2019-03-07]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech. ]]> Jim Hatch, VT Stories]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech ]]> University History]]> 2018-03-19]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech. ]]> Rosemary Blieszner, VT Stories]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> University History]]>
In high school, Beamer was active in sports, playing football, basketball, and baseball, and graduated with 11 varsity letters. Football became his ticket out after several Roanoke Times articles piqued the interest of VPI coaches, leading him to sign with Virginia Tech. While here, Beamer majored in vocational education, played defensive back on the team, and started his coaching career at Radford High School. Upon graduating in 1969, he began teaching math at Radford High School in order to keep coaching.

His coaching career continued in 1972 as a graduate assistant at the University of Maryland, College Park, then moving to The Citadel for seven seasons. In 1969, he was hired as the defensive coordinator at Murray State University, and was later promoted to head coach. After six years as head coach, he was hired as head coach at Virginia Tech after a series of NCAA violations under the previous coach.

In this interview, Beamer talks about his years leading up to coaching at Virginia Tech, and his time here. His years rebuilding the team after first arriving, but then winning the Independence Bowl in 1993, leading to a streak in Bowls, culminating in the 1999 season. Bolstering the program’s academics, football rallying the school in the wake of tragedies, and what he’s learned in his twenty-nine years at the school. ]]> 2018-06-07]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech. ]]> Frank Beamer, VT Stories]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech ]]> University History]]>
In this interview, Pat covers her life and education before Virginia Tech, her work in feminist activism at the school – including establishing the Women’s Center – and working as the state coordinator for the Virginia Network of Women in Higher Education. ]]> 2018-03-05]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech. ]]> Pat Hyer, VT Stories]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech ]]> University History]]>
In this interview, Prim recounts her life as a pioneer of women in engineering. At Virginia Tech, she was one of six women in her class to begin, and one of three to graduate. She reflects on the isolation where her male peers and professors would intentionally oust her, despite her accomplishments and ties to the department. In her professional career, being discriminated against on the basis of her gender, but persevering. To end, she reflects on the changes in the university, particularly in relation to gender equality on campus.]]> 2018-03-27]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech. ]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> University History]]>
Growing up in Lee County, VA, Bill enjoyed all that his hometown had to offer him as a youth, including the outdoor activities and the great education he received before heading off to college. An only child, he was raised by two parents who valued education just as much as he did. His mother and father, both from Scott County, VA, were teachers as well, and that only made education much more important to Bill.



Although he knew Virginia Tech was where he wanted to attend, Bill actually began his higher education at the age of fifteen at a different institution, spending two years at Union College in Barbourville, KY, where he first discovered his love for chemistry. Before Bill decided on a major, he had thought about careers in many different fields, even music, as he is a jazz piano player who has performed in the French Quarter of New Orleans.
But after one semester of chemistry at Union under a very inspirational professor, Dr. Rupert Hurley, Bill decided that was it, and chemistry was what he wanted to study. After two years at Union, taking all the courses Dr. Hurley had to offer, the transfer to Virginia Tech made even more sense to Bill, because he knew he could further his education in chemistry here because of the strong programs in the sciences that the university offered.Three years later, Bill graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree with Honors in Chemistry, and too many memories to count. Some of Bill’s fondest memories were of a friend who purchased a fire-engine-red hearse from the Christiansburg Fire Department. They and their cronies rode to football games in the hearse, and once, because the police thought it was an official vehicle, they stopped the traffic for blocks and waved the hearse through all the way to the stadium.

While many of Bill’s memories of Virginia Tech stem from his time as a student, the first time he saw the campus was when he was in his early teens. His father, being an agricultural teacher, went to a conference at the university and brought Bill along, and he still remembers it very clearly.After graduating, Bill continued his education, earning a PhD degree in Chemistry at Georgia Tech, and moving on to work for a multitude of companies and universities, including what is now ExxonMobil, as well as the University of Texas. He also worked at AT&T Bell Laboratories from 1973 to 1985, where he first began to study vinyl plastics, and he’s now generally considered to be the world’s leading expert on the chemistry of these materials. His expertise in chemistry eventually led to a career at the College of William and Mary. There he worked as a Professor of Applied Science for sixteen years and was named the Floyd Dewey Gottwald, Sr., Professor of Chemistry (a Virginia Eminent Scholar chair) in 1989, later retiring to Emeritus status in 2006. In addition to this title, he’s achieved a countless number of honors and awards, including becoming the only scientist to be a charter inductee into the Southwest Virginia Walk of Fame. In addition to his academic career, he’s also fared well in his personal life, having met his wife of over 30 years, Sofia, on a flight to New Jersey. Sofia is an award-winning poet herself, having served as Poet Laureate of Virginia from 2012 to 2014. With her husband, she has edited and published a book titled How Will You Measure Life?, which is composed of inspirational talks and prayers written by Bill’s father, William H. Starnes, Sr.

