Centennial Series Podcast
Being Buzz
The second woman to be Tech's mascot, Buzz, Erin Kerr Lovelace, ME 2006, tells of the fun and wonder of playing the role and what it meant to her. It was recorded on June 26, 2007.
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Batman
Bolivar Aviles-Alfaro, IM 1959, remembers a most unusual management instructor, Professor Brown, who was more commonly known on the Campus as "Batman." Here he describes the professor and how he earned the nickname. It was recorded on August 14, 2007.
The Early Days of WGST
Martial Honnell has three EE degrees from Georgia Tech earned in 1934, 1940 and 1945. He worked at the EES and WGST Radio during his years on Campus. With humor he tells of the early days of Tech's station and how much he enjoyed the work. It was recorded on June 14, 1996.
City Planning Goes to Russia
Emily Grigsby, MS City Planning '75, entered Tech as a mature adult because she wanted to do something interesting. Here she recalls the programs early beginnings within Civil Engineering and a trip to Russia and Scandinavia that she took with her classmates. It was recorded on February 17, 2004.
Integrating the Dorms at Tech
Enoch Ward, CH E 1968, came to Georgia Tech from Augusta after he was accepted to find that he would be the first black student to live in a dormitory. Here he recalls the experience and how it was handled with a minimum amount of fan fare. It was recorded on August 1, 2000.
Facts About Playing Pro Basketball From the Dean
When Ron Scharf, IM 1965, was offered a contract by the Cincinnati Royals to play guard upon graduation, he stopped by Dean Griffin's office to talk it over with him. The Dean did a pretty good job of explaining things that Ron hadn't thought about; facts that later proved to be very helpful in planning his career. It was recorded on May 9, 2008.
Risking An Army Career At Tech
Retired Brigadier General Peter Madsen, MS CE 1980, describes his surprise and then panic when he discovered just how tough academics were at Tech when he began classes to earn his master's degree. Although he went on to become a general, for awhile he wondered if he was going to ruin his career. It was recorded on December 1, 2005.
It Wasn't Mayberry But It Came Pretty Close
Warm memories of Washington, Georgia are shared by Oliver Sale, ME 1956 where he spent his summers with his grandfather who was the Chief of Police ala Sheriff Andy Griffin. It was an innocent time and keeping order in the small town certainly demonstrates how times have changed. It was recorded on February 6, 2002.
Lifestyle of Young Single Women in 1951
Honorary Alumna 1989 Gay McLawborn Love remembers her decision to try a career in merchandising in lieu of teaching school when she graduated from Duke in 1951. Atlanta offered many opportunities for young women for work and a social life. It was recorded on June 14, 2000.
Engineering For Academics and Fun
When the time came for David Sheldon, ME 1993 to choose a college to attend, he thought he had a good game plan and Tech wasn't high on the list. A campus visit changed his mind though thanks to a video of a Ramblin' Wreck Parade. It was recorded on February 4, 2004.
You Have to Be Lucky—Darn Lucky
According to past president of Lockheed, Robert Ormsby, AE 1945, he climbed the ladder at the company rather quickly because he had some skills, but also because he was very lucky. He never had a career plan but just happened to be in the right place at the right time as he looks back on his career. It was recorded on October 24, 1995.
An Audition For Scarlett in Gone With the Wind
From 1946 through 1965, Atlanta actress Mary Nell Santacroce was the director of Georgia Tech's DramaTech. Here she recalls the time, as a coed at UGA, she was given the opportunity to audition for the part of Scarlett O'Hara. Calling it a dead end story, Mary Nell provides many details of her great adventure. It was recorded on April 9, 1996.
A Grand Slam Friendship with Bobby Jones
Charlie Yates, GS 1935, was a good athlete and loved to play golf. Although he was 13 years younger than Bobby Jones, they often played together. Jones became a good friend and Charlie tells how he valued his famous golfing partner and their friendship. It was recorded on October 31, 1995.
It Could Have Been Worse—But Not Much!
Roger Kaiser, IM 1961, was a high school basketball super star in Indiana and heavily recruited by many colleges, including Georgia Tech. Coach Whack Hyder persuaded Roger to come to Tech because he needed him, but once Roger got here, he worried about what he had gotten himself into. It was recorded on March 12, 2008.
On the Process of Becoming Ms Georgia Tech
One of the rituals of Homecoming is the selection of Mr. & Ms Georgia Tech. The annual process gets underway when a student is nominated and gains a sponsor. Saira Amir, PubP 2006 and Ms Georgia Tech in 2005, explains how it all happened to her and how she felt. The story was recorded on June 06, 2006.
Coach Bobby Dodd and Football in the 1950s
The late George Morris, Jr., IM 1953, was a member of the 1952 Champion Yellow Jackets serving as co-captain that year. Bigger than life himself, here he shares his impressions of the legendary Coach Dodd, as not only his coach, but also of Dodd’s attitude toward his charges and his expectations of them. It was recorded on June 27th, 2001.
