Virginia Military Institute - Bomb Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

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)Ni;i. Kennetii Sixn.Aiii I ' iudik Professor uf Mathematics ( (H.ONEI. SaMIEL MoHEHEAD MlLI.NEK Professor of French, Head of Department of Modern Languages

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I N this 77th Eilition of the Uomb, one of the south ' s okiest college annuals, we have atteniijtcd to recognize more than ever before those individuals and groups which through their achievements have brought crciiil not only to themselves but also to the Institute. vWH • « ' -a» dividuals and groups we are beginning to take a closer look at that intangible . . . the Sjjirit of VMI , for it is through the actiuns of olher outstanding men over the last one hundreil and twenty-two years that it has been given growth and meaning. We n]K- that we have inaugurated a new ])olicy for Bomb ' s of the future, because in singling out those in- 175655

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In this year of Centennial Celebration, the Class of 1961 wishes to express its gratitude, as well as that of the Corps, for the combiiicil century of service pro- vided the Institute by I wo of its more outstanding faculty members, Colonel Kenneth S. Purdie and Colonel Samuel M. Millner. It is to these two note- worthy sentlenieu tluit the 1961 Bomb is dedicated. Colonel Purdie entered the ' irginia Filitary Institute in 1909 and graduated in the Class of 1912 with a bachelor of science degree in civil engineering. In Wl -lS he was an instructor at Wenlworth Military Academy in Lexington, Mo. Colonel I ' linlie was at VMI as instructor in Mathematics and Post Adjutant from 1913 to 1915. He was commissioned in the V. S. Army in 11)16. While an officer in the Army he was Professor of Military Science and Tactics and Conunandant of Cadets at YMI from January to October, 1919. Colonel Purdie resigned his commission in the V. S. Army in 19 ' 26 and returned to V NII as Assistant Professor of Mathematics. He was on leave of absence on active duty with the V. S. Army in World War II, 1941-45, attaining the grade of Colonel. He rejoined the faculty of VMI in 1945 as Professor of Mathematics. In June, 1958, Colonel Purdie was presented a reso- lution of appreciation from the VMI Athletic Council recognizing his 45 years of service to MI athletics. Colonel Purdie, who played football as a cadet, served for 23 years as a member of the old connnittee on athletics, and from 1951 to 1957 he was chairman of both the faculty committee on athletics and the VMI Athletic Council. Colonel Millner became a cadet at the Virginia Military Institute in September, 1907, and four years later was a distinguished graduate in the Class of 1911, receiving a bachelor ' s degree in electrical engineering. As a cadet he was a private an l a corporal in B Company, an F Company Sergeant, and in his First Class year was a lieutenant in D Company. He was a member of the staffs of The Cadet and The Bomb, a member of his class Ring Committee and of the gym team. After graduation in 1911 he returned to VMI and served as an instructor in French from 1911 to 1914. In 1914, he left VMI for graduate study at the University of Wisconsin, where he studied for two years. He received an M.A. in French in 1916. Returning to VMI, he spent the year 1916-17 as assistant professor of French, leaving the Institute in 1917 to enter the military service of World War I. In September, 1919, he returned once more to VMI and has been a member of the faculty since that time. In 1930, he was named a full professor of French and head of that department. He did further graduate study at the University of Wisconsin during the sum- mer sessions of 1933, 1934, and 1935. In September, 1956, he was promoted from head of the department of French and German to head of the Department of Modern Languages. Tiiis year. Colonel Millner retires after a half century of his life spent at the Institute.