University History]]>
In this interview, Bertram Kinzey covers his childhood in Berea, Ohio, attending Virginia Tech during World War II, and his career upon graduating. ]]> 2016-05-19]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech. ]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Virginia Tech. ]]> University History]]>
During this interview, King recounts his early life growing up and arriving at Virginia Tech, working as an RA, campus life during the Vietnam War and as a Black student. He feels that Virginia Tech served as a foundation for his later career, in working at a law firm and eventually the Maryland State Assembly. ]]> 2015-11-21]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech. ]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> University History]]>
In this special interview, James Boone talks about his family history, his parents and relatives in the area, his fascination with railroads stemming from an early age. At Virginia Polytechnic, he covers influential professors, downtown life, living in the dorms, along with pranks done on fellow cadets.
]]> 2017-06-02]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech.]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> University History]]>
In this interview, George Fox shares many stories from rat to senior year, including being one of the original cannon boys, shooting steam whistles, flooding the third floor showers, and putting cadets in laundry machines. Also in this interview, he talks about his time in the service, working after, and campus life. ]]> 2017-05-19]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech. ]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> University History]]>
He eventually arrived in Blacksburg because of a job offer with General Electric in Shenandoah. After getting the job, Nolen's boss decided to send him to Virginia Tech for an engineering degree, which he graduated from in 1965.

In this interview, Nolen recounts his path to Virginia Tech, becoming a student in the Corps, studies, his later career in General Electric, and then becoming a proud alumni. ]]> 2016-05-17]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech. ]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> University History]]>
Bob Slaughter grew up in Roanoke, Virginia as a Virginia Tech fan. He ended up attending the school on a football scholarship and played all four years, graduating in 1970. He started as a business major, but switched to marketing education as he wanted to coach for a career.

In this interview, Judy and Bob talked about adjusting to campus life, particularly Bob balancing sports and academics. They covered campus culture in the late 1960s related to gender expectations, participating in campus events, going to the Lyric, and their careers after graduating.]]> 2015-10-10]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech. ]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> University History]]>
LaVerne Hairston Higgins, commonly known as Freddie, grew up in Roanoke, Virginia and arrived at Virginia Tech through following her math teacher from high school. While at Virginia Polytechnic, she was heavily involved in social activism and studied math.

Linda Edmonds Turner grew up in Halifax County and arrived at the school through the Rockefeller Foundation. She is a triple Hokie, receiving her Bachelor of Science in 1970, master's in 1976, and PhD in 1979.

Upon arriving to Virginia Polytechnic Institute, these women did not know they would be among the first Black female students of the school. However, they turned into trailblazers for later classes of students, especially in challenging the schools traditions. In this interview, the women talk about their experiences at Virginia Polytechnic through this intersectional lens. They recount experiences with discrimination on campus and pockets of acceptance they found, professors they butted heads with, displaying the Confederate flag during home games, stories from Hillcrest, and participating in social activism on a predominately White campus. ]]> 2016-04-22]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech. ]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Virginia Tech. ]]> University History]]>
In this interview, Jack covers his life before and after Virginia Tech, his campus life including notable professors, influential Virginia Tech figures, and the reach of Hokie Nation.
]]> 2016-05-19]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech. ]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> Blacksburg (Va.)]]>
In this interview, Chris Kappas recounts his early life growing up in the Greek countryside during World War II while separated from his father. He moved to the United States after the war at eight years old, and talks about adjusting to life in Blacksburg, working in the restaurant, and stories of his father. From the success of the business, his father, Nick Kappas, helped their family immigrate from Greece and eventually developed offshoots of the Greek's restaurant, now (officially) called the Blue Ribbon Restaurant. These enterprises turned into Souvlakis, which started as a push cart on College Ave, the Mediterranean, turned Greek's Two, and the Cellar.]]> 2018-08-07]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech. ]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> Blacksburg (Va.)]]>
In this interview, Chris recounts his father's story of immigrating to the United States at thirteen years old, and creating a life for himself in Roanoke, Va. During Nick Kappas' career working in restaurants, he became a beloved figure in the Blacksburg community, particularly by the Corps of Cadets, and relocated to North Main Street. Here, he opened his own restaurant in 1922, the Busy Bee Restaurant, more commonly known as the Greek's. Chris Kappas covers the early history of the restaurant, through name changes and working in Blacksburg as one of the few Greek immigrants, up to his birth in 1938 just before World War II.
]]> 2018-07-30]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech.]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> University History]]> Tara Fortune
Jeryl Payne
Kaye Pereras]]> 2016-04-22]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech. ]]> Natalie Strawn Kelly, VT Stories]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> University History]]> 2015-11-20]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech. ]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University]]>
In this interview, Neal covers growing up, attending college, and starting a family. He talks about sacrificing his dream of becoming a basketball coach for his family, moving to and integrating into Blacksburg, and his life since. ]]> 2017-04-13]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech. ]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> University History]]>
In this interview Pamela talks about her years at Virginia Tech, joining the business fraternity and day-to-day activities, and working after. ]]> 2016-11-11]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech.]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> University History]]> 2016-04-22]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech. ]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> University History]]>
In this interview, Lorraine talks about her time at Virginia Tech, integrating into the school, becoming active in the Black Student Association, and finding a cultural community. Lorraine covers the changes she would like to see at the school in relation to diversity, and what she hopes for the future. ]]> 2016-04-22]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech.]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> University History]]>
Coming out of college, she worked at small museums and eventually ended up at the D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Va. Here she works to teach the history of D-Day and World War II, and how Virginia Tech is tied to it. ]]> 2015-10-22]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech.]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]> University History]]>
Determined to break the pattern, Bowling spent a summer studying at the University of Tennessee. It only took one summer for him to realize the school was not the right fit for him. He applied to Tech last minute that Fall and was placed in a three-person room in Pritchard. Once another room opened up, he moved to Vawter, which he liked more than Pritchard.

Between his sophomore and junior years, Bowling gave tours during a summer session at Virginia Tech — something he says was a “predecessor” to Hokie Camp, which is held every year to introduce freshmen to the Virginia Tech campus. It was through giving these tours that Bowling stumbled into the opportunity to become an RA, an experience that, he says, benefitted him greatly during his four years at the University.

Bowling’s main concern during his time in undergrad, other than his tendency to procrastinate on assignments, arose during the Iran hostage crisis in 1979. As an RA, he would have been responsible for protecting students from any potential unrest.

Thankfully, nothing came of the student’s plans to protest, and Bowling was saved the trouble of mediating the anticipated riot.

Bowling graduated from Tech with a B.S. in Finance in June of 1980. He then earned his MBA from Virginia Tech, only a semester later, in December 1981. Throughout the years, he has gone on to work for many different companies, mostly around Baltimore, Maryland.

The former RA has fond memories of his time at Virginia Tech, and even though it has been over thirty years since he crossed the stage to accept his degree, the alum occasionally has bizarre dreams that throw him back to his time as a student.
]]> 2015-10-23]]> Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech. ]]> Click here for synced audio and transcript ]]> Oral histories]]> Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries, Virginia Tech]]>