1976 BLUEPRINT GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY ATLANTA, GEORGIA VOLUME MA TECH: Historic, Unique — Enduring She hasn't changed much through the years. From that first October in '88 her arduous academic regimen has tested the perseverance of many a student.

For those who survive her hardships, and even those who grace her with only a brief stay, Tech offers a life steeped in the traditions of a colorful past. Her students, always imaginative, have adorned her with a wreck parade, teased her with a missing "T," blessed her with a student named George P. Burdell, and bestowed countless other distinctions upon her, making life at Tech special.

And life at Tech is special. A strong engineering orientation and years of male predominance have created an atmosphere quite unlike that of other schools. The curriculum has diversified; women have arrived, but only at Tech can one still find classes changing to the cry of a factory whistle and homecoming displays that are mechanized wonders.

This BLUEPRINT hopes to give a glimpse into the unique people, traditions, and academics of . It begins with a brief pictorial view of the school today and a short history of Tech's origins. With this background, the book's attempt to portray one year at this school may gain meaning, for only with an understanding of the past can the present be fully appreciated.

CONTENTS

ORIGINS 18 STUDENT LIFE 32 ORGANIZATIONS 82 BEAUTIES 130 ACADEMICS 142 SPORTS 196 GREEKS 270 CLASSES 350 INDEX ADS 454

Copyright OD 1976 by Gerald H. Clark and the Board of Stu- dent Publications, Georgia Institute of Technology. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the editor or Publications Board. ORIGINS

Georgia School of Technology: 1888

The leading objective of the school With money granted from the state, two will be to teach the principles of science, buildings were constructed: the shop and especially those which relate to the Foundry Building and the Academic mechanic and industrial arts." In 1888, Building. Dr. Isaac S. Hopkins was with these words, a prospectus of the appointed as president. Having wanted to Georgia School of Technology introduced establish a technical college as a part of aspiring students to the newly built institu- Emory College at Oxford, Dr. Hopkins had tion in which they would soon enroll. met repeated resistance. He gladly left the The idea of a technical school in the office of President of Emory to take over State of Georgia was first voiced between the inception of this new state school. two men, Major J. F. Hanson, manager of On Wednesday, October 4, 1888, the the Macon newspaper, and Nathaniel Georgia School of Technology opened its Edwin Harris, soon to become a legislator doors. Eighty-four students were present to the Georgia Assembly. With the help of to register. By January of the following editorials sponsored by Major Hanson and year, the enrollment had increased to 129, other journalists in the state, Mr. Harris and the school, so long just a dream, had was finally able to gain the support for the become a reality. The academic traditions establishment of the Georgia School of that are such an integral part of Tech were Technology from the Georgia Legislature. not long in starting, for only 28 of the Bids were let out for the location of the October class graduated. school, and Atlanta, backed by $70,000 ABOVE: Old Shop Building and Academic Building from the city and a citizen's committee in 1888. ABOVE, RIGHT: Knowles Building, one plus a $2,500 yearly support guarantee, of Tech's first dormitories, at the turn of the cen- was awarded the privilege of becoming the tury. FAR RIGHT: Campus view in 1920's. RIGHT: Early shot of the Mechanical Engineering new school's home. Building.

