VT Stories Oral History with Bertram Kinzey, May 19, 2016 (Ms2016-015)
University History
Bertram Kinzey, Jr. arrived in Blacksburg as an architectural engineering student in 1940. While living in Richmond, Kinzey enrolled in the engineering extension program, which led him to Virginia Tech for his final two years of undergraduate. As a student, Kinzey lived in town and participated in community as an organist, eventually graduating in 1942. He began working in an architecture firm in Richmond, Virginia and transitioned into teaching architecture curriculum. In this interview, Bertram Kinzey covers his childhood in Berea, Ohio, attending Virginia Tech during World War II, and his career upon graduating.
Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech.
Oral histories
VT Stories Oral History with Theodore King, Jr., November 21, 2015 (Ms2016-015)
Theodore King, Jr. grew up on a farm in Lunenburg County, Virginia. While in high school, King was recruited by many colleges, including Virginia Tech. He was drawn to the school because of its appeal to common people, as he was a lower class African American farmer, and felt he didn't fit in with more curated universities. Although Virginia Tech was his second choice school, he immediately fell in love with it upon arriving on campus. He graduated from Virginia Tech with a bachelors in 1968, and remained until 1972 for a master's, both in economics. 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.
VT Stories Oral History with James "Bud" Robertson, June 8, 2018 (Ms2016-015)
James "Bud" Robertson was born and raised in Danville, Virginia. There was a railroad close to his house, which led him to become interested in them (which he maintained throughout his entire life). The yardmaster understood his interest and offered to send Bud to college to become an engineer and work on the railroad, knowing that it would not happen. As a result, he went to Randolph-Macon College, graduating in 1955 with a bachelors in history. He went to Emory for both a graduate degree in 1956 and PhD in 1959. After completing his dissertation, he worked in Washington for the Kennedy Administration until 1965. After getting sick of Washington D.C., he left for Montana for a tenured position. Bud's Virginia Tech story starts in 1967, where he got a position in the history department and stayed until retirement. In this interview, along with his earlier years, Bud talks about his time working at the school, relationships with presidents and administrators, the athletic department, book collections, and current social issues.
Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech
VT Stories Oral History with James Boone, June 2, 2017 (Ms2016-015)
James Boone, born July 25th, 1915 is among the earliest Virginia Polytechnic students to be interviewed for VT Stories. He grew up in Holland and Ivor, Virginia, and arrived in Blacksburg in 1933. While at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, he studied business administration, and graduated in 1937. 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.
VT Stories Oral History with George Fox, May 19, 2017 (Ms2016-015)
George Fox, born in Charleston, West Virginia, grew up in a Virginia Tech household. His father from Virginia Polytechnic Institute for industrial engineering in 1941 and claimed that their extended family has more than twenty graduates. Consequently, George did not have a choice in choosing schools, and went to Virginia Polytechnic in 1960 for mechanical engineering. After graduating in 1964, he enlisted in the Air Force as an aircraft engineering officer. He stayed for four years, then worked in General Electric Company for the rest of his career. 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.
VT Stories Oral History with Frank Nolen, May 17, 2016 (Ms2016-015)
Frank Nolen grew up in Macon County, North Carolina, raised with school in mind. In high school, he decided to attend North Carolina State College, but dropped out after encountering college chemistry. He transferred to Gaston Technical Institute, a two year technical school, and graduated early in January 1960. 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.
VT Stories Oral History with Bob and Judy Slaughter, October 10, 2015 (Ms2016-015)
Judy Swecker Slaughter was born into a Virginia Tech family as her father graduated class of 1935. Growing up in Woodstock, Virginia, she had decided to follow her father's footsteps and also attend. She arrived in 1966, studying psychology and graduated in 1970. Then years later, she returned and completed a master's in education. 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.
VT Stories Oral History with First African American Women Students, April 22, 2016 (Ms2016-015)
Marguerite Laurette Harper Scott, also known as Chick, grew up in Norfolk, Virginia in a family of Virginia State graduates. Although she intended on doing the same, when Virginia Polytechnic recruiters visited her high school, her father decided it was the place for her. She studied sociology and history, and graduated in the class of 1970. 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.
