Essex Finney at Graduation Day at VPI, June 1959

Essex Finney at Graduation Day at VPI, June 1959

Essex Finney at Graduation Day at VPI, June 1959. Lady on right, Mrs. Janie Hoge, Blacksburg, Virginia. Her husband, William is to the left of Essex Finney. When Essex was admitted to VPI in June 1956, he was advised by the Director of Admissions that: "it has been arranged for you to live with Mrs. William Hoge whose address is 306 E. Clay Street. This is an excellent home and you will be taken care of in the very best way. Mrs. Hoge furnishes room, board, and laundry at the rate of $60 a month." Black students were not permitted to live on campus at that time. Four black students lived with Mrs. Hoge between 1956 to 1959. Essex graduated from VPI with honors in 1959 and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U. S. Army. Essex Finney was one of the first Black students at Virginia Tech.

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