Ads placed in journals throughout the state caught the eye of many a prospective Tech student in those early years. But, then as now, the requirements for entrance were rough, especially in a state such as Georgia that had few accredited high schools at the time. In 1888, Georgia Tech required arithmetic, "including ele- mentary principles, fractions, compound quantities, percentage, interest and pro- portions," as well as English, geography and history. By March 1891, an appren- tice class was established for the purpose of preparing students, whose previous aca- demic opportunities had been limited, for entry into the Freshman Class. Even these aspirants, however, had to pass an entrance exam. They weathered through such questions in 1911 as: 1) If a metal is 11.2 times as heavy as water, how many cubic inches of water will weigh as much as 51/2 cubic feet, 800 cubic inches of the metal? 2) Simplify the following: (a-1) — [— ( — [ — ( —a + 1) —13] — a) —13] 3) Tell when and how America was discovered. 4) Name three prominent statesmen of the Confederacy and tell what you can of their public career. But, despite a warning in the 1888 pro- spectus: "There will be no elective courses, each student being required to taught by the likes of the famous Dr. Coon follow the prescribed courses, both and Mr. Henika. As described in the 1911 mechanical and scholastic," farm boys catalogue, its purpose was "to enable the and city slickers took the exam, passed, student to acquire some skill in the use of and enrolled at Tech. These lucky ones, carpenters tools in the making of joints in however, were not long at college before wood." From there, as a freshman, the letters began arriving at home complain- student progressed to lathe work, to smi- ing of the vocabulary of German, the theo- thshop, and to foundry work. And, of ries of calculus, the rigors of shop. Tech course, the student was not paid. The had started early in making the academic school sold his products to obtain more life of her students trying. By 1911, a desperately needed money. Sometimes, sophomore ME student faced a weekly however, the slaving student obtained the load of fourteen hours of class and sixteen satisfaction of using his own creation. Stu- hours of lab, some of which was on Satur- dents in smithshops, the catalogue proudly day. proclaimed, "make a very great number of The most intriguing series of courses useful articles such as razors, carving sets, were those in shop, earning for Tech the drawing knives, andirons, hammers, etc." nickname "North Avenue Trade School." In the mode of the times, students in engi- neering were expected to compliment their ABOVE: Textile laboratory in the A. French Build- class studies with practical experience in ing. ABOVE. RIGHT: Sailors as students at Tech building items with their hands. Appren- during WWI. FAR RIGHT: E.E. laboratory. RIGHT: Products from Woodshop put on display. tice students began with Woodshop,

22 Georgia Tech! The North Avenue Trade School "Boys, Ignorance Is Very Popular"

The outstanding faculty drawn to Tech dealing with the students he loved. During satire." Students worked diligently, if played a dominant role in her early his- his long regime, one of the favorite student sometimes fearfully, under his sharp eye, tory. Perhaps the most famous is Dr. John stunts was stealing the whistle. To remedy and with his guidance they crafted many a Saylor Coon. He considered himself a pro- the problem, Dr. Coon initiated the prac- chair, table, or cabinet. fessor of ethics for he believed an engi- tice of charging each student 10 cents, no Uncle Heinie like Dr. Coon, his contem- neer, entrusted with the safety of so many meager sum at that time, whenever the porary, liberally spread his philosophy people when designing structures, should whistle vanished. "We collected $45 this during classes. He frequently advised, be the most honest man in the world. He time. A new whistle costs only $5, you can "Don't be a saucer, be an oil can!", mean- drilled his students not only on the princi- see that it is a money making proposition ing he explained, one shouldn't be like a ple of mechanical engineering, for which for the school." It was quite a spell before saucer that overflows readily, but rather he would always demand the "technical the whistle was again disturbed. one should be like a narrow necked oil can answer," but on the proper philosophy for His grey beard, a familiar sight on cam- that holds much and drains slowly. And an engineer. "Boys," he stated, "igno- pus for fifty years, was the hallmark of for those graduating he gave a final warn- rance is very popular," and ignorance he other well-known and beloved faculty ing: "Keep your mouth shut. In that way combatted. member, John Henry Hanika, more popu- you can learn without letting your boss Known throughout Atlanta as an expert larly known as Uncle Heinie. He arrived at know how much you don't know." in his field, he was often called upon when Tech first in 1892, and, except for one Giving up his post at 85, Uncle Heinie a new invention reached town. With the short spell, presided over the woodshop turned to research, and until his death at arrival of one of the first automobiles, Dr. for the next half century. In 1908, the 95, continued to spread his good humor to Coon made this observation, "young gen- BLUEPRINT staff wrote, "Mr. Henika any student needing to be comforted. For, tleman, I have just seen a machine - to was a strict disciplinarian, and woe to the Uncle Heinie believed, as his desk plaque which they have harnessed many horses. It Freshman whom he spied lounging or talk- stated, "There's Nothing Worse Than a smells like a Chinaman, runs like hell, and ing after his edict of 'tention! had gone Sour Old Man." they are going to teach all the college stu- forth. That luckless wight was sure to be ABOVE: Graduating exercises in 1917 with Gen- dents, women, and colored delivery boys summoned before the tool room window, eral as speaker. ABOVE CENTER: to drive. They are going to kill more peo- there to be sentenced to a cut or extra Uncle Heinie. ABOVE, FAR RIGHT: Dr. J. S. ple than all the wars in history." shoptime, or, at the very least, to be expo- Coon. FAR RIGHT: Lyman Hall around the Dr. Coon displayed a keen insight in sed to the stinging shafts of Mr. Henika's 1920's. RIGHT: Georgia Tech's faculty in 1899.

