This background information about J. George Becht is quoted directly from Samuel A. Farmerie's book, "Clarion State College: A Centennial History":
"Principal Becht, born in Lycoming County (1865) served from August 1904 to January 1912. According to the Williamsport Daily Sun, Principal Becht was a former principal of the Lycoming County Normal School at Muncy, a former four term superintendent of county schools (Lycoming County), and at the time of his appointment, head of the Department of Education and Psychology at the West Chester State Normal School. Professor Becht held a Bachelor's and Master's degree from Lafayette College and while principal received honorary doctorates from his alma mater as well as Bucknell University."
"During Becht's principalship the curriculum was further strengthened although the effects were not felt until after he left office. In 1910 the course of study was completely revised and changed to four years thus placing the normal schools on a par with the four year high school. The curriculum became operative in 1913. Students who had attended first or second class high schools were admitted with advanced standing. All other entrants took the four year course."
"Enrollment increased almost as spectacularly during the Becht administration as it had during the tenure of A.J. Davis. In 1904-1905 registrations totaled 392. Enrollment rose to 650 in 1911-1912, an increase of about 65 per cent."
"Becht left Clarion to become Secretary of the State Board of Education in January 1912 and 11 years later became Superintendent of Public Instruction, a position held until his death in 1925. His educational prowess was well known. He was also eulogized for his humanness. According to the Pennsylvania School Journal of June 1925 " ...the chief qualities stressed by those who knew him best were his fineness of character and his genial, warmhearted love of his fellow man." In his honor, Navarre Hall was renamed Becht Hall."