Giving back to the university is also very important to the couple. The two have recently established an endowed graduate fellowship for Chemistry. In their estate, they have endowed fellowships for PhD candidates in the Department of English and a scholarship in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. The fellowships will help support research in their specific departments, while the scholarship will allow an outstanding student to attend the university. They’ve also created a charitable trust that will endow a senior professorship in the Department of Chemistry, which Bill and Sofia view as especially influential, as it will help to strengthen the department and allow students to have access to a world-class professor they would not have had the chance to study under before. In addition, they are active members of the Legacy giving society, which acknowledges those who have included Virginia Tech in their estate plans. They’re also members of the President’s Circle within the Ut Prosim giving society, which gives credit to donors who are leaders in philanthropy and giving to the university. The President’s Circle is the highest of the giving levels within Ut Prosim. Bill also serves on the Department of Chemistry Advisory Council and enjoys watching the university grow in terms of research and innovation.

Through all of his professional and personal successes, Bill still looks back on Virginia Tech as being an important part of his life. When someone says the words, “Virginia Tech,” the first thing to come to Bill’s mind is how dynamic and innovative the university is. He enjoys watching Virginia Tech continue to push forward and grow.

Bill also thinks of the community. He feels that the interactions between students and professors are much stronger here than at any other place, and he feels lucky to have attended Virginia Tech.]]> 2018-04-26]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> Bill Starnes, VT Stories]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> University History]]>
In this interview, Doug covers his early childhood before Virginia Tech, his years at the school, and life after as a professor of industrial engineering.]]> 2018-03-26]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech. ]]> Dr. Doug Montgomery, VT Stories]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech ]]> University History]]>
Anderson was born in Lynchburg, Virginia, and grew up in Amherst County. She attended the University of Mary Washington as an undergraduate and majored in mathematics and classical civilization. She was an active member of many organizations, including the service organization Circle K and several honor societies. Since the university had recently become co-ed and was home to mostly women, Anderson wasn’t exposed to gender inequality on campus. When she came to Virginia Tech for graduate school, however, her eyes were opened to the lack of female representation.

She graduated from Virginia Tech with a master’s in mathematics in 1982 and became a mathematics instructor here; she is currently a senior instructor. Throughout her time at Virginia Tech and in Blacksburg, Anderson has gotten involved with many social causes, especially those involving women’s rights and environmental issues. She has also been on the Blacksburg Town Council since 2006 and began her third term as vice mayor, the second female vice mayor in Blacksburg’s history, in January of 2018. Although Anderson had always been supportive of organizations advocating for social justice during graduate school, she had never been directly involved until she became an instructor. She was reading the New River Free Press, an alternative news publication, and decided to become a volunteer with the paper. Working with the Free Press was the catalyst that got her involved in community issues and made her well-known in the community. She was treasurer for the paper until it ceased publication in 2007. In addition to her work with the Free Press, Anderson became involved, and is still involved, with the Montgomery County chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW). In her position with NOW, she leads the Clothesline Project that is displayed semiannually on the Drillfield. The Clothesline Project raises awareness of gender-based violence in the community by displaying T-shirts decorated by victims of sexual assault and family members and friends of those murdered because of their gender or sexual orientation. Another issue that Anderson is passionate about is getting females interested in pursuing a career in mathematics. For about 10 years, Anderson was in charge of organizing Women in Mathematics Career Day, in which the Math Department at Virginia Tech invites sixth grade students to the university in an effort to get them interested in STEM fields. The program became a success and is still attracting many students to the university every year. Anderson is also on the Board of Directors for the Women’s Resource Center of the New River Valley and is a faculty advisor for the United Feminist Movement. Along with other efforts,the United Feminist Movement organizes the annual Take Back the Night rally and march, which, like the Clothesline Project, helps raise awareness of gender-based violence. Additionally, Anderson is a prominent member of the Blacksburg Town Council. She was first approached about running for Town Council in 2004. As a woman who grew up seeing men in positions of power, she had never considered running for office before, but she was encouraged by friends and decided to run for the 2006 election, in which she won a seat. She became vice mayor in 2007 and has since been re-elected three times. Although Anderson has seen positive changes at Virginia Tech, in Blacksburg, and beyond concerning gender, race, and sexual orientation, she acknowledges that there is still a long way to go. She finds inspiration in all of the community members who are actively involved and care about and want to improve the community. If they would all follow Susan Anderson’s example, Virginia Tech and the Blacksburg community would be a much better place.]]> 2018-03-05]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech. ]]> Susan Anderson, VT Stories]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech ]]> University History]]>
In this interview, Mayer talks about his time at VPI in the Highty-Tighties, working in dentistry, and his work being an active alumni. ]]> 2018-04-06]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech. ]]> Mayer Levy, VT Stories]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> University History]]>
She went on to do home-based counseling, worked with the Radford Women’s Resource Center, and earned her M.F.A. degree at Cornell University where she taught courses on African-American Science Fiction and Feminist Memoir. Now, she serves as Assistant Director for the VT Black Cultural Center, focusing on its restoration. Virginia Tech was the springboard for Williams’s career. Today, she gives back to the community she calls home in hopes of providing others with the opportunities to follow their dreams – just like she did.

Kimberly was raised in an Air Force family; she never stayed in one place for very long. While maintaining friendships was difficult, she was fortunate to visit different places and experience their cultures including Paris and Germany.
Her family prioritized education highly; from a young age, Williams knew college was guaranteed in her future. She has loved for as long as she can remember and aspired to be a poet despite her parents’ reluctance towards the idea.