24

"Insubordinate Senior": Rebellion in 1901 If a student had to select one word Considering this grossly unfair, the entire spirit in those eighteen men. which would characterize Georgia Tech senior class (18 students) rebelled and Student life has changed quite a bit over student life, he would probably choose the remained home one extra day. Despite the the years. Students of the past would prob- word "difficult." But, although the diffi- desperate pleas of the students and their ably experience culture shock if they were culty of withstanding life at Tech has not parents, Hall promptly suspended the to encounter the present; students of today changed, the manner in which Ma Tech entire class one month and required them would surely find the rigors of the past manages at times to make life unbearable to work until November to get their diplo- unbearable. But all along, as shown by the has. mas. The students managed to finish, "Insubordinate Seniors," the sometimes The Tech student's life at the turn of probably feeling no great love for Hall all trying life at Tech has fostered a spirit uni- the century was one of regimentation. He the while, to graduate, and to return each que to this one place. rose at 6:30, ate breakfast at 7:00, and year to Tech, if physically able, until 1961. The strictness of one stubborn ABOVE RIGHT: Class of 1898. BELOW RIGHT: went to bed at 10:30. Consent from the Sigma Nu Fraternity, 1908. BELOW: A student at administration had to be obtained before administrator fostered an unusual class Tech in 1920's. he could leave campus, ride a bicycle, or attend the theater. From supper until lights out, he was required to stay in his room and study. And, the rooms them- selves were inspected daily for order and cleanliness. Personal cleanliness did not seem to matter, however. Tech's first experiment with dormitories was two eight room, stove heated, wooden shacks. These dorms — one might have to stretch his imagination to use that word — were equipped with one sink for the sixteen residents. It is not surprising then that the boys of Tech began to feel that an item such as laundry, at 50 cents a week, was not essential. More than one student minimized washing costs by wearing his overalls for shop until they became unbearable, at which time he started wearing his second pair until they reached a condition that made the first pair look clean again. Chapel, fifteen minutes every morning and an hour, the "big chapel," on Friday, was compulsory. But students were not as willing to abide by this rule. Attendance soon had to be taken, and offenders were sentenced to do a little extra work: laying concrete sidewalks, breaking pig iron, or shoveling coal for four hours. Perhaps one of the most illustrative examples of student life in the early days of Tech is the story of the "Insubordinate Seniors of 1901." In that year, President Lyman Hall required that students return from Christmas break on New Year's Day.

