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VOL.
HE HELPS PLUCKY BOYS TO START UPWARD
INSPIRING LIFE-STORY OF B. B. COFFEY, WHO HAS COME “UP FROM THE RANKS” TO THE PRESIDENCY OF THE GREAT
SOUTHWESTERN PUBLISHING CO.—A STUDENT ’S ELOQUENT TRIBUTE TO THE MAN WHO STARTED HIM ON UPWARD WAY
F the man who “makes two grass blades
grow where he found one growing be
fore” is a real benefactor of his time,
then the man who can dig up the shin-
gr
ing jewels of battle and purpose in the heart
of a worthy but discouraged school boy, and
help him to believe afresh in God and human
ity and in the marvelous possibilities of self
help and educational victory—that man, Is a y,
is a tonic to tired souls, a necessity to civiliza
tion and a positive benediction to humanity 1
Touching mankind at many different angles,
I am always looking for such men and “glad
I be” when I find one. I know the product.
It doesn’t take me long to recognize the elec
tric thrill when I get in touch with the battery.
And Coffey is an Inspiration.
I found such a man not long ago in Nash
ville. Going to “Princely Paris,” Tenn., on a
lecture trip, I stopped a few hours in Nash
ville and found myself invited to address a
stalwart class of summer student workers in
the assembly room of the famous Southwest
ern Publishing Company—that company which
put out the unique books of the illustrous Dr.
George A. Lofton and which has done
to help struggling students get on their feet,
push on through college and succeed in the
world than any other agency in the South or
perhaps in America.
I saw that B. B. Coffey, while-clear as a bell
on all points of business, was far more than
“Mr. Strictly Business” —he is the center- of
the great “solar system,” and around him
his hundreds of workers in his offices at Nash
ville, Macon, Waco and Kansas City and far
out on the busy field revolve around him in
■»ov and love and life “like satellites aiount.
the sun. ’ ’
From “Old Mississippi.”
I determined at once to give a brief story
of the life of this great constructive friend
of youth for the inspiration -of the readers of
The Golden Age.
Reared in North Mississippi, “far from the
maddening crowds ignoble strife,” back where
when one attended a “party” he had to sit on
his hat if he didn’t want to lose it, Mr. Coffey
was deprived of a father’s guidance very early,
but not too early to store up in his mind some
of the impressions that took hold of him and
erystalized a purpose as fixed as life itself,
ATLANTA, GA., MAY 29, 1913
By WILLIAM D. UPSHAW, Editor.
and when you add to such a purpose the inspi
ration and prayerful interest of a saintly moth
er, something must happen in that boy’s life.
On account of a plentitude of adversities,
he did not begin his struggle for an education
until he had reached his majority. His efforts
against great odds to secure an education did
the work —well, suffice it to say that when a
young man sits down in front of this man and
begins with, “I would like to, but don’t think
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I can,” Mr Coffey gently tells him a few
things out of his own experience and the fel
low soon feels like going out with both hands
tied and tackling a Mexican bull!
Soon after leaving college, young Coffey
made the acquaintance of a young man selling
books for the purpose of maintaining himself
in college. Mr Coffey readily saw the good to
be accomplished, the opportunity to plucky
young men, and the unlimited possibilities of
the subscription book business, not only in
helping students get an education, but in put'
ting wholesome literature in homes.
With his characteristic energy, he began a
house to house canvass. His results were com
mensurate with his efforts and he rose steadily.
In a few years he was made manager—mana
ger of “The Southwestern,” the. com
pany of its kind in this country.
What Coffey Believes.
“My success is due largely to my unbound
ed faith in the results of hard work and my
confidence in others to do what I have done.”
That is the way B. B. Coffey puts it.
Speaking to the writer of his love for his
work, the great-hearted friend of youth said:
“The merit of the publications and the meth
ods employed by my company make the oppor
tunity for securing the means to attend col
lege, within the reach of any deserving young
man. I positively love the task of setting a
young fellow on fire and seeing him gradually
unfold to a full realization of his own powers
and his worthy ambition.”
A Student's Grateful Tribute.
Meeting in Nashville Mr. Bebe Boswell, now
a field manager whom Mr. Coffey “discover
ed” and developed, I urged him to write me
a little story of how B. B. Coffey found him
and inspired him to his present success. And
snatching the time from his hustling band of
student workers in South Georgia, he wrote the
following glowing tribute to his “discoverer”
and brother-benefactor:
“The Influence of B. B. Coffey Upon My Life.”
While a student in Peabody College at Nash
ville, Tenn., it became necessary for me to look
for employment during the vacation in order
to get back to school. This was the occasion
of my calling at the offices of the Southwest
ern Company and meeting Mr. Coffey, who had
recently became president.
It was in his private office that I first met
him, and I shall never forget his cordial greet
ing. He impressed me at once as a friend to
young men. He seemed to understand me,
appreciate my situation and had faith in my
efforts. He showed me the opportunities of the
book business, going into every necessary de
tail. He emphasized the advantages the work
offered college men in travel, visits of historic
places, and study of human nature —the bene
(Continued on page 6.)
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