The first time she visited campus she noticed a lot of diverse candidacy and students. Coming from a small high school class, Williams anticipated expanding her community, experiences, and identity. Virginia Tech’s beautiful campus and outreach contributed to her final decision to attend, as well as having Nikki Giovanni on the faculty. One of her first memories of attending Tech was noticing the strong sense of community and school pride in the area; the sheer volume of VT gear seen on locals was humorously “borderline cultish.”

Unfortunately, Williams felt intense pressure as a minority on campus, especially during a time when tensions regarding affirmative action. Her parents encouraged her to stick it out despite issues like feeling alienated and receiving degrading messages on her door. The Black Cultural Center served as a refuge where Williams felt like she could be herself; there she found like-minded people who shared her struggles and fears. The support system of the Black Cultural Center was so important to her and other students – it was a place where they didn’t have to worry about differences and could “just be.”
Despite struggles in the classroom, Williams had several professors and mentors who stood out to her, namely Nikki Giovanni.
The mentors she had helped to open her eyes to social justice and her own potential. One of her favorite memories from her undergraduate years at Tech is when she received the Women’s Coordinator of the Year for creating an international women’s organization after learning about issues in Sudan. Other fond memories include cooking for friends, enjoying dinner with mentors, and eating turkey legs at football games.

After graduation, Williams transitioned into a home based counseling job for a grueling seven and a half months before transferring to a job at the Radford’s Women’s Resource Center. Her counseling position taught her perseverance and patience with relationships; she had to navigate through racism and sexism in order to establish a beneficial rapport with her clients.

She then decided to attend Cornell University for graduate school after helpful recommendations from Nikki Giovanni and others. From there, she dabbled in teaching English and working in administration at Hamilton College. It came full circle when she returned to Virginia Tech to work in diversity, working specifically with student advocacy, support, advising, mentoring, and faculty collaborations. While she recognizes that diversity and inclusion at Virginia Tech have a long way to go, she is happy to have the familiarity and community of the university once again.
In the near future, Williams would like to see Tech offer development and support in queer studies, an infrastructure of diversity and inclusion, counseling staff, and fully funded programs for students to study abroad. She envisions incorporating arts into other areas of learning – turning STEM to STEAM. In her experience, if it were not for the support given by mentors and friends, Williams would not be where she is today. Now, she aims to be that same support for students who experience the same struggles she did. It is students that inspire her daily and motivate her to continue giving back.]]> 2017-03-20]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech. ]]> Kimberly Williams, VT Stories]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> University History]]>
While he was aware of some of his father’s experiences at Tech, Winston, Class of 1990, says that his father wanted him to have the freedom to form his own opinion of the school based on his own experiences there. He made the choice to attend Virginia Tech to receive a degree in marketing management after being contacted directly by Norrine Bailey Spencer, the Associate Dean of the College of Business, and asked to join the university. Since then he has formed relationships within the Virginia Tech community both as a student and a faculty member.

As a student, Winston was struck by the beauty of the campus and encouraged by the camaraderie of the students. He was able to enter Virginia Tech’s student body among others that he knew from his high school, allowing him to come in with a previously built support group, and he networked and formed new relationships to expand this support group as well. He remembers the hiring of Frank Beamer and Nikki Giovanni, both of which occurred the year after he enrolled, and he remembers the increase in Hokie Pride that followed after those hires. He can also share stories of watching superb athletes, experiencing nearly every natural disaster possible in Blacksburg, and visiting the most popular dance spots of the time.

During his time here, Winston has been able to use the relationships he built to make a difference for the university. He worked with Nikki Giovanni to help create the first black studies program and he and his father both sponsor the mural on the outside of the Black Cultural Center. He also served as the public relations director for the Student Government Association, was part of the original Hokie camp, and worked as an orientation leader.

Following graduation, Winston worked at Virginia Tech for eight years before spending 17 years working for the University of Georgia. During these 17 years and the years following, Winston continued his affiliations with Virginia Tech by volunteering with alumni associations, which led him to be given the Distinguished Service Award in 2015. Winston eventually returned to Virginia Tech after being offered a position as Senior Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations, and he has stayed with the university since then.

After all of his time here as both a student and an employee, Winston has both seen and exemplified the university’s aptitude for service. He is encouraged by the number of alumni that work to stay involved with the university, and he is proud of the way the university continues to produce fantastic people who do great things in terms of both education and service.]]> 2017-04-06]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> Matt Winston, VT Stories]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech ]]> University History]]>
Before joining the Virginia Tech family, Plaut led a career in music. A love for the violin and a natural affinity led her to share the arts with others. She taught music and conducted orchestras in Pittsburgh, Boston, and Philadelphia elementary schools; she also performed with several city groups such as the Boston Pops, Philadelphia Opera, and with singer James Brown.

Plaut came to Blacksburg in 1983 at a time when the university needed more faculty. She accepted an offer of a two-year part-time contract to teach humanities courses. Having no prior experience teaching in that field, she devoted her first year of teaching to nights of studying material. In time, Plaut became an exceptional humanities teacher – so exceptional, that she kept her position for 23 years. She expanded from humanities to honors, leadership, and women’s studies courses.

A classical violinist with passion for the arts, Plaut noticed a significant lack of female composers in history. She decided to request a grant to exclusively play concerts written by women. Initially, instructors could not receive grants, but the Women’s Resource Center realized that the majority of instructors at Tech were female. They supplied Plaut with funds to go to the Library of Congress and find music by female composers. She found so many wonderful compositions that she and other musicians put on six concerts entirely written by women. The experience opened Plaut’s eyes to female underrepresentation in society.