26

A Bag of Wind WHAT THE WINDS FLUTTER White and Old Gold WHAT THE WINDS WHISPER ve — vi — ve — vo — ve — vi — vo — vum! Johnny get a rat trap bigger than a cat trap! Bum — bum! Hannibal — cannibal — sis — boom — bah! Tech of Georgia — rah — rah — rah! Tech — e — ty — reck — reck — reck! Tech — e — ty — reck — reck — reck! Boom — rah! Boom — rah! Georgia Tech! Bow — wow — hi — yi! Hot — cold — wet — dry! Get — there — E — li! Tech! WHAT CAUSES WHITLOCK TO BLUSH (Sung only on the bleachers) I wish I had a barrel of rum and of sugar three thousand pound, A college bell to put it in, and a clapper to stir it round. Like all good honest fellows, I take my whiskey clear; I'm a rambling wreck From Georgia Tech, and the of an engineer. Oh, if I had a daughter, sir, I'd dress her in white and gold, And take her on the campus to cheer the brave and bold; But if I had a son, sir, I tell you what he'd do — He'd yell like for the Georgia Tech, like his daddy used to do. I'm a of a, of a, of a, of a of an engineer; I'm a of a, of a, of a, — of a — of an engineer: Like all good honest fellows, I take my whiskey clear; I'm a rambling wreck From Georgia Tech, And the of an engineer. (Owing to the melting of the type, it has been impossible to print the parts of the above song represented by blank spaces.) Tradition: The Personality of Georgia Tech Tradition is one of the major factors Tech's first yearbook, the 1908 BLUE- down one of the campus streets. that sets Georgia Tech apart from other PRINT. Through the years, it became one Animals have also played a unique part schools. Tech traditions are unique out- of the nation's most popular fight songs. It in Tech history. Stumpy Thomason, a fine growths of the bold spirit of the campus was used in a Broadway production, was halfback of the "Golden Tornado" era, and feel little influence from without. sung by Nixon and Krushchev at their his- somehow acquired a pet bear. Dean They are often quite comical and some- toric meeting, and was broadcast in the George C. Griffin describes this bear say- times simply the adventures of an auda- world's first radio dance, organized by ing that he was as smart as most Tech cious band of students. Most traditions, Tech alumnus, Arthur Murray. students with all the bad habits of modern however, are the result of accident or evo- Tech's version of the homecoming youth. He liked his beer as well as his lution, and their origins can be difficult to parade, the Ramblin' Reck parade of Coca-Cola. He adored out-of-town football trace. mechanical monstrosities, is equally uni- trips and showers in hot weather." This Perhaps no other part of Tech's herit- que. In 1929 and 1930, Tech students bear, in his nightly wanderings, was the age has become so famous or has meant so held an old car race from Atlanta to Ath- cause of many a shocking incident. Side- much to her students than the Ramblin' ens. This event, coupled with the pride of ways, a black and white mongrel, arrived Wreck song. Arising from an old folk mel- Dean of Students Floyd Field in his 1916 on campus in March, 1945. Thrown from ody, Son of a Gamboiler, the song's origins Ford, led to the first parade in 1932. a car in front of the Varsity, she walked at Tech remain shrouded in mystery. An Gradually, the competition moved from a with her forefeet about fifteen degrees out alumnus has insisted that it was sung as simple circling of the Grant Field track to of kilter from her hindlegs. For the next early as 1892, and it was published in the long haul on Homecoming morning two years, she lived in a different dorm room by night, was bailed out of the dog pound by Tech students, and visited classes where she would fall asleep if the professor she came upon was uninterest- ing. One of the most ingenious and beloved of the school traditions is a famous model student, the projection of every Techman's imagination. He is none other than George P. Burdell. George was born in the fertile imagination of an engineering scholar around 1920. Eternally diabolical, Burdell got his start in life when his anonymous creator began obtaining duplicate test papers and completing them. Gradually, faculty members came to accept his exist- ence, and other students began to support the new legend. Burdell subscribed to countless magazines but never paid his debts; he constantly voiced his opinion in the Technique and profusely wrote love let- ters. He has studied at Harvard, partici- pated in twelve bombing missions over Europe with his Eighth Air Force, and enrolled in every class offered at Tech. Despite his obvious qualifications, how- ever, his attempt to graduate was unsuc- cessful, and he seems destined to be a Tech student forever.

