College of William and Mary - Colonial Echo Yearbook (Williamsburg, VA)

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Book I. College Book II. Classes Book III. Features Book IV. Athletics Book V. Acti ' ities Book VI. Organizations

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To one who Kas so generously enriched our Alma Mater; who has so freely gi ' en to erect upon this campus a Memorial gymnasium in order that a sound mind may come to dwell in a sound body ; who has thus become a peerless benefactress to the Ancient College of William and Mary in Virginia; To Mrs. George Preston Blo ' pJ, Gracious Woman, Philanthropist, and Friend this annual is gratefully inscribed.

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George Preston Bl ow Sailor, man of att ' aii-s, friend of William and Alary, George Preston Blow was born at Norfolk, i ., in I860, and was graduated from the Naval Academj ' in 1882. A survivor of the Maim disaster, Air. Hlow ' s career as a uaval officer was active and interestin;;-. lie resigned fi ' oiii tlir snviee in 1900 to enter business. In 18i);i Air. Blow had married Miss Adele Alatthiessen, of La Salle, Illinois, sc that when he retired from the nav.y, he became connected with various busi- ness and indu.strial enterprises in this thriving mid-western city. At the time of his death, he was president of the Western Clock Company, of La Salle. Air. Blow was always and everywhere a patriotic Virginian. He bodied forth his affection for the Commonwealth by purchasing the Thomas Nelson house at Yorktdwn, and converting it from decay into the beautiful Yoi ' k Hall. which is to lay one of the show-places of the state. By works as well as faith. Air. Blow i roved himself a lover of this college. He set aside a scholarship in honor of his father and his grandfather, both graduates of Willam and Alary. He made a contribution to the Alonroe Ale- morial Dormitory. He died in 1922 anil lies buried in Arlington Cemetery. The George Preston Blow Alcmoi ' ial G.vmnasium. the gift of his wife, will periietuate on this campus the life and zeal of a typical Aniei ' ican and Virginian. Page Sine