The inability for women to produce as much art as men did in history bothered Plaut greatly. The injustice made her realize that women should have equal opportunities as men. Until that time, she had never considered herself a feminist. She began to research feminist theory and women’s studies; the fascinating material was something she never received in her education. As she studied and taught women’s studies, her focus shifted from women in history to women of today.
Plaut began to recognize women’s issues related to staff at Virginia Tech. Part-time instructors, like Plaut, were not considered faculty at the university. A seemingly small detail, this distinction meant that instructors were not eligible for pay with benefits. After she and a group of female professors investigated the issue, Plaut discovered that Tech had been receiving full-time equivalent money and spending it on furniture. She quickly pointed this out to administrators, and her group advocated increased security for instructors. The process was slow, but eventually their work paid off.
Advocating equality has not always been met without resistance. In the 1980’s and 1990 administrations of higher education were male-dominated; some could not accept changing that structure. Slowly, faculty attitudes have been evolving. Plaut and other female Tech educators stayed resilient, supporting each other and their cause with determination. They helped one another with difficulties in teaching, collaborated on class activities, and encouraged each other.
After retirement, Plaut remains active in the local Blacksburg community. She served as secretary on the Lyric Council Board of Directors for six years and contributed to a book about the historical theater’s restoration. The Lyric is a significant part of Blacksburg’s culture, but significant to Plaut in a special way: she met her husband there on a blind date.Plaut and her family would not think of leaving the area, for they are involved in many local organizations. Her husband enjoys volunteering at Gilbert Linkous Elementary School while Plaut finds herself focused on political and feminist efforts. Additionally, she attends as many performances at the Moss Arts Center as she can – when she’s not performing herself. She is pleased with her community work, as she has discovered that Blacksburg is home to many wonderful people.

When asked about changes she would like to see, Plaut encouraged less harassment of others. She hopes that faculty and students continue to embrace a stronger female presence at the university, as well as more general diversity and inclusion. In her opinion, the best part about her career at Virginia Tech was a change from “extremely overworked, underpaid, and insecure” instructors to those with confidence and job security. To the next generation, Plaut advises getting involved in local organizations and following one’s own passions. The best piece of advice she can give? “Don’t be afraid to change your mind.”
Linda Plaut is an exemplary advocate, educator, and Hokie, because she stands up for what she believes in. Thanks to her and women like her, a brighter, more equal future lies ahead. Plaut and her generation of feminists paved the way for equality; Hokies, present and future, will follow that path to a better tomorrow.]]> 2018-02-23]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> Linda Plaut, VT Stories]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech ]]> University History]]>
He decided to study biology at Lewis & Clark College, a small liberal arts college in Portland with around the same student population as his high school — a stark contrast from the universities that would later become central in his life. He enjoyed his time at Lewis & Clark because he had the opportunity to do research, study abroad in Japan, and feed his growing interest in microbiology and virology, the study of viruses.
After graduating from Lewis & Clark in 1966, Bates obtained his master’s degree in Bacteriology and Public Health from Washington State University in 1969. He then began working toward his doctorate at Colorado State University, although his now-wife Wendy, whom he met at Washington State, was still teaching elementary school in Tacoma, Washington, at the time. After a few months of dating long distance, Wendy moved to Colorado, and the two married while Bates finished his doctorate in microbiology with a specialty in virology, which he received in 1972.
After completing his formal education, Bates ended up at Virginia Tech partly by chance. He found out about an opening in a faculty position while attending a national meeting for microbiologists. Although he had never heard of the university or the town of Blacksburg before, he got an interview, received the position, and moved all the way from Colorado to Blacksburg just a few months after graduating from Colorado State.
As a professor on tenure track at Virginia Tech, Bates learned about the importance of collaboration and interdisciplinary work through his experiences conducting research with graduate students and other faculty members. While he enjoyed research, one of the challenges he faced as a new professor was trying to get research opportunities lined up and properly funded. He was pleased, however, that many programs at Virginia Tech, as well as other land grant universities, were becoming more interdisciplinary.
During his time as a professor, he took on another new role: father. He and his wife had three children in five years, and his wife took a break from teaching to stay home with them. After he “moved up through the ranks” as a professor, he was offered a position as the associate dean for research and graduate education for the College of Arts and Sciences, and was in that position for around six years, before becoming dean. As his role as a professor, researcher, and dean grew, Bates soon began to realize that it was necessary to cut back on his teaching responsibilities, although he said it was a hard sacrifice to give up working with the students he loved.

Bates’ experiences as dean proved to be both challenging and satisfying. He remembered one instance when the college was put into a bind when it discovered that there were 600 more incoming students than expected just three weeks before the fall semester began. Although faculty members were understandably displeased, they soon stepped up to teach more courses, an action that Bates called “rewarding and refreshing.”
In 2002, Bates was offered a job as provost of Washington State University, which is where he received his master’s degree. He said it was a difficult decision to leave Virginia Tech because although he and his wife expected to stay for only a few years, he ended up staying for around 30 years and raising his children in Blacksburg. Although he didn’t accept the offer at first, he eventually decided to pack up and move to Pullman to start a new life at Washington State. He was provost for about eight years and stayed at Washington State for about 13 and a half years before retiring.

