p 1375

THOMAS B. SULLINS.
The standard of excellence among educators all over the country is being raised higher and higher, and especially is this true in Illinois, where the people are so proud of their public school system. One of those who have been prominent in the educational field of Clinton county for some years is Thomas B. Sullins, superintendent of the schools of the city of Trenton, and editor and half-owner of the Trenton Sun, an independent newspaper devoted to the best interests of the community. Mr. Sullins is a native Missourian, having been born in Ripley county.

He received his early education in the public schools of Madison county, after graduation from which he became a student of the Western Normal College, at Bushnell, Illinois, and subsequently took the course in the Eastern Normal School at Charleston and Austin College, Effingham, from which he was graduated in the class of 1905, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He then became principal of the ward schools of Effingham, a position which he held for three years, and eventually became superintendent of the city schools of that place, and in 1910 he came to Trenton, where he had been appointed superintendent of the city schools. Since accepting this position Mr. Sullins has made numerous improvements in the school system here, agricultural and bookkeeping courses being added to the curriculum in 1910, and in 1911 a complete commercial course. He is a man of high ideals, a deep student and thinker and an efficient educator, a man who can truly be said to have found his work. He is not satisfied that the educational methods of yesterday will do for tomorrow, but is constantly laboring to better conditions in every way, realizing that many improvements are to be made before the system will have become perfect. He is popular alike with associates and pupils, and has numerous friends in Trenton. The Trenton Sun is an up-to-date, wide-awake sheet, containing clean, breezy articles, pithy local news items, and well-written editorials, Mr. Sullins wielding a virile and trenchant pen. The paper is recognized as one wbich wields a great deal of influence and does much to mold public opinion in this part of the county, but has not given its allegiance to any political party, its proprietors preferring to take an independent stand.

On August 22, 1902, Professor Sullins was united in marriage with Miss Daisy Gullick, of Alhambra, Illinois, and they have been the parents of three children, namely: William Perry, Hattie Fern and Ruby Marguerite. Politically Mr. Sullins is a Democrat, but he has never cared for public office. In fraternal matters he is associated with the Modern Woodmen of America, Trenton Lodge. For fifteen years be was an adherent of the faith of the Presbyterian church, but later joined the Christian denomination, having served for several years as supermntendent of the Sunday school of the Trenton church, which his wife also attends. She was born in Sebastopol, Madison county, Illinois, May 21, 1880, and is a daughter of William and Frances (Berthous) Gullick, both of whom were born near Highland, Illinois. Both Professor and

p 1376

Mrs. Sullins are well and popularly known in the society circles of Trenton, where they have a beautiful home.