Virginia Military Institute - Bomb Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

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' MS IHfejigig teS te ?:5G :yC5 :? : 5! ?S THE INSTITUTE

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JiLB Ml hi i ' K HIS EXCELLENCY, E. LEE TRINKLE (Governor of Virginia) Commander-in-Chief Board of Visitors Mr. Robert W. Massie Lynchburg, Va. Mr. J. O. Winston Richmond, Va. Mr. Thomas R. Keith Staunton, Va. Mr. Harry H. Holt Hampton, Va. Captain Montgomery B. Corse Lexington, Va. Colonel Joseph Button Richmond, Va. Mr. Roy W. Sexton Wytheville, Va. Mr. W. W. Boxley Roanoke, Va. Mr. R. B. James Danville, Va. i Members of the Board ex-Officio General W. W. Sale, Richmond, Va. Hon. Harris L. Hart, Richmond, Va. Adjutant-Grneral of rirginia Suf nintnninit of Public Instruction 253

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n ni fei i v-yA ' y.yy.vTi The Progress of V. M. I. ,1 1°TX ? L ' STOMS are deeply rooted at V. M. I., but precedents established L ' (I l 5= y P ' ' ° ' blindly followed in shaping the plans and policies n 5 i r ' S s| ° the future. Such an institution as V. M. I. must naturally be con- fj ' ] ( servative, but the conservatism practiced at the Institute is tempered l j jj with rational foresight and proven innovations. Consequently, the history of V. M. I. If] I ■ has been one of achievement and constant progress. i ' ij Beginning in 1839 with a corps of thirty-two cadets and a few mediocre buildings, ti the Institute now boasts of a corps of six hundred and fifty, and all the buildings are not only adequate, but have been rendered up-to-date. In addition to these a con- structive building program is being constantly carried out. In the past few years great improvements have been made in the form of the Alumni Athletic Field, new academic buildings, Jackson Memorial Hall, and a thoroughly modern addition to barracks which includes an alumni hall. However, the accomplishments of the past have not caused the sons of V. M. I. to gloat in inactive contentment, but have spurred them on to greater efforts. Never did a school have more loyal alumni than has V. M. I., and to them the ¥i Institute owes much of its progress. They have worked unceasingly for the better- ' ' ' S ment of their Alma Mater, and certainly they can point to the fruits of their labor with pride. In October, 1924, General Edward West Nichols resigned as superintendent of V. M. I. after having rounded out fifty years of service — true service which was synony- imous to advancement for his beloved institution. It was he who planned constantly for the promotion of V. M. I. along every line, and his was the energy and ability B that turned dreams of greatness into actualities. P Now a new era of progress has started. General William H. Cocke has taken ' ' ' command, and he is striving to better V. M. I. in every way. Already the academic standard has been raised, athletics are being placed on a sound financial basis, the most modern systems of military instruction are being employed, and the R. O. T. C. is intrenched at V. M. I. as at no other college in the country. A landscape architect has been employed with the view of beautifying the grounds and of selecting suitable sites for future buildings. Construction on a new gymnasium will begin before the present term is over, and thorough laboratories for engineering courses will be pro- vided. The library is being steadily expanded, and means are being provided for an extensive building program in the near future. J r Although V. M. I. is steadily expanding and broadening, it remains, as it always S [i has been, a molder of real men, valuable to the nation, not only in time of war, but in . ' 3 ' 1 time of peace as well. Xv g