Bates said he is pleased with the direction in which current faculty are leading the College of Science at Virginia Tech and the university in general, and he notes the importance of dynamic degree programs that keep up with current trends.]]> 2017-10-02]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech. ]]> Bob Bates, VT Stories]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech ]]> University History]]> Before continuing, the question must be asked: why Mickey? Mickey rarely uses his full name. He’ll tell you his parents selected the nickname out of thin air and his mother wanted a name to stand out from his father, Charles Joseph Hayes, Sr. (also known as Charles Hayes, an influential horticulturist/plantsman who, among other ornamental varietal introductions, created the highly popular U.S. plant-patented “Chuck Hayes Gardenia”). The nickname sticks with Mickey now, so much so that rarely anyone acknowledges him by his full name.
When the decision to attend college became apparent, Mickey needed to select a Virginia school due to cost. Still, why did he go to VT? Well, his father was active in and a past President of the Virginia Nurserymen’s Association, an organization in which the Virginia Tech Horticulture Department has always been both supportive and active. Virginia Tech also provided Mickey the option to pursue a degree in ornamental horticulture with a major in landscape design, which fit Mickey’s plans to become a landscape architect.

Mickey’s arrival to VT strayed from the path of others, too. Back in the early sixties, students at Virginia Tech were required to be a member of the Corps of Cadets for at least their first two years. Some exceptions did exist, though. To get around participating in the Corps, Mickey took classes at the Norfolk Division of William & Mary (now known as Old Dominion University) and as a transfer student to Virginia Tech, he wasn’t required to be a member of the Corps of Cadets. Early on, Mickey joined the DKE fraternity. There, he met lifelong friends with whom he still enjoys and shares important times with.

Upon coming to Virginia Tech, Mickey met important professors and figures who would influence his life’s success. Arguably the most important relationship Mickey had while at Virginia Tech was with his course advisor and head of the Horticulture Department, Dr. Wesley P. Judkins. Dr. Judkins forced Mickey to expand his horizons and study different subjects, including religion, logic, advertising, business law, genetics, biochemistry, and all manner of diverse subjects all across campus. Mickey didn’t want to study these subjects, his mind too focused on becoming a landscape architect. Much to his chagrin, Mickey abided by Dr. Judkins and learned about these subjects.
After graduating, Mickey went back to work at his parent’s nursery. He earned a decent living. Envious of the lavish oceanfront properties he used to mow grass for when he was young and working for his parents’ mowing crew, he aspired to a grander plan. He wanted to succeed, to grasp the ability to change his life for the better, and staying in one spot likely would not meet his aspirations. At this point, Mickey ventured into the real estate business and began selling land and properties at Beech Mountain, North Carolina. Over time, he began to focus his real estate career on land planning, resort development, community development, and assisting others with these newfound skills. When reflecting on the importance of his time under Dr. Judkins’ influence, Mickey has this to say:
Over his time at the Outer Banks, North Carolina, Mickey transitioned from real estate salesman to an expert land planner. He ran a real estate development company for two different owners from 1977 to 2008, where he effectively managed business with complete autonomy through his expertise.

Beyond the scope of his career, Mickey also explored other facets of life. He was President of the Virginia Beach Jaycees (also known as the Junior Chamber of Commerce), a young men’s entrepreneurial-centered organization for community service and was President of The Virginia Beach Sports Club. Mickey also networked with local politicians in the old city of Virginia Beach. During these times, he absorbed information from every direction.
Mickey also joined the Hokie Club in 1967, just three years after graduating from Virginia Tech. The Hokie Club, now also known as the Virginia Tech Athletic Fund, was called the Virginia Tech Student Aid Association in that era. Members of the Board of Directors of the organization quickly brought Mickey onto the Board. Here, Mickey got to know well many notable figures in VT’s history, including Tech President Dr. T. Marshall Hahn, Student Aid Association President Gordon Bowman, and many VT benefactors, including Howard Gray, George Middleton, and several others of that era. During his time on the Board, Mickey also began watching and believing in VT’s football program. He was inspired by Tech’s bids for the Liberty Bowl back in 1966 and 1968.

During the later years of his career, Mickey became a mentor to both his employees and members of DKE at Virginia Tech. Since his retirement in 2008, Mickey has returned to Blacksburg with his wife Sarah to enjoy the excitement of the college town and the stimulus of the diversity and activity at Virginia Tech. He still mentors a handful of young DKE members and continues to assist past employees as an advisor. Though he only mentors select people, he offers the following words of encouragement to everyone:
Mickey Hayes offers a certain type of gravity for those around him. He exudes charisma and charm, wisdom and wonder. Like so many other people, Mickey came from a modest origin, but chose to challenge himself and strive for success. Virginia Tech is and should be grateful to have such a powerful and generous person to not only pass through the community, but continue to give back and allow others a chance to find the same or greater success.]]> 2017-10-19]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech. ]]> Mickey Hayes, VT Stories]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech ]]> University History]]> African American history]]>
While at Booker T. Washington high school, he excelled in academics and caught the attention of his physics teacher, who had started his own guidance program. This teacher suggested that Matt get an engineering education at a Virginia university, which up to that point Matt and other Black students had thought impossible. He ended up getting a grant from a foundation to attend college and decided to come to Virginia Tech.

