The Nation, with a big assist from Springfield and Clark county, Ohio, paid tribute to 4-H Club work on January 15, 1952, the date of issue of the 4-H Commemorative Stamp.

Ceremonies honored A. B. Graham, Ohio pioneer who held a meeting of a boys and girls club on that date 50 years ago. Fifteen of the original club members were present for the occasion.

At a morning meeting at Springfield High School, Graham was presented an album containing a block of 50 stamps autographed by the Postmaster General. Osborne A. Pearson, Assistant Postmaster General of the United States, made the presentation to him and to representatives of 4-H local groups who collaborated in staging the celebration.

In accepting, Graham noted that the opportunity of licking stamps was a privilege denied the first 10 Presidents. In a reminiscent mood, he opined that in his 84th year he would be learning a new avocation, stamp collecting. At the same time, he said, it wasn't much different than his early work as school superintendent because he would still be licking and learning.

4-H'ers in the county were excused from school and made a standing-room-only crowd for the ceremonies. Junior leadership girls ushered, and Malcolm Bock, 1952 National 4-H Club Camp delegate who now also leads a club, led the 4-H pledge.

The Tecumseh High School band provided part of the musical program, with vocal help from Springfield High School Chorus and the Catholic Central A Cappella Choir. The chorus sang "A Place in the Sun" and "Dreaming," while the choir helped close the program with "The Lord's Prayer."

Noontime honors came from the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Wm. P. Wetherald, Zanesville, Grand Worthy President, presented The International Civic Service Award, a plaque and citation. The citation read:

To A. B. Graham, Citizen, Educator, Youth Leader and Pioneer Spirit, whose deep concern for the welfare and education of rural boys and girls has led to the development of the 4-H movement which has inspired more than 15,000,000 young farmer citizens to become better farmers, homemakers and community-citizens, we present our Grand Aerie Fraternal Order of Eagles, International Civic Award.

In the 54 years of this organization only 14 presentations have been made to such individuals as Charles P. Taft, Cardinal Francis J. Spellman, Dwight Eisenhower, Henry Ford II, Babe Ruth and J. Edgar Hoover.

In his acceptance Graham declared: "This recognition, as I see it, is much more for a cause resulting in what is now known as 4-H Club work than for any one individual connected with its initiation.

"Your order, by the ceremony of today, is recognizing the development of the character elements in the farm youth of this and 41 other countries around the world. You are recognizing citizenship."

Guests were entertained during the luncheon by three club members: Mildred Jenkins of the Tape Measurettes 4-H Club at New Carlisle played the marimba and Julianne McCarley and Nancy Crossland of the Thrifty Nifties of '51, from near Springfield, joined in several accordion duets.

Master of ceremonies for both events was Herbert A. Lannert, postmaster. He told the group that well over 400,000 pieces of mail bearing the 4-H stamp would be canceled that day. Biggest single mailer was the Stran-Steel Division, Great Lakes Steel Corp., with over 16,000 envelopes addressed to farm leaders throughout the country.

Graham was magnificent throughout the day, staying the afternoon for a meeting with local leaders and State and county Extension staff members. He described his early work, as chronicled in the recently published "The 4-H Story," a history of club work written by Franklin M. Reck.

He mentioned that plans were made in 1901 for this first meeting of the club in 1902--an out-of-school meeting so it would not be considered a part of the school program. So enthusiastic were the young people and the educators who learned of the work, that the idea spread and during the next four years 60 clubs were formed and membership grew to 3,000, Graham recalled.

In 1905 he was called to the State College as Ohio's first Superintendent of Extension.

The day's events were built around him, and, with amazing vigor of voice and mind, he carried the role well. He told the group that men over the centuries have searched for the fountain of youth, but that he has found it spiritually. Comments from those who listened showed they agreed that he had done so.

Graham told of his youth on the farm; of how he started very early in life to raise a pig, then the next year, two pigs, and how happy he was when he "graduated to calf-hood" the third year. He had helped his mother with her sewing, and, he told his audience, to prove that his interest was in girls' as well as boys' work, he had just made the dress which his granddaughter was wearing to this recognition ceremony.

He spoke, he said, as symbol of the work initiated 50 years ago by 85 boys and girls. Without good followers there will never be good leaders. From those early beginnings there has grown a great force for citizenship--the 4-H program. Development of integrity, trustworthiness, honesty, acting as well as telling the truth, cooperation with fellows, aspiration to prove themselves rather than merely to excel over another are but a few of the elements that make good neighbors and good citizens, he declared.

In closing the festivities, Robert Grieser, chairman of the program committee and president of the Clark County 4-H Club Council, pointed out an unexpected result of the cooperation required to stage the event. City folks had learned to know rural people and to understand some of their problems. The same was true for the rural groups. As a result, he forecast an even brighter future for both Springfield and Clark county.