cover.qxd 2/7/06 8:52 AM Page 1 TECHTECHTOPICSTOPICS Georgia Tech Alumni Association Spring 2006 CENTURYCENTURY of SINGINGSINGING GLEEGLEE CLUBCLUB CELEBRATINGCELEBRATING CENTENNIALCENTENNIAL quick read.qxd 2/7/06 8:59 AM Page 5 QuickRead TECHTOPICS 14 Century of Singing Vol. 42, No. 3 • Spring 2006 • gtalumni.org This ain’t your daddy’s Glee Club — or your granddaddy’s. On the cover, choral activities director Publisher: Joseph P. Irwin IM 80 Editor: John C. Dunn Jerry Ulrich gets the guys in tune for an April 3 Managing Editor: Kimberly Link-Wills Senior Editor: Neil B. McGahee concert at Spivey Hall that will officially launch the Editorial Assistant: Leslie Overman Georgia Tech Glee Club’s centennial celebration. Design: Ryan Giusti RESEARCH CENTER YERKES PRIMATE Crooning are, front row left to right, Tony Le, Joshua Alumni Association Executive Committee Lannu and Evan Moon and, back row, Christopher J. William Goodhew III IM 61 Smith and Colin Ake. Cover photo by Gary Meek Chairman Carey H. Brown IE 69 Past Chairman 12 Up to the Challenge Janice N. Wittschiebe Arch 78, M Arch 80 Chairman-elect/treasurer Ronald Yancey applied to Tech three times before he was admitted. He C. Meade Sutterfield EE 72 struggled to succeed at the Institute and help desegregate Atlanta’s lunch Vice chairman, activities counters — and become Georgia Tech’s first African-American graduate. William J. Todd IM 71 Vice chairman, Roll Call Walter G. Ehmer IE 89 19 New Orleans Renewal Al Trujillo AE 81 Joseph P. Irwin IM 80 President Wayne Clough is heading a national committee charged with President reviewing the work of agencies investigating the levee and floodwall failures in New Orleans during the onslaught of Hurricane Katrina. 22 Scientists check time on evolution clock. Alumni Association Board of Trustees Philip S. Armstrong Jr. IE 65 22 Evolution Clocks John C. Bacon IE 67 Georgia Tech scientists have attracted a barrel of media attention around Laurie D. Bagley IM 84 Laurie L. Baker AE 67, MS AE 68 the world with their research findings that suggest chimpanzees are more C. Perry Bankston AE 71, MS AE 73, PhD 76 MEEK GARY similar to human beings than they are to great apes. Bird D. Blitch IE 97 James R. Borders ME 83 Constance Callahan MS CP 93 24 Manners Matter Gina D. Carr IE 84 Do you get a second chance to make a first impression? Not in a job Steve W. Chaddick EE 74, MS EE 82 Tony S. Chan IE 94, MS Mgt 98 interview, says Marge Dussich, who teaches Tech students how to mind Jerry Cox EE 63 their p’s and q’s — and pass the peas. Karl F. Dasher IE 93 Thomas F. Davenport III IM 84 Susan M. Davis Biol 91 27 Giving Back Thomas C. DeLoach Jr. ChE 69 Stephen L. Dickerson Honorary Alumni Stephen Zelnak and Warren Batts have given seven-figure gifts to Joseph W. Evans IM 71 Georgia Tech to establish a dean’s chair, renovate and expand a practice Anne Wise Fuller ME 83, MS PubPol 93 gym and bring vital new technologies to the marketplace. Charles A. Hall ChE 85, MS ChE 88 James P. Harris ChE 70 George H. Hightower Jr. Text 71 31 Restored Glory Andrew T. Hunt PhD 93 Scott P. Jennings ME 89 Although some folks in Washington, Ga., thought it was impossible, Mike Thomas H. Johnson IE 71 Todd and his wife restored the 17-room, full-service Fitzpatrick Hotel to its LeShelle R. May MS OR 89 past splendor in just 18 months. Neal W. McEwen IE 71 William C. Mizell Mgt 87 S. Gordon Moore Jr. Mgt 92, MS Mgt 97 33 Purpose-driven Career Oscar N. Persons IE 60 Randall E. Poliner EE 77 Molly Schreck travels around the country helping perform acts of Anthony J. Priest EE 88, MS EE 90 31 Old small-town hotel enjoys new splendor. kindness as a producer of the A&E reality series “Random 1.” Magd Riad IE 01 Brittany A. Robinson ChE 95 Julie L. Swann IE 96 43 Illness Forces Braine to Resign B. Kenneth Townsend ME 64 After nearly nine years in the job, athletics director Dave Braine announced that Crohn’s disease was forcing him to step down, a move Advertising that initiated a national search to find a successor. Melinda McGuire (404) 894-0765 NEIL B. MCGAHEE E-mail: [email protected] 47 Networking Opportunities Alumni Association An improved job market and bright outlook have many companies recruiting more aggressively. That’s good news for job seekers who attend (404) 894-2391 the 23rd Annual Alumni Career Conference April 12. Departments 07 Mail Call 9 Alumni House 12 Living History 19 The Hill 24 Student Life 27 Giving Back 29 Bookmark TECHTOPICS (ISSN 1062-077X) is published quarterly 31 (Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter) by the Georgia Tech Alumni Burdell & Friends Association, Alumni/Faculty House, 190 North Avenue, Atlanta, GA 43 Yellow Jackets 30313. Periodicals Postage paid at Atlanta, GA, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to TECH TOPICS, 47 Real World Georgia Tech Alumni Association, Alumni/Faculty House, 190 North Ave., Atlanta, GA 30313. Georgia Institute of Technology is an Equal 43 Dave Braine announces his retirement. Opportunity/Affirmative Action institute. © 2006 by TECH TOPICS. TECHTOPICS | SPRING 2006 5 letters.qxd 2/8/06 12:10 PM Page 7 MailCall RAMBLIN’ JEEP Numbers Count usinessWeek magazine’s Jan. 23 Bissue featured a cover story titled “Why Math Will Rock Your World.” It’s a fascinating look into how math is being utilized today in ways that have never been considered before. One of these new ways is in attempting to model human behavior so that marketers can find better, more effec- tive ways to uti- lize their market- ing investments. John Wanamaker (1838-1922) is gen- erally recognized as the father of the department store. He had a couple of notable quotes that you’ll recognize. First and perhaps most famous is “the customer is always right.” Wanamaker also said, “Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is, I don’t know which half.” Mathematicians are working with other professions at companies like Google, Yahoo and IBM in efforts to Army 1st Lt. Mac Bryan, IE 03, thought some of his fellow 82nd Airborne Division soldiers stationed with him in Iraq were play- learn “which half.” ing a practical joke when they reported a vehicle with Georgia Tech and Alpha Delta Pi decals was stopped at a checkpoint. A There’s plenty of data for the stunned Bryan had his photograph taken after recognizing that the 1994 Jeep Cherokee had belonged to a friend, doctoral stu- number crunchers to study. Modern dent Tracey King, Mgt 02. King also was surprised when she saw the photo of Bryan and her old Jeep posted on an Internet day databases hold remarkable infor- message board. She last saw the Jeep when it was being towed away after an accident that badly damaged the SUV in 2001. mation about all of us. Using algo- rithms built to assess our tendencies gives insight into behaviors. Some Greetings Cheer Troops editions of the Technique and TECH and children were heartfelt, the math pioneers are even finding ways TOPICS. Techniques and TECH TOPICS were to translate language into math and ore than 450 Georgia Tech Among the letters in the packet great, and I really like the U.S. flag thus build models to deliver appropri- Malumni, faculty, parents, was one from Susan Sappington of and Georgia Tech pin. ate information to those interested. students and staff sent holiday Marietta, Ga., who wrote, “The It looks like I will be retiring The article goes further and pro- messages to Tech military personnel Christmas my late husband, Michael from the Air Force and returning to vides a sidebar about the math that serving overseas. E-mails from as far Lake Sappington, IE 70, was flying the States next summer. I hope “you need to know.” When I showed as Australia and Mexico were F-14s over North Vietnam was quite Georgia Tech continues this program this to my high school freshman collected, according to Amy a memorable one. You will also have to make our overseas family daughter, Jennifer, she looked at me Lancaster, Parents Program manager such a holiday this year. Be assured members feel a little closer to home like I was ill and walked away, iPod in at the Alumni Association, who there are many Georgia Tech friends during the holidays. hand. organized the effort. cheering for your safety and well- LT. COL. MIKE MCCARTHY, IE 83 Front and center in the sidebar was “Our Web department built the being. You make all of us so deeply Seoul, Korea calculus. Of course all Tech alumni have site so the Tech community could proud of your continued brave some knowledge of the subject. The submit online holiday greetings to work.” I WISH TO THANK Amy Lancaster article states: “To sidestep calculus is to our alumni deployed overseas,” she The letters elicited favorable and the Alumni Association staff for slam shut doors to growing realms in said. “The response was great. We responses from alumni serving organizing the campaign to deliver the 21st century job market, including made a 34-page book of greetings overseas, among them: holiday cards and letters from many of the most lucrative.” and sent copies to our Yellow Jackets Georgia Tech alumni and friends to I’ve been in the for-profit and non- serving around the world.” I RECEIVED A CARE package from deployed service members overseas.