He recalls being overwhelmed by the Virginia Tech campus and to be living in the mountains. At the time, Virginia Tech was largely attended by World War II veterans, and Matt remembers there being a behavioral distinction between the men who had served and those like him who weren’t and saw college as “freedom to get away from home.”

As one of the earliest Black students to ever attend Virginia Tech, Matt remembers some instances of discrimination, but he also states that he had an easier time than other Black students who came before him, such as Charlie Yates. Matt was unable to attend the Ring Dance because he was Black and recalls getting a call from President Newman telling him so. He also remembers an instance where a professor stopped teaching one of his classes because he didn’t want to teach a class with a Black student in it. Though Matt had troubles and sometimes felt isolated during his early years at Virginia Tech, he also states that he cannot remember a troublesome incident with any student. He was also welcomed by the Black community in Blacksburg and grew a family-like bond with other African American individuals in the town.

Following his graduation in 1959, Matt got a job at NASA’s Langley Research Center, where many other Virginia Tech graduates worked at the time. He ended up working there for 36 years. While working for NASA Matt was able to go to Virginia Tech to speak with Hokie students about his job over the years, which he greatly enjoyed. When speaking with these students, Matt would emphasize how a Virginia Tech education would always serve them no matter where they went or where they worked.

Matt’s influence as one of the first Black students at Virginia Tech has influenced someone very close to him, his son, Matt Winston Jr. who now serves as Vice President for Alumni Relations at Virginia Tech. Matt Winston Jr. states that people continually come up to him with memories of attending Virginia Tech with his father, and that “if everything that he and his classmates can go through they walk out of here and they say they still love Virginia Tech, then I'm like why shouldn’t everybody love Virginia Tech? . . . . And so I think that’s what my calling and my job is, and so it may sound like a movie script or something, but I couldn’t be doing what I'm doing if my dad hadn’t done what he did.”

Through all the hardship, loneliness, and good times, Matt Winston Sr. has developed an intense Hokie Pride and a gratefulness for the institution. Today, he credits Virginia Tech with teaching him humility and dealing with adversity. Today, Matt represents one of many students who led the way for future minority Hokies. His influence, optimism, and success demonstrate true Hokie spirit.]]> 2018-02-09]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> Matt Winston, Sr., VT Stories]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> University History]]> Why did Latham choose to come to Virginia Tech, a University he has had unbreakable ties with for over the past 50 years? Simple. His mother.
Latham’s mother wanted her son to experience a broad education in agriculture. The Lathams own hundreds of acres of farmland in Prince William county in northern Virginia: the same farmland Latham has lived on since he was brought back from the hospital as a baby in 1933. With an education from Virginia Tech, Latham was prepared to operate the farm, while working in the banking and hotel businesses on the side to provide for education for his four children.

The University was much different back when Latham began his studies in 1951. During that time, the majority of the student body was made up of the Corps of Cadets. However, Latham was not interested in joining the military after graduation. He had a farm to return to.
Leaving the Corps of Cadets meant that Latham became one of the one thousand civilian students on campus. He made the most of this experience, becoming the president of the growing civilian body.

Latham has a variety of anecdotes from his years as a student — from standing up to an irate English professor, to learning how to pilot in a rented J3 Cub, a well-known, lightweight aircraft. One of the most memorable stories happened his senior year when other students played a trick on him after a dance at the Student Activities Building.
Six years after graduation, in 1961, friend and fellow alumni, Buddy Russell, asked Latham to join the Alumni Board. While on this board, Latham was forced to make difficult, yet important decisions for the future of the University. Latham had a major role in assisting the University during a time of financial trouble in the late 80’s. After President Lavery made poor financial decisions concerning the Athletic Department, Latham, as a member of the Alumni Board and Board of Visitors, advised that the former president resign from his position.After a 12 year break from the Board of Visitors, Latham returned after President Torgersen stepped down from his position to resume teaching in 2000. This meant Latham played a role in choosing the next president of the University.
Latham has been honored with multiple awards for his dedication to his alma mater, including the Alumni Distinguished Service Award in 1996 and the William H. Ruffner Medal in 2007. Regarding the future of the University, Latham hopes that Virginia Tech continues with the goals of remaining a land-grant University and making a college education possible for capable students.]]> 2015-05-21]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> Bill Latham, VT Stories]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> University History]]>
Rhonda Miller Rogers was the second of two children born into a middle-class family in Wytheville, VA to parents Roy and Carly Miller. Wytheville, a small town nestled in the corner of Southwest Virginia, was heavily segregated at the time of her upbringing. Due to the separation of the town’s population, Rhonda spent much of her time at the black recreation center playing ping-pong, watching TV, and dancing to the jukebox music. As an energetic student, Rhonda loved school and in 1966, the schools in the area were integrated. The differences between the schools became more apparent for Rhonda following integration as she saw the inequities and lack of resources in the black schools compared to those offered to her brother who was attending a school that had previously been all-white. In a series of firsts for Rhonda that would follow her throughout her life, she was a member of the marching band in high school as well as the first black majorette.
Due to the economies of the area, Rhonda attended Wytheville Community College initially to pursue a career as a teacher. After her first year and following the decision to actually not become a teacher, she enrolled in the two-year secretarial science program. During her second year, a visit from Judy Ridinger and other personnel from Virginia Tech visited students enrolled in the program to inquire about possible jobs available at the university. In 1973, Rhonda was hired in her first job among a group of five other women and moved to Blacksburg, where she would soon meet her husband.