VT Stories Oral History with John "Jack" Kise, May 19, 2016 (Ms2016-015)
Jack Kise was born in New Haven, Connecticut and moved around several times before landing in Portsmouth, Virginia where he spent most of his school years. In high school, he took an interest in Virginia Tech as he had several friends attend and liked engineering. He attended from 1952 to 1956, and studied electrical engineering. After graduating, he moved to Chicago and worked for VEPCO. 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.
VT Stories Oral History with Chris and Maria Kappas 6/6, May 13, 2019 (Ms2016-015)
Blacksburg (Va.)
In this final installment of an oral history series, Chris Kappas is joined by his wife, Maria Kappas, to talk about their life working in the restaurant industry and raising a family in Blacksburg. In this interview, Maria recounts emigrating from Greece in 1969, where she met Chris shortly after. The pair talk about their family, both immediate and extended, and working in the Greek's and Souvlakis.
Permission to publish materials from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech.
VT Stories Oral History with Chris Kappas 5/6, December 6, 2018 (Ms2016-015)
The fifth oral history interview in a series about the Greek community in Blacksburg, local history, and the restaurant industry with Chris Kappas. In this interview, Kappas talks about establishing Souvlakis in the Blacksburg community as a Greek food restaurant. He covers the later years of running the restaurant, with raising his kids and seeing them transition to adulthood and move away. Then into his retirement of transitioning ownership to Mike Buchanan, and into property management and serving on the town council.
VT Stories Oral History with Chris Kappas 4/6, August 31, 2018 (Ms2016-015)
The fourth oral history interview in a series with Chris Kappas, longtime Blacksburg local and restauranteur. In this interview, Chris Kappas talks about becoming principal partner in the Greek's restaurant with his father's former business partner, Jim Havelos. He covers restaurant operations, including running the Cellar and transitioning ownership, opening Souvlakis, and the proper pronunciation and consumption of "gyro". He ends on talking about downtown, including local businesses, Steppin' Out, the International Festival, and city planning.
VT Stories Oral History with Chris Kappas 3/6, August 20, 2018 (Ms2016-015)
The third installment of a series of oral history interviews with Blacksburg local, restauranteur, and active community member Chris Kappas. This oral history interview begins with Chris talking about his childhood growing up in war-torn Greece. He discusses the Greek Civil War following World War II, which led to his eventual passage to the United States. He talks about restaurant history, including his father's relationship with the Black community in Blacksburg, and expanding restaurant operations. After briefly moving to Richmond following graduation from Virginia Tech, he returned to Blacksburg to work in the restaurant and eventually take it over from his father.
VT Stories Oral History with Chris Kappas 2/6, August 7, 2018 (Ms2016-015)
The second session in a series of oral history interviews with Chris Kappas, local Blacksburg restaurateur and land lord. 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.
VT Stories Oral History with Chris Kappas 1/6, July 30, 2018 (Ms2016-015)
The first in a special series of interviews with Chris Kappas, a local Blacksburg businessman, land lord, and restaurateur. Born in Greece in 1938, Chris Kappas is the son of Nick Kappas, early Greek immigrant and restaurateur in Southwest Virginia. 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.
VT Stories Oral History with Emily Haynes Cooper, Tara Fortune, Jeryl Payne, and Kaye Pereras, April 22, 2016 (Ms2016-015)
Emily Haynes Cooper Tara Fortune Jeryl Payne Kaye Pereras
VT Stories Oral History with Natalie Strawn Kelly, November 20, 2015 (Ms2016-015)
Natalie Strawn Kelly grew up in Blacksburg, and was nearly predestined for Virginia Tech. She graduated in 1974, majoring in Elementary Education. In this interview, she talks about her time at Virginia Tech, taking classes, living in Northern Virginia, and the excitement of football games. A Hokie family through and through, she remains active in Virginia Tech affairs as an alumni, serving on the Alumni Association Board, as a Hokie Club Representative, and member of Women in Leadership and Philanthropy.
VT Stories Oral History with Jerry Hulick, June 8, 2018
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute. Alumni Association
In this VT Stories oral history interview, Ren Harman interviews Jerry Hulick, Class of 1973. Hulick discusses his time at Virginia Tech during the protests of the Vietnam War and the changing landscape of the culture in Virginia Tech and Blacksburg. Hulick highlights his love for the university motto of "Ut Prosim" through his philanthropic work both inside and outside the university, including the Mobile Autism Clinic, the Dean of the College of Science Roundtable, and his "Giving Day" challenges.
Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech.
