Virginia Military Institute - Bomb Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

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COl WILLIAM CMmi COL.C.A, OCRBVSMIRE M)HWISTRAr jy STAFF m MJ . '

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General Cocke William H. Cocke was horn at City Point, N ' irginia, September 12, 1S74. He received !iis primary education there, but, at the age of 14 years, went away to high school in Staunton whence he entered the Institute in August, 1890. General Cocke graduated as first stand man and first Jackson-Hope medalist in the Class of 1894, continuing his military life for three years as Com- mandant, Kemper Military Academy, Booneville, Missouri. Upon resigning that office he studied law for a year at Washington University, St. Louis, but his course was brought to a close by the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, during which he held a commission as first lieutenant, 4th Missouri ' olunteers. With the termination of the war General Cocke received his discharge and took up the practice of law in St. Louis, later becoming President and General Manager of the St. Louis (Michigan) Chemical Company. Continually developing a closer connection with the chemical industry, he organized the Commercial Acid Company, known as the Southern Acid and Sulphur Company after 1918, and took up the duties of president and general manager, at which he attained noteworthy success. At the entrance of the United States into the World War, General Cocke was a major in the Missouri National Guard, 35th Division; he was sent overseas in 1918, resuming his business in St. Louis, Missouri, upon discharge. The Board of Visitors elected General — then Major — Cocke superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute in 1924; he as- sumed the duties of that office and has continued as superintendent for the past three years.

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Maj ' r General Edward West Nichols B.S., C.E., LL.D. Superinlendent Emeritus Lecturer on Pure and .1 pplied Matlicmatics Ciraduatcd from V. M. I. as cadet lieutenant and fourth distinguished graduate of Class of 1878. Assistant instructor in mathematics, ' 78- ' 8r, pursuing parallel course in law at W. L. and U. Va. Summer school. Practiced law at Norfolk, ' 8i- ' 82. Professor of Engineering at V. M. I., ' 82- ' 90, and Professor of Mathematics, ' 90-07. Author of Nichols ' Analytic Geometry and Nichols ' Differential and Integral Calcu- lus. Associated with New York Central Rail- road since 1903, also associate in International Railway Congress. Member of Virginia Geo- logical Society and of Society for Promotion of Engineering Education. Formerly President of National Association of Military Colleges; mem- ber of Committee of College Presidents and of State Geological Commission. Chairman, Vir- ginia Council of Defense during World War; awarded certificate by the Government in recog- nition of services during period of S. A. T. C, Superintendent of V. M. I., 1907-1924. Resigned 1924; Superintendent Emeritus and Lecturer on Pure and Applied Mathematics since that time. Col. Hunter Pendleton M.A., Ph.D. Professor of Chemistry Born at Frederick Hall, Louisa County, ' ir- ginia, January 22, 1858. Student, Aspen Hall Academy, Louisa County, ' 82- ' 85. Student, Uni- versity of Virginia, receiving M.A. degree in ' 81. Post-graduate student in Chemistry, I ' ni- versity of Virginia, ' 82- ' 83. University of Got- tingen, Germany, ' 83- ' 86; receiving degree of Ph.D. Instructor, Tuft ' s College, Boston, ' 87- ' 88. Professor of Natural Science, Bethany College. West V irginia, ' 89- ' 90. Since 1890, Professor of Chemistry, V. M. I. ..