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William R. Dorris Arrives In the midst of the buzz of activity which occurred in O’Fallon in the years just before and after 1900, a young 1894 graduate of McKendree College, William R. Dorris, arrived here to become the principal of O’Fallon Public Schools and also, soon after, first principal of O’Fallon High School. He had been lured from his position as principal of schools in Okawville where he also grew up. His arrival began a remarkable career in our city in both education and banking. Much later in life, in an address given to the listeners of Centralia radio station WCNT—AM, he said that he was chosen to head O’Fallon schools in 1899 “perhaps due to a lack of applicants or a desire to relieve the good people of Okawville where I had spent a very happy year as principal.” He received $10 more than the $65 per month that he received in Okawville. Dorris was surprised to find that the average age of students in the “upper room” was just under 12 in O’Fallon, versus over 16 in Okawville, and that studies here were “limited as to scope and caliber.” He noted that as O’Fallon grew so did the school population. More studies were added without additional teachers——not necessarily with the “knowledge and approval of all of the Board members.” "With the addition of new and higher studies, by persuasion and sometimes almost by force, students remained in school instead of going into the mines or stove foundry.” A new school became a necessity and was finally built in 1901—02 on the present site of Marie Schaefer School. It had 8 rooms and “was a further incentive to keep the boys and girls in school longer.” With the cooperation of the school’s 7 teachers, a two year high school was begun “despite continued opposition of a few contra minded persons, including a member of the Board who openly expressed his disapproval of educating other peoples children too highly at the taxpayers expense.” Nevertheless, the first class of O’Fallon High School was graduated on May 22, 1903. In gratitude, that first class gave Principal Dorris a rocking chair as a gift.
Next week—a closer look at W.R. Dorris.
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