VT Stories Oral History with Clara Cox, March 23, 2018
University Archives
Education, Secondary
In this VT Stories interview from 2018, Manisha Sharma interviews the former Director of University Publications Clara Cox in the Holtzman Alumni Center. In this oral history Cox talks about her rise through the ranks of university relations, her current work supporting the Council on VT History, and her love and affinity for the university.
VT Stories Oral History with Kevin Crofton, September 29, 2017
Virginia, Southwest
Aerospace engineers
Montgomery County (Va.)
Oral histories (document genres)
In this nearly hour long interview, Ren Harman, Project Manager for VT Stories, interviews Kevin Crofton, Class of 1982, in the Holtzman Alumni Center on the campus of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA. In this interview, Kevin reflects on his time growing up, his decision to attend Virginia Tech, and his extensive history of philanthropy to Virginia Tech, including naming the Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering.
VT Stories Oral History with Bob Quisenberry, April 3, 2018 (Ms2016-015)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Corps of Cadets
Bob Quisenberry, Class of 1962, discusses his life and career, including his time as a student at Virginia Tech and his continued involvement with the university in the decades since.
VT Stories Oral History with Ida Powell, May 17, 2018 (Ms2016-015)
Women
Home economics
Ida Powell graduated from Virginia Tech in 1958 with a bachelor's degree in home economics. In this hour-long interview, Powell discusses her experience as a female student attending Virginia Tech's campus in the 1950s as well as her humanitarian work following graduation.
VT Stories Oral History with Mary and Willis Blackwood, May 10, 2018 (Ms2016-015)
Football
In an hour and 10 minute interview of Mary Nolen Blackwood and Willis Blackwood, Ren Harman asks about their lives as they connect to Virginia Tech. Along with early life at Virginia Tech and family life, this interview touches on their continued charity to the University, achievements and honors bestowed upon them from the University, and the Real Estate Program they initiated on campus.
VT Stories Oral History with Roger H. Moore, April 26, 2018 (Ms2016-015)
Roger H. More was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland in 1942. From an early age he knew that he would attend college, but planned on going to Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. These plans changed when his best friend and his bother went to Virginia Polytechnic Institute and convinced Roger to attend also. While at Virginia Tech, he majored in general science and took part in the German Club and Sigma Nu, along with the Corps. After graduation and serving in the U.S. Army Security Agency, he worked in telecommunications. He remains involved in Virginia Tech affairs through the Legacy Society and the College of Science.
VT Stories Oral History with Gerald Miller, May 16, 2018 (Ms2016-015)
Gerald Miller grew up on a farm in Harrisonburg, Virginia. From an early age, he had responsibilities and schooling expectations drilled into him, which heavily guided his career. He attended Virginia Tech and graduated in 1965, majoring in Agronomy. In this interview, he talks about his time at Virginia Tech, including his infamous rat year and the German club. After graduating, he was assigned to Ft. Leonard Wood where he decided to get a master’s and PhD in soil science from Iowa State while in the military. Decades later, he still takes part in Virginia Tech through five year reunions and credits it with changing his life.
VT Stories Oral History with Douglas Martin, May 5, 2019 (Ms2016-015)
April 16, 2007 shootings
Diversity in higher education
Local/Regional History and Appalachian South
Douglas Martin, Ed.D. is Director Emeritus in the Department of Human Resources at Virginia Tech. This nearly hour-long interview contains his first-hand account of several impactful people and events that shaped Tech in the last half century. Most of the individuals mentioned have since been dedicated a building on campus.
VT Stories Oral History with Jim Hatch, March, 7, 2019 (Ms2016-015)
Jim Hatch went to Lynchburg College as an undergraduate, majoring in management. Upon graduating, he attended Virginia Tech for a Master’s of Accounting and graduated in 1972. Afterwards, he began working as a public accountant and remained active in Virginia Tech affairs. In this interview, Jim talks about his first memories of Virginia Tech, working in accounting, serving on the Advisory Board for the Department of Accounting and Information Systems, and going on to win the Pamplin’s Distinguished Alumnus Award.
