In this edition. .. McCullough is Founders Day Speaker . 2 Sports Hall of Fame inductees ............ 3 The VMI Foundation's highest honor, the Distinguished Service Award, will be presented this year to Frank A. Liddell, jr. '49B and Charles S. Luck Ill '55. Liddell and Faculty Member dies .......................... 3 Luck are alumnus whose records of exceptional professional achievements, civic contributions and service to the Institute have brought credit to VMI and its alumni. Modern Languages receives gift .......... 3 Luck and Robert Liddell, who will accept the award for his father, will receive the awards and address the Corps, the faculty and staff of the Institute and other guests "Tree of Honor" Dedication ................ 4 during the Founders Day Convocation on November 11 at 9 a.m. in Cameron Hall, then take the review at the Founders Day review parade at 11 a.m. The honorees and Thanksgiving holiday schedule ........... 4 their families will also be special guests at The Institute Society dinner on Nov. 10. Frank A. Liddell '498 - Liddell is a native and resident of Houston, Texas. He Book by Oliver available ..................... 7 graduated from VMI with a bachelor of science degree in chemistry. He was a member of the wrestling team and the Glee Club, a staffer on The Cadet, the Turnout and the Scholarship fund established .............. 7 BOMB, and held (for two weeks) the rank of corporal. During his cadetship, he probably was best known for his accomplishments as a member of the track and cross country Theatre presents "Stocking Stoffers" . 7 team, which he captained during the 1948 season. That same year he was undefeated at two miles and became the Southern Conference Champion at that distance. In 1973, Continued on page 6 Merry Lexington 1997 ........................ 7 BUNTING ANNOUNCES PLAN New employees ................................... 7 FoR VMI FoOTBALL SuccESS Arena dedicated to VMI "Legend" ....... 8 In a press release of Nov. 4 and a subsequent press conference Nov. 5, Major General josiah Bunting Ill, Superintendent at VMI, said today that he intended to restore VMI football to its successful tradition of almost two decades ago. Tau Beta Pi inductions ....................... 8 "We're going to fix this thing and begin the work of reconstruction right now. You have seen Navy and Army and Northwestern do it, and do it in accordance with the Potpourri ............................................ 9 academic and other requirements imposed by their standards. We can too, and we will. During the next two months, and with the counsel and work of many members of our family and Boards, we will review the situation and take the necessary steps. This Theatre schedules auditions ............... 9 is a school that educates successful people; successful people address problems like this. It's not rocket science." Jones participates in research ............ 9 The school intends to examine every aspect of the football program, from current scheduling to recruiting, to facilities, coaching and athlete retention, nutrition and weight programs. "I am intensely committed to success for football as I am for all Fastbreak Club luncheons ................. 11 sports at VMI," said Bunting. The Keydet football team, currently playing in the Southern Conference, the nation's Athletes of the Week ......................... 11 best NCAA Division 1-AA conference, is in the throes of a 0-8 start in 1997. VMI has suffered through 16 consecutive losing seasons and has won no more than four games in any season since 1982. 1997 Winter Sports schedules .......... 11 VMI's Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Davis Babb has authorized a consultants' review focusing on football and the broader impact of athletics on the entire school. VMI Calendar of Events .................... 12 "It's not only a matter of measuring our success in terms of games won and lost. It is a matter of making sure that our teams are given the same degree of support- in Continued on page 2 2 The Institute Report November 10, 1997 McCULLOUGH IS FOUNDERS DAY SPEAKER David McCullough, noted biographer, McCullough has received the Charles historian, lecturer, and teacher will speak Frankel Prize from President Clinton and at this year's Institute Society dinner and the National Endowment for the Founders Day Convocation. McCullough Humanities for his contributions to the is author of six widely-acclaimed books, humanities. He is the winner of the including Truman, one of the most popular National Book Foundation Distinguished American biographies of all time and Contribution to American Letters Award, twice winner of the National Book Award winner of the Pulitzer Prize. and twice winner of the prestigious McCullough is the president of the Frances Parkman Prize. He has received Society of American Historians and is a the Samuel Eliot Morison Award, the St. founding member of Protect Historic Louis Literary Award, the Cornelius Ryan America. He has been honored with the Award, the Los