Young Colored Graduate

YOUNG COLORED GRADUATE
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Gets a Fine Position With a Railroad
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GEO. W. CONRAD, ‘02 LAW
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Gets Important Legal Position With the Pennsylvania Lines
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Some people have expressed their doubt of the ability of the colored man to fill a reliable position well and have been sarcastic about the future success young graduates among the colored race who have gone out from this University. A noteworthy case which should serve to awaken these few to the realization of the ability of the negro if he has the chance is that of Geo. W. Conrad, who was graduated from this University with the law class, and who has obtained a position of responsibility and dignity, rarely attained by his white college friends at so young an age, that of assistant to claim agents of the Pennsylvania lines west of Pittsburg. The following is a clipping from the Columbus Dispatch:

"George W. Conrad, of Richmond, Ind., is probably the only colored man in the country who holds an official position with a railroad corporation. Mr. Conrad was recently made assistant to claim agents of the Pennsylvania lines west of Pittsburgh, a position of much responsibility and one requiring a broad knowledge of railroad business and of the law. Conrad owes his success to his own perseverance and to the opportunities given him by his lifelong friend and benefactor, Colonel John F. Miller, of the Pennsylvania company. Conrad was born at Xenia, Ohio, where he attended the public schools for a limited time. He went to Richmond when a boy and became a messenger in the office of Colonel Miller, then superintendent of the Richmond division of he Pan Handle. He attended night school and took up shorthand, and in the office learned telegraphy. He became proficient in both, and was soon given a better position than messenger. In the offices of H. I. Miller, now general manager of the Vandalia; J. J. Turner, now third vice president of the Pennsylvania company; William Leeds, now president of the Rock Island railroad, last of whom was at the time superintendent of the Richmond division of the Pan Handle, Conrad served as stenographer and telegrapher. In 1896 he left the railroad service and entered Oberlin college, and after a three years' course went to Ann Arbor and entered the Michigan University. He graduated last year with a class of 236 and was one of the class orators. He has been admitted to the bar in Michigan and Indiana, and is a lawyer of ability. From October last until February he was private secretary to Colonel Miller as commissioner from Indiana to the St. Louis fair, and then was called back into the railroad service.