While working at Virginia Tech in the Division of Student Affairs, Rhonda worked closely with colleague Ed Spencer, someone she still recalls as being a supportive, caring, and family-oriented person. Her main priority was to listen to students that would come to her for guidance relating to housing, dining, and more so in her current position, after having unfair experiences relating to discrimination and simply being different from others. She’s given 44 years of her life to this job, so it can be easily understood how she received both the VT Division of Student Affairs Heroine Award and the Virginia Tech President’s Award for Excellence.
Rhonda experienced discrimination herself while in the workplace, not for her race but for her job title as being a secretary. She remembers feeling like a second-class citizen compared to most other colleagues, though that ceased to occur over the years. Outside of this initial setback, she considers Virginia Tech to be her livelihood, as she has spent so much of her time working here and loving her job. She’s been encouraged by students that have been passionate about speaking up for what they believe in and thinks this campus is the most beautiful one in the country.
Philip Gary Rogers was born in Gate City, Virginia in a small town quite like that of his wife Rhonda’s. He grew up in a large family with five siblings, and it wasn’t long before he and his two older brothers found their love for sports, which helped keep them busy as schools integrated when Phil was in the sixth grade. His love for sports, particularly football, allowed him to later lead Gate City High School to a football state championship in 1970. While Phil and his cousin, Michael Wolfe, had been causally exploring universities that they could potentially play football at, Virginia Tech practically fell into their lap. He recalled the head coach welcoming them to the university before they even had accepted, and they sure enough decided to give Virginia Tech a shot.

During his football career at Tech, Phil went from being a receiver, switching to running back, and then becoming the first African-American starting quarterback during his senior year. He grew incredibly fond of his trainer, Eddie Ferrell, considering him to be like a second father after his real father passed away while he was in high school. His career after senior year began with him getting drafted in the seventh round by the St. Louis Cardinals. He had ankle-related injuries and ended up playing in Canada after.
Phil and Rhonda met when during Phil’s senior year, when he kept losing his dorm key and saw Rhonda working in the same building as the housing office. They would make small talk and it wasn’t long before they went roller skating as their first date together. They got married in 1978 and have had two children together. When asked what their favorite experiences at Virginia Tech were, Rhonda and Phil both agreed that it had to be when Phil was inducted into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame in 2011. It brought their families together to celebrate the significant achievement and made them feel even closer to the university.

Having spent much time at Virginia Tech, both doing what they loved, Phil and Rhonda Rogers have such strong connections to the university and what it represents. They have both worked hard through the roles that they have played and, most importantly, they found love here.
]]> 2017-04-06]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> Rhonda and Phil Rogers, VT Stories]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> University History]]>
In her professional career in higher education, DePauw moved to Washington State University, as a professor in the Kinesiology and Leisure Studies Department. While there, she worked her way up through the graduate school, all the while teaching, eventually being appointed to the Dean of the Graduate School in 1999. Several years later, she was nominated for the Dean of Graduate Education at Virginia Tech.

However her decision to leave was not without trouble. Upon the nomination, DePauw faced backlash for her sexual orientation, including hateful emails, her partner Shelli Fowler being denied a position, and intolerant faculty/staff. Though this did not deter her, where DePauw officially arrived in Blacksburg in 2002 as a professor and dean, with her partner (who would soon be appointed to a tenure track position).

In this special interview, DePauw reflects on her 15 years spent at Virginia Tech, including the tragedies, successes, and progress made. All throughout the interview, she emphasizes how her background in social justice permeated her work in transforming graduate life, and the role graduate students serve in inspiring and pushing the university.
]]> 2017-11-21]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> Karen DePauw, VT Stories]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> University History]]>
Everhart grew up on his family’s farm in a small border town near Mayberry, NC. An active and engaged student, he participated in any sport or extracurricular he could, including football, wrestling, and student counsel. He balanced his involvements with daily work on the farm, helping out his dad and earning an allowance. Life on the farm laid a foundation of a hard work ethic in Everhart; his parents expected him to give his all into everything he did, be it work, school, or hobbies.

With the intention of taking over the farm, Everhart chose to study agriculture at Virginia Tech. After viewing Tech to visit his older sister attending, he fell in love with the architecture, hometown atmosphere, and spirit. His parents were very supportive of his ambitions; whatever his dream, they pushed him to do everything he could to achieve it. They instilled in him a value of education at an early age, but gave him freedom to decide where and what he wished to pursue.

The Corps of Cadets helped Everhart to make the transition from small town to overwhelming collegiate campus. Not only did it offer him the opportunity to pursue a dream to fly, it gave him the chance to be a part of a close-knit community for support. As a cadet, he got through school with an accountability system and encouragement from his fellow cadets. Looking back at his decisions to join the Corps and live on VT’s beautiful campus, Everhart claims he is “tremendously blessed” and extremely happy with his choices.

