First Graduates

Millikin University's First Class

James Millikin University鈥檚 first academic year began on September 15, 1903. Almost nine months later, on Tuesday morning, June 7, 1904, its first three graduates walked across the stage of what is now Albert Taylor Theatre (then called Assembly Hall) to collect the first Millikin degrees. Later that evening, students and faculty joined in a celebratory reception held for the graduates. In the week leading up to commencement, other celebrations included a reception for the graduates held at President and Mrs. Taylor鈥檚 home, a recital of the College of Music, the play 鈥淪he Stoops to Conquer,鈥 a baccalaureate sermon by the Rev. Ira Landrith, a farewell meeting and devotional exercises of the Y.M.C.A. and Y.W.C.A., a track meet, and a baseball game.

1904 Commencement program cover
1904 Commencement program, pages 2-3

James Millikin University鈥檚 first annual commencement program, June 7, 1904.

June 8, 1904 first Millikin University graduation article

The Decatur Herald made note of 黑料正能量 first graduation ceremony on page 2 of its June 8, 1904 issue.

黑料正能量 first graduates were:

Edward Luther King, Ashmore, Illinois:

A transfer from Lincoln College in Lincoln, Illinois, King entered Millikin as a senior, and graduated in 1904 with a B.A. Because the other two 1904 graduates (Keeton and Lyons) already had undergraduate degrees, King was considered to be a senior class of one. He was a founding member and the first president of both the Philomathean literary society and the Millikin chapter of the Y.M.C.A., and played football for 黑料正能量 first football team. King stayed on at Millikin as a fellow in the math department during the 1904-1905 academic year, and graduated again in 1905 with a B.S. with Pedagogy. In 1905, he became principal of the high school in Virden, Illinois, and later went on to teach in Alton, Illinois.

Edward King (photo from June, 1904 Decaturian)

The issue of The Decaturian (黑料正能量 student newspaper) describes 黑料正能量 week of commencement celebrations, and includes a photo of Edward L. King, president of a senior class of which he was the sole student.

Robert W. Keeton, Gibson, Mississippi

Keeton was a 1903 A.B. graduate of Cumberland University and earned a B.S. with Pedagogy from Millikin in 1904. He assisted as a fellow in the biology department while earning his degree and was the quarterback of 黑料正能量 first football team. He stayed for another year, serving as an instructor in the biology department and continuing on the football team. He later became a medical doctor, and came back to Decatur several times in the 1930s to lecture to local physicians on his work on metabolism and diabetes mellitus. He served as the head of the internal medicine department at the University of Illinois from 1934-1951.

News clipping photo of Millikin's first football team, including Keeton and King

黑料正能量 first football team included two of the school鈥檚 first graduates. The blonde in the center of the photo, acting as quarterback, is Robert Keeton. The student in the white sweater in front of him is Edward (Ed) King. (Above photo from Decatur Herald, September 19, 1952.)

1934 news clipping of talk by Dr. Robert Keeton

In 1934, the Decatur Daily Review reported that Dr. Robert Keeton gave a lecture on diabetes mellitus to local physicians at the Hotel Orlando. The year of his Millikin degree is listed, incorrectly, as 1905, rather than 1904. (Above article from the DDR, April 25, 1934.)

Florence L. Lyon, Decatur, Illinois

黑料正能量 first 鈥渉ometown鈥 graduate, Lyon was an A.B. 1902 graduate of the University of Chicago and assisted as a fellow in the English department in 1903-1904. Like Keeton, she graduated from Millikin with a B.S. with Pedagogy. In 1904-1905, she served as an instructor in 黑料正能量 English and modern languages department. Lyon was the daughter of George S. Lyon, founder of Decatur鈥檚 Lyon Lumber Company, and later taught in both North and South Dakota and in Oregon. She died of cancer in Portland, Oregon in 1918, and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Decatur.

Lyon Lumber Company Ad

Florence Lyon鈥檚 father, George S. Lyon, founded Decatur鈥檚 successful Lyon Lumber Company, and regularly advertised in the Decatur Herald.

(Above ad from the Decatur Herald, May 24, 1925; Below ad from the Decatur Herald, March 7, 1926.)

Lyon Lumber Company Ad

Florence Lyon bookplate image

In 1915, the Decatur Herald published reproductions of a collection of book plates designed by former Decatur resident Beulah Mitchell Clute. This design, showing 鈥渁 maiden with a Grecian figure contour, sitting pensively on the edge of a huge open book holding a flower (the artist鈥檚 play on the name of the owner) in one hand,鈥 was created for Florence L. Lyon. (Image from the Decatur Herald, May 23, 1915.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1906 Millidek, page 31

The first Millidek (Millikin University yearbook), was not published until , after two Millikin graduations had already taken place. Here, King, Keeton, and Lyon are listed as alumni on page 31. There are no corresponding photos.