Georgia Institute of Technology - Blueprint Yearbook (Atlanta, GA)

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By the turn of the century I saw the establishment of the degrees of Elearical, Civil and Textile Engineer- ing and the completion of two new dormitories, Swann and Knowles. At that time the annual state appropria- tion had reached the then ponderous figure of $40,000. ' Prominence, But it was in the next two decades At Last that I saw Tech truly come to life and claim its rightful place as an outstanding institution of higher learning. In these twenty years were established nearly all the traditiofls that are handed down to the future. It was during this time that academics began to develop, that people began to carve niches for themselves, that sports came into prominence and that as a whole, the campus began to mold itself from a meaningless group of buildings into a spirited, glowing physical plant known as ' the flats. ' Since an educational institution is devoted primarily to the academic development of its pupils, Tech did not neglect this phase of growth during this age of pros- perity. New degrees of Chemistry ( 1906), Architecture (1907), Commerce (1915), Commercial Science and Industrial Education ( 1917 ) were offered and the cam- pus was dotted by the addition of new buildings includ- ing the Lyman Hall Laboratory of Chemistry and the Carnegie Library ( 1906), Joseph B. Whitehead Memo- rial Hospital, Y. M. C. A. Building and New Shop Building ( 1910), West Stands of Grant Field ( 1915 ) and the Mechanical Engineering Building (1920). By 1920 the annual state appropriation had risen to $125,000 and the student enrollment was over 2,200. Bur numbers did not account for the standing that Tech had acquired in Georgia and the South. These t ' o dec- ades composed the era in which Tech grew from a divi- sion of the University of Georgia to an independent in- stitution offering the finest engineering education in the South. Tech Notoriety However all this is not handed to an institution. I watched as men worked, studied and strove so that their dream of future growth and prosperity for Tech might become a reality. As I look back I see the faces of such men as Emerson, Skiles, Robert, Freeman, Griffin, Coon, Field, Smith, Heisman and Alexander. It was these men, who as stu- dents and faculty members, devoted time, energy and talents so that future generations could profit from their efforts. That Georgia Tech was fortunate in having as its first two deans such men as William H. Emerson and W. Vernon Skiles is indeed an understatement. For me to elaborate on their personalities would hardly do them justice; for words can never capture the warmth of heart, the enthusiasm nor the profound state of presence these men possessed. Among my more noteworthy students are included George C Griffin, L. W. (Chip) Robert and Y. Frank Freeman. The contribution that these men have made to Tech directly and indirectly has been astounding. Chip ' Robert, Class of 1909, received Georgia Tech ' s first Distinguished Service Award in 1934. The citation read by President M. L. Brittain perhaps best describes this man. The faculty of the Georgia School of Technology believe rather in earned than complimentary degrees. However, we expect to give meritorious service awards annually to the alumnus marked by eminence in his field and unusual devotion to the institution. Therefore, today, it is my pleasant duty to present the first of these to Lawrence Wood Robert, Jr., who through the elearic spark of individuality is better known as Chip ' Robert. In our opinion, he is the finest example we have of devoted service to the Georgia School of Technology. Year after year, he has expended time and effort in be- half of this institution and his love has not been lessened by reason of his work as one of the South ' s leading engi- neers or his more recent elevation to the high position of Assistant Treasurer of the United States. Another Distinguished Service Award recipient was Y. Frank Freeman, Class of 1910. Told, You ' ll never make an engineer, upon graduation, he took the advice

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I From my constant vigil on the famed ' hill ' I have observed every facet of Tech ' s great history. I have seen students enter wide-eyed and dumbfounded and leave possessing the finest engineering education the South has to offer. I have seen faculty members come and go, each in his own way having contributed something to my story. And I have seen Tech athletic teams graciously accept the acclaim of victory and yet hold their heads high in defeat. Enter Tech My inauspicious entrance on the Georgia scene came about in 1888 through the efforts of three men — the Honorable Nat E. Harris, at that time representative from Bibb County and later governor; Major John F. Hanson, industrialist and manager of the Macon Telegraph; and Dr. Isaac S. Hopkins, president of Emory University and Tech ' s first president. On Oaober 7 of that year my doors opened to one hundred thirty students seeking the degree of Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. In 1890 I saw my first two graduates, G. G. Crawford and H. L. Smith.

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and went into the motion picture industry. Today he is Executive Vice President of Paramount Pictures, Inc. In addition he has also served as president of the Na- tional Alumni Association of Georgia Tech and as a trustees of the Georgia Tech foundation. Receiving the Award in 1939, Y. Frank Freeman today stands as one of Tech ' s best loved products. His most recent achieve- ment is the winning of the first annual Jean Hersholt Award for Humanitarian Services on Oscar night (March 27, 1957) in Hollywood. George Clayton Griffin needs no introduction to any- one. Entering Tech in 1914, he did not receive his de- gree in Civil Engineering until eight years later. Part of the time element was due to the First World War, in which he served as an ensign in the Navy, and the remainder due to a legendary difficulty with chemistry. As a student he played several sports, with football and track being the most prominent. As a member of the ' Heroic Ragamuffins, ' the Tech scrubs, he played on the only team to defeat the ' Golden Tornado. ' Active in campus affairs, he was a member of ANAK, Omicron Delta Kappa, and Pi Kappa Phi fraternity and, of course, charter member and president of the Sackbrain Club. In 1920 he began his long tenure on the coaching staff interrupted by eight years of similar work at Georgia State College for Men and McCallie School. In 1930 he returned to Tech where he served as track coach, assistant football coach, associate dean of students, place- ment officer and faculty member. Since 1946 he has served as Dean of Students. Today George C. Griffin has become a living legend at Tech. His service to the school is surpassed only by his ability to keep an audience on pins and needles with his riotous speeches. His office is always open to anyone, either industrial magnate or flunking freshman, and the customary greeting is Whaddaya want, boy? He has probably visited the city jail more than anyone except the police chief in order to get his troublesome fledg- lings back on the right side of the bars. No matter what the problem George Griffin can solve it. His interest in each and every student has established him as an out- standing tradition and won for him the appropriate title of Mr. Georgia Tech. ' Of course, with all this greatness must exist the un- derlying, developing force on the campus. Truly Tech has been endowed with some of the finest educational men to ever teach in the South. Among my memoirs are the names of many who have made considerable contributions to the development of my sons, but per- haps those who stand out most are the names of Coon, Field and Smith. John Saylor Coon was selected as first head of the School of Mechanical Engineering and served in this capacity until his retirement in 1923. Known for the forceful impression upon his students. Dr. Coon had a boundless personality bolstered by a tremendous sense of humor, a love of nature and amazing originality. Said several graduates, Senior year, spent in almost daily contact with Dr. Coon, was most inspiring, most edifying and the happiest of one ' s life. Dean Floyd Field began his service as a mathematics professor. Promoted to Dean of Men and later Dean of Students, his greatest service was in the form of coun- selling the students, particularly among the fraternities. He was named Dean of Men in 1935 and later Dean of Students, where he remained until his retirement in 1946. A brilliant conversationalist, a traveler, a lover of the good earth, the man with the white goatee left a huge dent in the administration. Perhaps the most legendary and most recently known professor is Dr. D. M. Smith, mathematics professor and head of the Mathematics Department from 1935 until 1951. His fame was due to many factors, all of which add up to greatness in a professor. Since the early days of the school, he has been the most interesting and the most talked about professor on the campus. In the middle 1940 ' s he was seleaed by a student vote as the most popular teacher on the campus. His immense sense of humor largely accounts for his success but fellow faculty members will vouch for his class-room efficiency. «