentieth century, eventually leading to the modern United Church of Christ.) In a sad coincidence, Dr. Apple died the same year Dr. Truxal became Hood President, preventing them from forming a deeper relationship. In any case, Dr. Truxal’s similarities to Dr. Apple made the former an appealing choice. Yet, there were perhaps even more reasons for Dr. Truxal’s appointment. In several respects, Dr. Truxal could be considered conservative, a trait which would become more prominent in later years. His focus on moral character as well as knowledge, and his staunch Christianity, was the same as many conservative figures during the period after World War II. Implicitly, the Hood board wanted someone to maintain traditional values during this time of change and uncertainty. It is noteworthy that most of Dr. Truxal’s tenure occurred in the 1950s, famously known as conservative decade, and he left in the early 1960s, just as social changes began to sweep the nation. In essence, Mr. Truxal was a bastion against changing times. Whatever the reasons, Dr. Andrew Truxal became the third President of Hood College in July 1948, beginning a tenure that lasted for over a decade. Truxal and his family moved from the familiarity of Hanover to the new locale of Frederick, in a way returning to their German heritage. The occasion was celebrated by the newspapers, and many were excited to see how the renowned professor would elevate the Frederick institution. According to local newspapers, approximately 1500 people attended Dr. Truxal’s inauguration, including the presidents of John Hopkins University, Franklin and Marshall College, and Dartmouth as well as leaders of the Evangelical and Reformed Church to which Dr. Truxal belonged. In addition, the event also featured Maryland Governor William Preston Lane and numerous student leaders. Dr. Truxal's father Jacob also came to congratulate his son. In his speech, Dr. Truxal reiterated the values he had held as a teacher, saying: "We have been entirely too content with the mere training of the intellect. The only kind of education that will be at all adequate for the world of tomorrow must be an education which gives equal emphasis to the training of intellect and to the development of character." After the excitement of the inauguration, however, the hard work began. While Dr. Truxal had held positions of power before, he had never had such a high and powerful job before; even his two years as Phi Kappa Psi President could not prepare for what ended up being over a decade in college administration. No longer was he just a teacher, he was a leader. The first years were not particularly happy ones for Dr. Truxal, at least on a personal level, for he faced several family tragedies once again. In 1950, his nephew died (John) in an accident, causing Mr. and Mrs. Truxal to leave the campus to deal with the situation. A year later, his father Jacob Quimby Truxal passed away, undoubtedly saddening Dr. Truxal even more. Now he was the immediate Truxal patriarch, putting more pressure onto the new Hood President. But in more positive news, President Truxal was happy to announce that his daughter was getting married to Randolph G. Wilson in 1953. Whatever he faced, the ups and downs of his personal life did not impede his duties as Hood President. President Andrew Truxal’s tenure at Hood College was a period of stability and growth. He sought to expand the college, as despite several decades of growth from its humble beginnings, it was still a relatively small campus in terms of attendance and space. Starting in 1955, Hood built multiple new structures, including Hodson Science Hall, Smith Hall, the Thomas Annex in the Apple Library (which later became the Joseph Henry Apple Academic Resource Center), and perhaps most excitingly for Dr. Truxal, Coffman Chapel. These buildings still stand today and perform important functions for the Hood community. Of course, these large building projects required large amounts of funds. He also wanted to connect alumni with the current student body, the latter of which he also sought to enlarge. To kill two birds with one stone, President Truxal started the “Hood Forward” and “Hood Looks Ahead” programs. These initiatives sought out alumni and other associates to ask for donations and contributions to improve Hood. The "Hood Forward" program occurred early in Truxal’s tenure, while the "Looks Ahead" program occurred in his final years at Hood. Both were immensely successful and reflected Truxal’s dedication to social bonds and relationships. The "Looks Ahead" program made around $700,000 thousand dollars; in today’s money, that’s over seven million dollars! Part of those funds went to the Andrew G. Truxal Chair of Economics and Sociology, which was named in the president’s honor and to acknowledge his career as a sociologist. Truxal was also successful in increasing the size of the student body, which grew into the thousands. Hood College’s renown increased throughout Truxal’s tenure, and many notable individuals came to the campus. The President of John Hopkins and the Maryland Governor were already impressive clientele, but 1951 saw a visit by famous general and statesman George Marshall, the namesake for the Marshall Plan that helped rebuild Europe after the Second World War. Truxal had the honor of hosting and shaking hands with Marshall, perhaps a highlight of his long career. About nine years later, Truxal had the second honor of hosting Senator John F. Kennedy himself during his presidential campaign. Meanwhile, President Truxal led Hood through turbulent times. The Cold War began in earnest just as Truxal took his position, and fears, sometimes justified, many times unfounded, permeated the nation, and Frederick was no exception. At the same time, the 1950s were known for their image of post-war happiness and stability, and Truxal, while generally avoiding politics, did seem to thrive in that environment. President Truxal performed numerous sermons and talks at the Chapel in addition to his presidential duties, talking about Christianity’s place in the changing world. He brought not only his skills as a teacher and sociologist but also as a minister to the Hood presidency, focusing all his qualities to bring his own style and values to Hood College. Under his tutelage, Hood fully transitioned from an educational facility to an engaging and productive community, where the character of the students