Communication Technology at Tech in 1920
With humor and a few chuckles, Alfred Rumble, EE 1924, explains the mechanics of discovering and using the magic of radio to communicate when he came to Tech in 1920. A bit of wire and some imagination and he was in business. It was recorded on August 16, 1995.
Welcome to Paper Mill Protocol 101
When Elizabeth Martin, Chem E 1978 accepted her first job after getting out of Georgia Tech, she didn’t realize that she would be the first woman to work as a professional engineer in the paper mill. She remembers being introduced to safety practices and learning the ropes from an old pro. The story was recorded on February 22, 2001.
Starting a School With 75 Cents
The late Elliott Galloway, founder of The Galloway School, recalls with delight the humble beginning of the well-known Atlanta school. His confidence and determination was not dimmed by the lack of a facility, financing or anything else. His story was recorded on June 28, 2000.
Learning to Study by Running Track
Charles Henson, IM 1947, thought he was more than ready to handle Tech's academic challenges, but quickly found out otherwise. Family friend, Red Barron advised him to go on the track team. He did and learned to survive the hard way. It was recorded on April 9, 2008.
The Gruff But Gentle Dean
There are hundreds of stories about Tech's beloved dean, George C. Griffin, but this one by A.D. Little, IM 1953, portrays the dean's unique relationship with the students particularly well. It was recorded on July 24, 2003.
Being First is Never Easy
Dr. Patricia Hull, PhD PHYS 1970, was the first woman to earn a PhD at Georgia Tech. Although women had been earning degrees at Tech since 1956, Dr, Hull found that Tech was not receptive to giving women just any degree, and certainly not if it could be earned at another Georgia school. The story was recorded on February 28, 2008.
A World War II Hero's Story
Ron Yeakle, IM 1948, was a B-24 Bomber pilot in 1942. His plane was shelled at 22,000 feet and here he remembers the harrowing story of bailing out, being captured and spending five months in solitary—and that was only the beginning of this POW’s story. It was recorded on October 29, 2003.
How Georgia Tech Got To Singapore
Dr. John J. Jarvis, retired faculty and Honorary Alumnus 1991, facilitated the establishment of a Georgia Tech presence in Singapore and served as the program's director for two years. He tells the story from the beginning and how he happened to take the position in the first place. It was recorded on January 25, 2005.
On Becoming a San Francisco '49er!
Lawyer Vernon Strickland, TE 1998, overcame many difficulties to realize his dream of playing pro football, including a life-threatening bout with leukemia. In this story, he describes the thrill of being recruited by the San Francisco '49ers—his "mountaintop experience" when the dream came true. It was recorded on April 2, 2008.
Remembering Frank Roman
The late Holmes Frederick, ME 1927, came to Georgia Tech in 1923, a country boy excited to be in the big city. Since he had played a horn in his high school band he signed on with Frank Roman to be in Tech's Marching Band. He describes the experience with glee and offers us a unique insight on the little leader/barber known as "Wop." It was recorded on December 15, 1997.
Reflections of a Space Traveler
Astronaut Nancy Jan Davis, BIO 1975, shares her thoughts on being a part of the space program and some advice for those who aspire to that role. It was recorded on July 10, 2002.
Turn Around Times in GT Sports
Dr. Stephen Brossette, PHY 1993, considers himself very fortunate to have been at Tech during the early '90s when both the football and basketball teams experienced renaissance periods. He recalls the experience of what a great time it was to be at Tech. It was recorded on February 4, 2004.
A Remarkable Tech Recruiter
When Juan Michelena, ME 1962, was a senior high school student in Cuba he knew he would be going to college in the United States and was thinking of Rensselaer Polytechnic. An American he knew from the local marina advised him otherwise and thus Ernest Hemingway played the role of a Tech recruiter. It was recorded on April 22, 2004.
Rallying Around T-Man and T-Square
Charles Redding III, CE 1975, was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and got very involved in Campus life during his days at Tech. The brothers helped to plan the weekly pep rallies held a day or two before the football games in the fall. Here, he describes the principal characters in the skits that were performed on the field during the rallies. It was recorded on April 10, 2007.
Traveling with Dean Griffin and Coach Alex
While serving as the track manager in the 1930s, Sam Fowler, CE 1938, had the unique opportunity to travel to meets and conferences with both Dean George Griffin and Coach Alexander. He recalls the experience fondly. It was recorded on January 16, 2005.
Commencement Times Four and a Move to the Coliseum
Retired Vice President Dr. Richard Fuller was assigned the duty of increasing commencement to four times each year and yet control the cost. He decided the time had come to leave The Fox Theatre and move to the Coliseum and explains his grand plan as to how it would happen. It was recorded on May 1, 2003.
Mischief Runs Amok in Harrison Dorm
James Lee Adams, IM 1965, describes some extracurricular activities during his time as a resident of Harrison Dormitory - a time that actually came to an end because of such activities! A hilarious account of what boys can get into with seemingly no effort at all. It was recorded on March 14, 2002.
