Volume 11 , Issue 6

1936 - Alva Pioneer Dies In East

According to The Oklahoman, dated July 23, 1936, page 5, there was the headlines that read: "Alva Pioneer Dies In East" - "Doctor Ament Was First Head of State School."

This was over a year since he wrote an article for the Daily Oklahoman that appeared in the April, 1935 Issue concerning the burning of the Castle on the Hill, in Alva, Oklahoma.

This July 23, 1936 article mentions, "Dr. James E. Ament, 68 years old pioneer Oklahoma educator and first president of the Northwestern State Teachers college at Alva, died Wednesday in a New York hospital.

"At the time of his death, Dr. Ament was president of National Park Seminary at Forest Glen, Md. He had served there 15 years, having been appointed to the presidency of the school for life.

"Dr. Ament was one of Oklahoma's outstanding educators during territorial days 37 years ago. he designed the castle-like structure, which housed the Alva school and completed plans for a building which would have surpassed Windsor castle in size. The structure he designed was destroyed by fie in March, 1935.

"Many of Dr. Ament's student distinguished themselves nationally among those who studied under him was Gen. Hugh johnson, former Chief of the NRA.

"After leaving Oklahoma, Dr. Ament headed normal schools in Missouri and pennsylvania. he studied school administration at some of the largest universities in the United States and Europe."
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