mattered just as much as their knowledge. This spirit still remains today, with the stated goals of Hood matching the ideals of Truxal from so long ago. President Andrew Truxal found the most success during the conservative 1950s. But by the end of the decade, society started to shift. The Cold War was heating up and had no end in sight, and the United States was starting to face a reckoning of its bigoted past and present as civil rights movements began to gain steam. A new generation of youth, born during and after the Second World War, had far different ideas from their parents and wished to take the country in a new direction. President Truxal, now sixty, saw the shifting tide, and in a sign of wisdom and acceptance, declared in 1960 that he would resign by July next year. Explaining his decision, he declared that he thought it was “wise to hand over administration of the college to a younger leader.” He would be greatly missed by both students and faculty. His successor was Randle Elliott, a political scientist, and Truxal greeted him as he took up his new post. However, that did not mean Dr. Truxal was done with administration. By his own admission, he wanted to retire, having spent his whole adult life in education. But as Hood was growing, another nearby school was being conceptualized and established called Anne Arundel Community College. By coincidence, Anne Arundel Community College was founded the same time Dr. Truxal decided to resign. By this point, Andrew Truxal had become renowned throughout Maryland and the country. The leaders of Anne Arundel considered Dr. Truxal to be ideal for the first president of the college, and they offered him the position when Dr. Truxal decided to leave Hood. Despite his original intentions, Dr. Truxal accepted, becoming President Truxal once again at Anne Arundel in 1961. President Truxal had the new challenge of building up an entirely new school, rather than joining an established institution. From 1961 to 1968, Truxal guided the faculty and students through those first awkward years every school goes through. His most impressive achievement was maintaining and growing Anne Arundel Community College, moving into its own campus and receiving full accreditation, having originally been at Severna Park High School with nightly classes. As these things were achieved, giving the college a stable future, Dr. Truxal decided to retire, this time for good. Before he left, the students honored him by voting to name the college library after him, in a way paralleling the Apple Library at Hood. The Andrew G. Truxal Library still stands today as a marker of his legacy. That was not to say Truxal’s tenure at Anne Arundel was without any controversy. In 1967, Dr. Truxal stated, “Not every youngster is entitled to college.” He explained that since college was improving character as well as imparting knowledge, students need to be the best they can be so they can eventually lead society. This meant that some individuals were not “fit” for college and that such people should pursue other careers. He also stated that an imbalance in student commitment and capabilities made it “impossible for a professor to teach.” Being an educator for over forty years, Dr. Truxal had definitely seen many types of students. Perhaps he was venting some long-simmering frustrations? In any case, it was somewhat ironic or even hypocritical for Dr. Truxal to have such views. Anne Arundel, being a community college, was designed to be more accessible than someplace like Hood or Dartmouth. Additionally, equal opportunity for education is dearly held by many, and only became more popular during Truxal’s time. Even the press notes that this is an unpopular opinion from a respected man. Maybe the aging Truxal was starting to lose touch with the students he cherished, convincing him to retire for good. Dr. Andrew Truxal fully retired in 1968 and moved to Florida with his wife Leah Deldee. After decades of learning and teaching, he had earned a deserved rest. While he had vague ideas about continuing to write, Truxal spent his last days in quiet peace. Unfortunately, he would not get long to enjoy the leisure. On February 3, 1971, just one day after his birthday, Andrew Truxal suffered a heart attack and passed away. President Tuxal's body was brought back to Maryland, and his funeral service was held at Hood College, the place he helped grow, permanently tying him and his legacy to the institution. All who wrote about him noted he was an accomplished and respectable man, dedicated to the personal improvement of his students, whether as a professor or a president. He was buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Area FF, Lot 306. Leah Deldee lived for decades in Frederick after her husband’s passing, participating as an honored guest for many Hood events. She died in 2001 at the age of 101, being buried beside her husband. the Truxals' son, John G. Truxal, became a respected professor in his own right, going to M.I.T. and specializing in electrical engineering. Andrew Gehr Truxal left an impressive legacy, even if his name is little spoken today at Dartmouth, Hood, or Anne Arundel Community College. The latter two colleges are among the most renowned higher education institutions in the state of Maryland, with Anne Arundel being rated as one the best community colleges in the United States for the past several years. Anne Arundel also has a “Dr. Truxal Award,” celebrating students for achievements on both the sports field and in the classroom. In 1991, the Hood student body dedicated the pergola at the center of campus in Truxal’s name. A beautiful piece of work, the pergola symbolizes the unity of the Hood community, a place where bonds are created and enhanced. It has even been the site of more than a few wedding proposals. Hood legends state that friends should not “split the poles'” or else risk bringing bad luck. Andrew Truxal would have been proud. In his own way, Andrew Truxal was a turner, improving the character of his students, whether he was a teacher, writer, or administrator. Like a woodturner, his influence may not be obvious, but he forms a fundamental part of the local legacy and image. Through all his tribulations, Andrew Gehr Truxal truly lived up to his family name.
Special thanks to Mary Atwell, Archivist at the Hood College Archives, for her assistance with this article. |
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