Mr. Horatio G. Bent was born in Louisiana in 1857. Later, his family moved to Bloomington and Bent graduated from the law school at Illinois Wesleyan University. Bent was first elected to the School Board in 1893, serving until 1896, then elected in 1898, serving as President of the Board until 1917. In April 1917, he became Business Manager, serving until he was elected Secretary in 1929, in which capacity he was serving at his death in June, 1931. In all, Horatio Bent's service to Bloomington Public Schools spanned thirty-eight years.
The Pantagraph quoted Superintendent McDowell as saying: "Mr. Bent gave almost a lifetime of service to the public schools. He was one of the most popular and widely known school administrators in Illinois. He was a citizen who gave a life of unselfish service to the children and citizens of the community. The school buildings of the city give evidence of his efficient and care in management and construction. He was a man of thorough integrity and could not be purchased for any price.'"
