Virginia Military Institute - Bomb Yearbook (Lexington, VA)

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yxyyyyVw V y y y V y jVyyyyyyy General Cocke William H. Cocke was born at City Point, Virginia, September 12, 1874. He received his primary education there, but, at the age of fourteen years, went away to high school in Staunton, when 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 Commandant, 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 Volunteers. 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 con- nection 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 gen- eral 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 over-seas in 1918, resuming his business in St. Louis, Missouri, upon his discharge. The Board of Visitors elected General — then Major — Cocke superintendent of the Virginia Mil- itary Institute in 1924; he assumed the duties of that office and has continued as superintendent for the past five years. 24