Coming from Emory Without Enough English
Sarah Hoagland, STaC 1998, transferred into Georgia Tech from Emory University because she was interested in technology policy. She had exempted English courses at Emory since she had honors credits from high school but Tech was looking for more. It was recorded on July 24, 2000.
Mrs. Eisenstein Saves the Day
Aleksander Szlam, EE 1974, MS EE 1980, who immigrated to the United States from Poland in 1970, remembers the amazing Mrs. Eisenstein who managed to get him admitted to Tech even though he didn't speak any English through her high sense of drama and Dean Dull's soft heart. It was recorded January 18, 2008.
1996 Olympic Campus Accommodations
During the Olympics, many of the Campus staff had to make some unusual adjustments and arrangements to keep things running smoothly. Director of Purchasing at Tech, Delores Gaddis, on staff from 1964 through 1997, recalls how she lived in her office during the week to be available in order to meet the demands of her job. It was recorded on April 15, 1999.
Rugby at Tech and Anywhere in the World
Rugby was played as an intramural sport at Georgia Tech and Arthur Graham, CH E 1987, loved it from the start. Here he describes how he discovered it and came to make it a big part of his life even after he got out of Tech. It was recorded on February 10, 2005.
Keeping Score at Football Games in the 1930s
When Hal Strickland, Ch E 1936 joined a fraternity at Tech, he found himself part of the scorekeepers' group for the Jackets' Saturday games. He tells the story of his debut at the job and how he managed to mess it up. It was recorded on February 20, 2007.
Living on a Porch and Really Liking It
Sally Lam Woo, CH E 1966, came to Tech when women were few and housing very hard to come by. She had to room with a family and travel to school by bus for her first quarter and so she was happy to get a space to live at Mrs. Van Leer's house on 5th Street, even though it meant living on the porch. Sally recalls her life during her freshmen year at Tech. It was recorded on October 29, 2001.
The Case of the Saudis, a $760 Million Check and A Deposit Solution
Major General Bill Ray, retired faculty and honorary alumnus 2006, tells the amazing story of recovering expenses for U.S. troops stationed in Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm and how the check got deposited in a most unusual manner. It was recorded on June 24, 2002.
Behind the Scenes at Disney World
Just how does Disney World create the magic of continuity? Joey Lloyd, ME 1988, describes the efforts that go into keeping "the show on the road" from his unique perspective as the senior engineer of ride and show at Disney World. It was recorded on February 28, 2006.
Strike Up The Band - Here Comes the What?
Band members were hard to come by during World War II and here Jack Causey, EE 1949, describes how he was recruited right off the field to participate in the marching band with a rather unusual instrument. He also tells the tale of a soggy performance that left the listeners wondering where the band went. It was recorded on April 8, 1999.
How Bobby Came to Tech
Bobby Cremins, head coach of men's basketball at Tech from 1981 to 2000, recalls his interview with Dr. Homer Rice and remembers that he wasn’t at all prepared for it. He was very surprised when Dr. Rice called him back five weeks later and he returned to the campus and was offered the job. It was recorded on April 28, 2005.
Mapping the Heart
Sheryl Prucka, EE 1982, and her husband created a cardiac mapping program in 1988 that enabled less invasive treatment for simple tachycardia. She talks about how it became the genesis of their engineering company which was later bought by General Electric. It was recorded on November 30, 2000.
Early 20th Century Technology in the Shops and on Campus
Tom Edwards, EE 1928, of Lake Worth, Florida tells about events in his junior and senior years at Tech that involved the machine shop and woodworking shops that defined the technology challenges of his day. It was recorded April 21, 2004.
A Carefully Crafted Plan Earns Honors at Tech
Patrise Perkins-Hooker, IM 1980, an eminently successful attorney in Atlanta, describes the making of history at Georgia Tech by the African-American students who reached critical mass in 1976 and her plan to face the academic challenges while she was here. It was recorded on August 20, 2003
Not So Sunny Vacation Day Memories
Anne Marie Eaton, who attended Tech in 1942-43 as part of the Federal Manpower Act, was born in Manheim, Germany in 1907. Here she tells the story of the beginning of WWI and the impact it had on her family. It was recorded on February 22, 1999.
London, Churchill and Very Foggy Days
Retired faculty member, Dr. John Endicott, now president of Woo Song University in South Korea, recalls experiences he had as a student in London when he was about 15 years old. Endicott was in England with his father for one year and had the opportunity to attend Parliament and see the great Winston Churchill in action. It was in 1951 and Churchill was in his late 70's at the time. It was recorded on July 27, 2007
Westward Ho to Taliesin: A Visit With Mr. Wright
Robert Broward, ARCH 1951, of Jacksonville, Florida tells about his first meeting with Architect Frank Lloyd Wright over the Christmas break in 1949. It was recorded March 1, 2006.
Following Up With Mr. Hoover
Dr. G.B. Espy, ME 1957, is a practicing obstetrician in Cobb County. This story is about how he came to enroll at Georgia Tech by way of the FBI and Mr. J. Edgar Hoover. It was recorded on June 07, 2007.