VT Stories Oral History with Mallory Foutch and Anna LoMascolo, March 19, 2018 (Ms2016-015)
Mallory Foutch came to Virginia Tech in 2016 after attending both undergrad and grad school elsewhere. During school, she was a passionate social activist and feminist, which she turned to in her work here with the Women’s Center as a program coordinator. Anna LoMascolo came from a long line of Hokies. She went to Virginia Tech for undergrad majoring in communication studies. After graduating, she moved to New York and California, before coming back to Blacksburg and getting a PhD in sociology. She got involved with the Women’s Center first as a volunteer, but turned staff, eventually becoming a co-director. In this interview, Anna and Mallory talk about their work in the Women’s Center, how they got there, struggles, and work they’ve done creating a safe space on campus for the community.
Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections, Virginia Tech
VT Stories Oral History with Rosemary Blieszner, March 19, 2018 (Ms2016-015)
Rosemary Beiszner came to Virginia Tech as a foot in the door to the academic world. She attended undergraduate at Mercyhurst College, studying home economics. She went on to pursue a master’s degree in family and child development at Ohio State. Finally, she earned a PhD from Penn State in adult development and aging. In this interview, Rosemary talks about her journey to Virginia Tech, falling in love with the campus, and her thirty-seven year long career here, from a one year teaching position to the Dean of the College of Liberal Arts.
VT Stories Oral History with Frank Beamer, June 7, 2018 (Ms2016-015)
Frank Beamer was born in Mount Airy, North Carolina in 1946, but grew up just across state lines in Fancy Gap, a suburb of Hillsville, Virginia. Growing up on a farm, hard-work was instilled in him from an early age, along with the value of higher education, as per his parents’ expectations. 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.
VT Stories Oral History with Pat Hyer, March 5, 2018 (Ms2016-015)
Pat Hyer grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, in a household where education was paramount. She attended undergraduate school at Hillsdale College, receiving a scholarship to the University of Michigan for a master’s degree in French. After working for a few years, she returned to the University of Michigan for another master’s degree in community college and adult education. She moved to Virginia for her husband’s Ph.D., and began working with female activists groups at ODU. She got her Ph.D. from Virginia Tech, and stayed to work on faculty. 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.
VT Stories Oral History with Mary "Prim" Jones, March 27, 2018 (Ms2016-015)
Mary “Prim” Jones grew up in Blacksburg and around campus. Although she considered other colleges, she chose to attend Virginia Tech for her undergraduate degree, studying mechanical engineering as an early female student. She graduated in 1962, and moved to Northern Virginia and began working at Atlantic Research Corporation as a structural engineer. She eventually got her master’s degree in mechanical engineering from George Washington, and continued working in the field. She was inducted into the Virginia Tech College of Engineering Academy of Engineering Excellence. 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.
VT Stories Oral History with Bill Starnes, April 26, 2018 (Ms2016-015)
William (Bill) Starnes, Jr., Virginia Tech class of 1955, never seriously considered any other school. Bill always knew that he was going to college, and because his father attended the university, having graduated in 1924, it seemed like the perfect place to be. 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.
VT Stories Oral History with Doug Montgomery, March 26, 2018 (Ms2016-015)
Doug Montgomery grew up in Radford, Virginia, playing baseball and golf, knowing that he would continue in higher education. Now a proud triple Hokie of industrial engineering, Doug graduated with a BS, MS, and Ph.D in 1965, 1967, and 1969 respectively. After finishing his PhD, he taught at Georgia Tech for fifteen years, briefly at University of Washington, and landed at ASU. 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.
VT Stories Oral History with Susan Anderson, March 3, 2018 (Ms2016-015)
Susan Anderson got her passion for social justice and community service from her family. From a young age, she was taught by her mother to stand up for those in need. Her grandparents were involved in their communities, and her grandfather worked in public health. 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.
VT Stories Oral History with Ezra "Bud" Brown, April 3, 2018 (Ms2016-015)
Dr. Ezra A. “Bud” Brown grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana knowing he was expected to attend college. After graduating high school, he attended Rice University and after switching majors a few times, ultimately chose math. When he graduated from undergrad, he immediately entered a master’s program at LSU and continued with his Ph.D. He arrived at VPI in 1969, working as a professor and remained for 48 years. In this interview, Bud covers the role of mentorship in his academic career, his journey in becoming a beloved professor, and his love of the school.
VT Stories Oral History with Mayer Levy, April 6, 2018 (Ms2016-015)
Mayer Levy was born and raised in Newport News, Virginia to a VPI family, and came to VPI partly on that influence and through a scholarship. He graduated in 1960 as a biology major, and continued to dental school at Georgetown. After finishing in 1964, he moved back to Newport News and has remained there since. In this interview, Mayer talks about his time at VPI in the Highty-Tighties, working in dentistry, and his work being an active alumni.
