Tech Topics - Fall 2007 - (Page 7)

MailCall Deserving Recognition I was more than pleasantly surprised to read in the Summer 2007 TECH TOPICS that Maj. Gen. James W. “Bill” Ray had been made an honorary Georgia Tech alumnus. While a civilian employee of the Army Corps of Engineers’ Europe Division in Frankfurt, Germany, in the mid-1980s, I had the privilege of working for Bill (though we addressed him as general or sir back then). We had an immense workload during that period, providing design and construction support to the U.S. and NATO forces in Europe in the final push to end the Cold War. Gen. Ray was someone for whom you wanted to do your very best, so we did. When he was named Georgia Tech’s vice president of Facilities in 1991, I knew Tech had a great addition to its team, and it’s obvious that he has continued to contribute to Tech’s betterment ever since. Congratulations, Bill. I’m proud to call him a fellow Tech alumnus! JIM MEREDITH, IE 78 Denver A Place for Alumni I Posing with their 1922 Franklin — before it was scrapped for the war effort with 275,000 miles on it — are Paul George, left, ME 42, and Carroll George, Cls 42. Remembering Class of ’42 I really enjoyed Bill Kilpatrick’s “The Class That Went To War” in the Summer 2007 issue of TECH TOPICS. Under costs, he did not mention you could ride the streetcar in Atlanta for 10 cents but if you went to Decatur before getting off it was only 5 cents. Because of an eye injury during a construction accident in 1937 I could not see well enough to get in ROTC in ’38. Dad assigned a 1922 Franklin that was purchased the year I was born to my older brother and me for use to attend Georgia Tech. It had a six-cylinder, air-cooled engine. In the photo, I am the Georgia Tech band member on the left, pictured with my brother, Carroll H. George, Cls 42. We painted “Rattle 8” on the hood, “GA TECH” and “Old Faithful” on each side. We gave our old Franklin a tar and gravel roof made by getting tar from a roofer and white marble chips from the terrazzo contractor at The Varsity. We broke an axle in early 1942. We could not find a replacement, and aluminum from the engine and the skin over the wood frame could be used for the war effort. We scrapped it with only 275,000 miles on it. I missed the graduation ceremony with my class. I was stranded in Whitehead Infirmary with a busted eardrum that happened during a swimming and diving mishap. Later in 1942, I joined the Coast Guard and ended up on a LST — a landing ship tank. We called it a landing ship tub or large slow target. I was on LST 764 at Iwo Jima on D-Day. I was released from active duty in May 1946 and I worked for Combustion Engineering from May 1, 1946, until I retired as a project manager of the fossil fuel boiler division on Dec. 31, 1982. PAUL E. GEORGE, ME 42 Chattanooga, Tenn. Griffin Race Origin Watching the 35th George C. Griffin race sparked great memories (Summer TECH TOPICS). In early 1973, I met with Dean Griffin in his history-laden Knowles Building office to ask if I could put his name on a distance race. He enthusiastically endorsed the idea and agreed to be the official starter and to present the awards. As the founder and director, I had the pleasure of visiting with Dean Griffin before and after the first three Griffin races (1973-75). One of my treasured possessions is a starting line picture of the 1974 race with the inscription: “Congratulations on a fine race. May there be many more. Geo. Griffin.” Dean Griffin’s love of Georgia Tech and distance running make the Griffin race a very special tradition and a powerful annual reminder of Mr. Georgia Tech’s unique legacy. Google reveals that there are a number of pi mile races today; however, there is only one George C. Griffin Pi Mile. The 35th race also was special for me because my son, Kemp, a junior at Georgia Tech, was the ninth-place finisher. L. MCTIER “MAC” ANDERSON, MGT 67 Summerville, S.C. Where Did Tradition Go? Whatever happened to the good ole days of Georgia Tech sports? Although some things have gotten better, some great Tech traditions have faded away. Why don’t the cheerleaders do the “differential” cheer anymore? Did it get banned by political correctness? Where are the flash cards and rat caps? I just don’t think Tech freshmen really “get it” without having to wear the rat caps to the football games. Sitting in the flash card section was always a lot of fun. Why doesn’t the band play the theme song from “Peter Gunn” anymore at the basketball games? It just isn’t a Tech basketball game without Peter Gunn! I’m tired of complaining to all my old fogey friends about these things. If any of the rest of you are out there pining for a little tradition TECHTOPICS revival, let your voices be heard. Please, for the sake of us old-timers, bring back Tech traditions. Go Jackets! GINA CARR, IE 84 Woodstock, Ga. WE WELCOME YOUR LETTERS The Georgia Tech alumni publications, TECH TOPICS and the ALUMNI MAGAZINE, welcome letters to the editor. Please include your full name, address and telephone number. Letters may be edited for clarity, space and content. Georgia Tech Alumni Publications 190 North Ave., Atlanta, GA 30313 E-mail: editor@alumni.gatech.edu Fax: (404) 385-4637 n this issue you’ll see an announcement about a new goal that we’re taking on here at the Association. The Georgia Tech Alumni Association building is old and decrepit and it needs a major renovation. We’ve been operating with duct tape, glue and lots of patience to make it work but we’re at a point in our history where it’s time to set the stage for the next 100 years, which is a good segue for me to tell you that the Alumni Association will be celebrating its 100-year anniversary in 2008. Just imagine, for almost 100 years our alumni have banded together to support this great institution, thereby enabling it to become one of the most progressive and innovative universities in the world. Examples abound on campus. Technology Square is one. The Campus Recreation Center is another. They are two crown jewels of Georgia Tech that are direct results of Roll Call giving for 60 years. But we’ve not built a place for alumni at Tech. The Alumni Center@Georgia Tech will be a new home for alumni on campus. A place where we can expand our career services for alumni. A place where we can host many of our great events and yours too. A place where alumni can congregate with each other to support Tech. A place where students can engage with alumni. A place to visit the great history of Tech. This and a lot more. We’re planning an annex of roughly the same size as the existing building. But all of this is with an eye to the future. The times are changing but our mission to promote and serve the alumni and the Institute has not. We have to have the appropriate resources to achieve that mission and this project is one of those resources. We can’t do it without your help and support. Send address changes to: bioupdate@alumni.gatech.edu JOSEPH P. IRWIN President Georgia Tech Alumni Association | FALL 2007 7

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Tech Topics - Fall 2007

Contents Mail Call Alumni House Historic Renovation 007 Buzz Bash Dazzling Daylilies Living History Cover Story: Key to the City The Hill Tapping Technology Robotics Rivalry No Easy Ride Giving Back Balancing Act Student Life Burdell & Friends Epic Story of Heroism Yellow Jackets Very Good Team Passport to Retirement Real World

Tech Topics - Fall 2007

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