ABOVE, FAR LEFT The 1908 BLUEPRINT'S version of the Ramblin' Reck song. ABOVE, CEN- TER: Cross country run, predecessor of the fresh- man cake race, in 1918. CENTER: Cakes baked by faculty wives for cross country run, 1918. FAR LEFT: Georgia Tech's first band. LEFT: Hog and Hominy Parade.

29

Heisman, Alexander, and the "Golden Tornado" Georgia Tech is a football school. Amid came to Tech from Clemson and immedi- The next two coaches for Georgia Tech all their famous traditions, their academic ately led the team to an 8-1-1 season. Heis- did not have the long careers of the first prowess and their extracurricular genius, man was a dramatic and dominating man, three; nevertheless, they kept alive a tradi- Tech students have always taken delight in a Shakespearean showman with a love for tion. None of Tech's coaches have lost showing the rest of the colleges in the locker room proverbs and innovative strat- more games than they have won. Bud Car- nation that they can beat them on the play- egy, and he was a winner. In his sixteen son took the Jackets to two bowls in his ing field. Today, many people sadly recall years at Tech, he won 101 games, lost 28 five years and Bill Fulcher won the Lib- Tech's recent mediocre records, and they and tied 6. Moreover, he never suffered a erty Bowl in his two years of Tech coach- wistfully recall the past glory of the early losing season. ing. fifties, pronouncing Georgia Tech football When Heisman left Tech, neither the It would be impossible to include much and therefore Georgia Tech herself in campus nor the city knew what to do. For- more about the extraordinary characters decline. If one looks at the total story of tunately, the team knew, and they used and strategies of these men without writ- Yellow Jacket football, however, he will their influence to help William Anderson ing a book, and even more difficult to find that Tech has known far drier seasons Alexander step into the coaching slot. include the extraordinary men who played than the present and has bounced back Alexander had been an assistant coach under these coaches. Just a quick glance at even stronger than before. Tech's athletic under Heisman, and the team trusted "Old Georgia Tech football history, however, history has proved to be both colorful and Alex." His first years here were the victo- will show that Tech has tasted both shame unpredictable, and one can never rule out rious age of the "Golden Tornado" and and fame, and will taste them again. the possibilities of surprise. spanned the decade of the twenties. Dur- Today, Tech feels the nostalgia of the Georgia Tech football was born strug- ing the thirties, Tech once again went into Dodd era once more under Pepper Rodg- gling. For the first eleven years, 1892 to a slump. At the end of his career, however, ers, and people anticipate another Golden 1903, the school did not pay a coach, and during the peak of World War II, Alexan- Era. Perhaps it will be a few years coming, coaching was left to faculty members, out- d,r fielded three brilliant teams, which but a proud school is never down forever. siders, and even players. Tech therefore won 24 games and lost only 6. Who knows? Glory may come sooner than boasted only one winning season out of Once again, the next great coach came anyone expects. twelve; and in five of those losing seasons, forth from the staff of his predecessor. Tech did not win a single game. The Jack- Robert L. Dodd, the "Grey Fox," led the FAR LEFT: Early coaching staff, including John ets' very first meeting with the Bulldogs Jackets through twenty-two years of his- Heisman, extreme left, and William Alexander, sec- from the University of Georgia, whom tory with only two losing seasons. With his ond from right. CENTER: Buck Flowers, great half- they defeated 28-6, was in 1893. amazing confidence and brilliance, Dodd back of Tech's "Golden Tornado" in the years around 1919. BELOW, FAR LEFT: Early football When the administration finally brought Tech thirteen bowl games and game in Grant Field. BELOW, CENTER: Another decided to hire a full-time coach, they helped to build what most people now con- football game. BELOW: Ticket to Auburn game in hired the best. In 1904, sider the pinnacle of Tech football. 1923.