VT Stories Oral History with Kimberly Williams, March 20, 2017 (Ms2016-015)
For Kimberly Williams, Virginia Tech has filled many roles. From 2002 to 2008 it was her university, and recently her place of employment – but it is, and has been, much more. A graduate of the class of 2008, she majored in psychology with sociology and creative writing minors. 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.
VT Stories Oral History with Rich and Libby Carpenter, November 19, 2016 (Ms2016-015)
Although Rich and Libby Carpenter each experienced their own unique version of Virginia Tech, they can both attest to the sense of community that they felt during their time here. Rich Carpenter, class of 1967, did not join the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets until after he had already served in the United States Army, so his college lifestyle was different than those of other cadets. Despite these differences, however, Rich continued to maintain his commitment to the Corps, occupying multiple positions on the Honor Court throughout his undergraduate years, and he still formed lasting relationships with other cadets. Following his undergraduate years, Rich went on to receive his master’s degree from Virginia Tech in 1969, as did Libby Carpenter in 1971 as part of the first group of students to receive a master’s degree from Virginia Tech’s English program. The couple stayed in Blacksburg for many years afterwards, with Rich working for an equity investments and insurance company and Libby teaching at Blacksburg High School. Even after they moved the couple remained connected the Virginia Tech, sending a daughter to study interior design and returning for multiple visits. They also fund scholarships for Virginia Tech students and have served on multiple committees and associations through Virginia Tech. Virginia Tech gave Rich and Libby Carpenter a place to begin their lives and start a family together. They created their home in Blacksburg, and they return with fond memories and pride in the direction the university is going.
VT Stories Oral History with Matt Winston Jr., April 6, 2017 (Ms2016-015)
As one of Virginia Tech’s first black graduates, Matt Winston’s father was able to share a number of stories, both positive and negative, about the university. While he did hear stories of his father being called by the university’s president and asked to not attend ring dance so as to avoid stirring racial tensions, Winston was also told stories of the incredible leaders and supportive students within the university. His father told him the truth about some of the hardships he faced at Virginia Tech, but he also made sure to inform Winston of the many positive qualities of the university, particularly in terms of academic excellence. 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.
VT Stories Oral History with Neal Henshaw, April 13, 2017 (Ms2016-015)
Neal Henshaw took a roundabout path to becoming a Hokie. He was born in Buckingham, Virginia, and despite being familiar with Virginia Tech, he decided to go to BYU and pursue Spanish education. After graduation, he worked several jobs to help support his family and put his wife through medical school. After finishing her residency, the Henshaws moved to Blacksburg where Neal began working in Newman Library. As a faculty member, Neal took advantage of free master's classes and got his master's degree in Instructional Design and Technology in 2013. 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.
VT Stories Oral History with Linda Plaut, February 23, 2018 (Ms2016-015)
You don’t have to graduate from Virginia Tech to be a Hokie. After moving to Blacksburg as a faculty spouse, Linda Plaut joined the university’s staff as a part-time teacher. What started as a temporary position blossomed into a permanent career of building lifelong friendships and igniting the torch of gender equality on Virginia Tech’s campus. During her years at Tech, Plaut promoted equal rights among faculty and shed light on gender discrimination throughout history. She continues to exemplify Hokie ideals by advocating civility, inclusion, and creativity within the Blacksburg community. 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.
VT Stories Oral History with Bob Bates, October 2, 2017 (Ms2016-015)
Education has always been important in the life of Robert “Bob” Bates, former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (now College of Science). Both of his parents were college-educated, and his mother was a teacher, while his father worked for the U.S. government. The youngest of four, Bates and his siblings were all expected to attend college. Although it was difficult for his parents to pay for all of their educations, they still made it a priority, and as Bates said, “there was no other option” but for him and his siblings to further their education. 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.
VT Stories Oral History with Mickey Hayes, October 19, 2017 (Ms2016-015)
Mickey Hayes, born as Charles Joseph Hayes, Jr. was born in Pittsburgh in 1941, moved to Norfolk very shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and finally settled in Virginia Beach for the rest of his childhood. Here, he mostly spent his time away from conventional beachside activities. Instead, he fished, crabbed, and went water-skiing on the Lynnhaven River. As a teenager, Mickey grew interested in his parents’ work: operating an ornamental plant nursery. He spent these teenage summers weeding in rows of plants while his friends worked as lifeguards on the beach. But this time Mickey spent working for his parents planted a seed for his future career at Virginia Tech and beyond. 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.