Everhart’s first military experience was becoming a cadet in the Corps. At first, he was overwhelmed by the Corps’s strict regulations and wondered if he made the right decision. Even after the struggle of “rat year”, he knew the lessons he was learning were going to benefit him for the rest of his life. What separates his experience with the Corps from a regular student’s is the emphasis on tradition and honor.

After graduation, Everhart carried his Hokie pride into his next stage of life. He graduated in 1989 with a Master’s degree in business management from the University of Arkansas. Later, in 2002, he received a Master’s degree in national security strategy from National War College. Immediately following his undergraduate education, he moved to Mississippi for pilot training for a rigorous year of training. This sparked his journey into his extensive military career; after flight school, he worked with Desert Shield and Desert Storm, commanded at the squadron, group, and wing levels, worked staff assignments with the air staff at the Pentagon, and served as military aide to President Clinton for two years. Everhart has traveled around the world vertically and horizontally as well as stepped foot on every continent. When describing his experiences, he simply acknowledges that he has been “very, very blessed.” Finally, in 2015, Everhart became a 4-Star General in the United States Air Force.

Everhart has received numerous medals and won many awards, but of all of these achievements he credits service and duty as the most rewarding parts of his career. The memories behind his medals are really what he holds close to his heart. During his tenure at the White House, he formed a unique, close bond with the four other military aides. He was a student at National War College during the events of 9-11; his class forged a special relationship and felt the urge to serve their nation together. Everhart is especially grateful for once-in-a-lifetime moments such as these.

The words “Virginia Tech” remind Everhart of Hokie pride and the Hokie nation. He feels a passionate loyalty for the school he credits for his successful career. From recruiting new students to proudly “bleeding maroon and orange,” he undeniably calls Blacksburg home. He is happy to see the campus continually moving forward in a smart way with a “steady heartbeat.” As far as he is concerned, Virginia Tech will only grow stronger as an institution and community. He is grateful for the foundation of success he received during his years at Tech, among other things: the kindness of the locals, quality of education, and Hokie spirit.

Every day, General Everhart wears his class ring – what he calls his “pride and joy.” Forever a Hokie, he will never forget the impact of Virginia Tech on his life.
]]> 2017-09-23]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> General Carlton Everhart, VT Stories]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> University History]]>
In this interview, Gene talks about his early life growing up in Blacksburg during World War II, his years of undergrad (including cadet pranks), and his life and career after. ]]> 2015-11-20]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> University History]]>
Well-traveled and with a clear objective in mind, Captain Beaver came to Virginia Tech in 1987 and graduated in 1991 with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in History. At Virginia Tech, he continued to live a life familiar to him as a member of the Corps of Cadets and especially enjoyed his history and law courses here.

Although, he was familiar with a military lifestyle, Captain Beaver’s involvement in the Corps was very important to his experience as a Hokie. While discipline is part of the lifestyle for any Cadet at Virginia Tech, Captain Beaver shares that it wasn’t all work and no fun. He and his friends and family went hiking, tubing on the New River, and tailgated for football games. Captain Beaver’s career in the Navy has taken him far away from Virginia Tech, but he and his college friends try to make it back to check on our progress and to attend Corps of Cadets events.

]]> 2016-09-16]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> Douglas Beaver, VT Stories]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> University History]]>
Growing up with a father in the navy, Godek moved all around the country before settling in Virginia Beach in 1973. While he couldn’t get into a naval academy due to fierce competition in the area, Godek earned a navy ROTC scholarship that guaranteed him entry into any school he wanted. He considered going to UVA to follow in his older brother’s footsteps, but ultimately chose to go to Tech because it was the school farthest away from his home.

Entering Virginia Tech as a freshman in 1983, Godek was undecided on his major, but he knew he wanted to be a pilot for the navy. The Corps took up most of his time, and, at one point, he had a GPA under 2.0. However, his low grades never discouraged him from his goals. He just needed to “figure it out.”

The second half of Godek’s senior year was when the navy decided on placement for incoming graduates. There weren’t any open spots available for the flight school Godek wanted to enroll in. But he still was not discouraged. Biding his time until there was an open spot, Godek went to school to become a navy SEAL, while continuing to put in applications for flight school.

Godek’s patience paid off, and, a year and a half after graduation, he was accepted into flight school after a spot opened up. Based on some solid advice from his father, Godek worked hard and made sure to stay within the top half of his class. In just a year, he graduated and accomplished his dream of becoming a navy pilot. He went back to Virginia Beach and served 12 years of active duty followed by 11 years in the reserves. Once off active duty, he took a job as a commercial airline pilot for Southwest Airlines, which is where he still works today.

In April 2014, after having trouble making radio calls while flying, Godek knew something was wrong. He went to the doctor the next day, where he was diagnosed with brain cancer and given 12-18 months to live. However, Godek did not let it control him.

Godek, who was an avid runner, did not let cancer slow him down. Everyday, he planned to accomplish a goal. He regularly trained and competed in races, such as Ironman triathlons, which consist of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and 26.2 mile run, all completed in under 17 hours. He did this all while sporting a shirt that read “Brain Cancer Survivor.” This opened the door and gave others who were affected by cancer the chance to talk to someone about it. Godek was never afraid to talk about his condition. He was never scared and comforted countless others by sharing his experience. He lived his life to the fullest. He never let cancer slow him down. He never quit. ]]> 2016-09-16]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.]]> James Godek, VT Stories]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]>