Angeles Times Biography Photo by William B. McCullough Pennsylvania Governor's Award for Prize, and the New York Public Library Excellence in the Humanities, the Canal; Mornings on Horseback (1981 ), Literary Lion Award, as well as an Emmy Pennsylvania Society's Gold Medal, the the I ife of young Theodore Roosevelt; and for his work in public television. Harry S. Truman Award for Public Service, Brave Companions (1992), essays on To millions of television viewers a Guggenheim fellowship, and has been heroic figures past and present. McCullough is also known as the host of elected to membership in the American Truman, McCullough's monumental "The American Experience" and narrator Academy of Arts and Sciences. biography, a work of ten years, has been of numerous PBS documentaries including Born in Pittsburgh in 1933, called a masterpiece of American The Civil War. McCullough was educated there and at biography, "distinguished," "riveting," A gifted public speaker, McCullough Yale, where he was graduated with honors "plain wonderful." "You may open it at has lectured in all parts of the country and in English literature in 1955. He holds any point and instantly become abroad. He has lectured at the White twenty honorary degrees and has taught fascinated," wrote The Economist. An House as part of the White House presidential lecture series and is also one at Cornell University, Dartmouth College unprecedented national best seller - 43 of the few private citizens ever invited to and the Wesleyan University Writers weeks on The New York Times best-sellers speak before a joint session of Congress. Conference. list in hardcover, 24 weeks in paperback McCullough serves on the board of His first book, The johnstown Flood, - the book played an important role in trustees for the Boston Pub! ic Library, the published in 1968, was followed by The the 1992 Presidential election, bringing National Trust for Historic Preservation, Great Bridge (1972), the story of the the life and character of President Harry and the jefferson Memorial Foundation. building of the Brooklyn Bridge; The Path S. Truman to the attention of both He lives in West Tisbury, Mass. with his Between the Seas (1977), an epic candidates and to the nation. To date it wife Rosalee Barnes McCullough. They chronicle of the creation of the Panama has sold more than a million copies. have five children and ten grandchildren. ANNOUNCEMENT continued from page 1 training, facilities, recruiting and so on -that the teams of our rivals are provided," said Bunting. "I am afraid that we have not been doing that as well as we should." 'arbe 3Jnstitute laeport While the reformation has begun, General Bunting will continue to gather details and meet with all segments of the VMI community throughout the remainder of the Editor: .................................... Burton R. Floyd, III year. In early january, he will hold a summit jointly sponsored by the Institute and the Supervising Editor: ..........•...... Col. Mike Strickler VMI Keydet Club, the organization charged with athletic scholarship fund raising at Contributing writers: .......................... Chris Clark the school. The conference will bring together key alumni, members of VMI Boards, Tom Joynes and athletic and administrative personnel to develop the plan for victory in VMI athletics. Maj. Chuck Steenburgh Printed by: The NeW!l·G:~tte, Lexington, Va. "Success and winning are synonymous with VMI graduates," said Bunting. "We The Institute Report js published by the Public can have nothing less than these for our intercollegiate athletic program." Relations Office. fiighdssue~areprinted during the The Superintendent noted that this fresh commitment comes at an appropriate academic year. Inquiries, sugg · · ns, ornews items time. During ceremonies at VMI on November 8 honoring former head football coach should be di~'~to Editor, titute Report, john McKenna, the VMI Keydet Club will announce that it has exceeded its goal in a VMI Public Relations Office, Lexington, Virginia 24450-0304. $1,000,000 campaign for the Coach john McKenna Fund Drive. The campaign is in Telephone 540-464-7207 memory of Larry Wertz, VMI '67, who played under Coach McKenna and was the Fax 540-464-7583 catalyst for the fund drive. Interest from the fund will be used for football scholarships. E-Mail: [email protected] November 10, 1997 3 FACULTY MEMBER DIES Patricia Baxter Gallagher-Evans died October 12 at her home following an illness. Mrs. Gallagher-Evans was a member of the VMI faculty since 1994 and instructor of mathematics and computer science. She was 55 years old. A resident of Lexington, she was active in the community, as a member of the Rockbridge Literacy Volunteers and the R.E. Lee Memorial Episcopal Church. Mrs. Gallagher-Evans was born in Maryland. She received her B.S. degree from Louisiana State University in 1964 and M.A. from San Francisco State University in 1974. Before joining VMI's faculty, she was a math instructor at N.C. State University and, after coming to Robert E.