VT Stories Oral History with Matthew Winston Sr., February 9, 2018 (Ms2016-015)
African American history
Matt Winston Sr., Virginia Tech class of 1959, was born in Norfolk, Virginia in 1938, the youngest of three children. Though he grew up in a time of warfare and racial segregation in a poor family, he enjoyed his childhood. He remembers being hardly aware of the hardships around him, to which he says: “Someone was looking after me but I didn’t know it.” 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.
VT Stories Oral History with Todd Ogle, April 03, 2017 (Ms2016-015)
Todd Ogle grew up in Northern Virginia and pursued his undergraduate degree at Virginia Tech from 1992 and 1996. Although he never planned on attending the school, during a visit his loved the student experience and he chose it. During undergrad, he studied communications and eventually pursued a master's and doctorate in teaching instructional technology. In this interview, Todd talks about his undergraduate experience at Virginia Tech, pursuing further education, and coming back to teach at the school. He emphasizes leaving the community better than he found it, and hopes to do so in his work with designing courses for students.
Permission to publish materials from VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech.
VT Stories Oral History with Bill Latham, May 21, 2015 (Ms2016-015)
On the residential side of campus, there is an academic building where researchers from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and College of Natural Resources and Environment (CNRE) work diligently to find solutions to environmental issues and improve the quality of life for all of Earth’s inhabitants. This is Latham Hall. In 2006, Latham Hall was named after an outstanding alumni and integral member of the Hokie community, Bill C. Latham, after he and his wife, Betty, made a large donation to the University to support research. Latham has remained an involved member of the Virginia Tech community since he graduated with a degree in General Agriculture in 1955. 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.
VT Stories Oral History with Bill Roth, January 26, 2018 (Ms2016-015)
Bill Roth grew up in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania playing ice hockey. He attended Syracuse University studying multimedia journalism, wanting to work in sports broadcasting. After graduating, he was hired at Virginia Tech as the “Voice of the Hokies,” doing radio for Virginia Tech athletics, and worked here for 27 years. In this interview, Roth talks about his journey into sports broadcasting, college athletics, and the work which placed him in the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame.
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VT Stories Oral History with Virginia "Ginney" Fowler, March 23, 2018 (Ms2016-015)
Ginney Fowler was born in Lexington, Kentucky but moved around for the majority of her upbringing. From age four to seventeen, she lived in Texas, Montana, Kentucky, Oregon, and Florida, but then entered the University of Kentucky as an early entrant. Although she started as a philosophy major, Ginny switched into English, graduating in 1969. She continued with a graduate program at the University of Pittsburgh, and stayed for a PhD, defending in 1976. She came to Virginia Tech in a stroke of luck. After finishing her PhD, Virginia Tech went through a massive hiring process in building a College of Arts and Sciences. She arrived as an assistant professor in 1977, and spent her career at the school, teaching and writing. Although she began as a Victorian scholar in grad school, her research agenda changed to focusing on female and minority writers, which she emphasizes the importance of. In working at Virginia Tech, she specifically emphasizes the importance of liberal arts education. In this interview, Ginny talks about her journey to arriving at Virginia Tech, changes she’s seen on campus, her research agenda, and concerns she has for the university.
VT Stories Oral History with Jack Evans, March 3, 2017 (Ms2016-015)
Dr. Jack Evans grew up in California before moving to Colorado for several years. He moved again in high school to Reno, Nevada, where he then attended undergraduate at University of Nevada, Reno and majored in biology. After graduation, he planned on moving to Virginia to be closer to his girlfriend (now wife) Mary, with the vague intention of working at Virginia Tech. Jack’s professor at UNR connected him to Dr. Cranford, who then connected him to the Entomology Department, which landed him a job. After falling in love with the campus, he stayed to do his master’s and PhD in education, then began working as a professor in the Department of Biological Sciences. In this interview, Jack covers his life as a first generation college student, moving across the country to Virginia, and becoming a beloved biology professor at the university.
Permission to publish material from the VT Stories Oral History Collection must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives.