Photograph of Walter S. Newman

Photograph of Walter S. Newman

Born July 20, 1895, in Woodstock Virginia, son of WaIter Hickman and Sallie Bird Stephenson Newman. Attended Shenandoah County schools. Received A.B. at Hampden-Sydney, 1917; M.S., VPI, 1919; Ph.D., Pennsylvania State, 1931; and honorary LL.D. from both Roaonke College, 1949, and Hampden-Sydney, 1959. Married Liz Otey Hoge of Blacksburg, June 23, 1920; had one son. Was vocational agriculture teacher in Windsor, Virginia, 1912-22; associate professor of vocational education at VPI 1922-25; state superintendent of vocational education, 1925-30 and 1931-42; assistant state superintendent of public instruction, 1942-46; state administrator of National Youth Administration, 1936-42; one of founders of Future Farmers of Virginia (later grew into Future Farmers of America) in 1926. Named VPI's first vice-president in 1946. Elected president Sept. 1, 1947, at age 52. Retired June 30, 1962, and elected president emeritus and honorary member of the class of 1962. Elected president of National Bank of Blacksburg in 1967. Presented the Ruffner Medal in 1977. Lived in Blacksburg until his death on June 29, 1978, at age 82.

Source: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Historical Data Book: Centennial Edition, ed. Jenkins Mikell Robertson, Bulletin of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, vol. 65, no. 4, 71.

Historical Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives

newman

[image name], Historical Photograph Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va.