Editor's page

Spring 2017

Volume 39 No. 3 Contents »

Editor
Erica Stacy
Assistant Editor
Mason Adams
Art Director
Robin Dowdy
Tiffany Pruden
Graphic Designers
Sarah Cisneros '15
Amanda Robinson '18
David Stanley '95
Contributors
Shay Barnhart
Kim Bassler '12
Rosemary Blieszner
Juliet Crichton
Shirley Fleet
Allysah Fox '18
Richard Lovegrove
Steven Mackay
Paul Marek
Holly Paulette
Jessie Rogers '18
Gina Tamburro
Laura Wedin '84
Heather Wagoner
Matthew M. Winston Jr. '90
Copy Editors
Juliet Crichton
Richard Lovegrove
Photographers
Jim Stroup
Logan Wallace
Webmaster, Digital Editor
Juliet Crichton
Director of Content Strategy
Jesse Tuel
Director of Design & Digital Strategy
Brad Soucy
Senior Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations
Matthew M. Winston Jr. '90
Publisher
Tracy Vosburgh

Senior associate vice president for university relations

Letters


To the letter

My trip to Virginia Tech for my 50th class reunion brought back memories of my father, Edward L. White '31, who lettered VPI diplomas from 1926 through 1931.

Following graduation, my dad and Lewis Webb '31 started the Division of William & Mary/VPI, which, in 1962, became Old Dominion University. How fondly I remember visiting Blacksburg during the 1950s with my dad. These visits were instrumental in my eventually matriculating to Virginia Tech.

Although I have checked with Special Collections, they have been unable to find a diploma from this era. I'd be interested in seeing if I might locate one of the diplomas my father lettered. I'd love to preserve a picture of one for our family history.

Woody White '66

Atlanta, Georgia

Editor's Note: If you have a diploma lettered between 1926 and 1931 and would like to share a picture with Mr. White, contact vtmag@vt.edu.

Sticky fingers

I wore my VT class ring for a number of years after graduating in 1971. Eventually, it was relegated to a jewelry box in a chest of drawers for safekeeping.

In 1991, movers packed and loaded our belongings for a move to Atlanta. Not long after settling into our new city, I received a call from an Atlanta police detective. He had discovered a Virginia Tech class ring on display at a local pawn shop. He confiscated the ring, called the university alumni office, and identified me as the owner. He kindly returned my ring later that afternoon.

After that, it was back to a box for the ring — a safe deposit box!

Brad Kirk '71

Jacksonville, Florida

A classy legacy

I read with interest the story by Charles Masencup in the fall 2016 issue.

When I started at Tech in 1967, T.J. Horn was associate dean of agriculture. He was a great inspiration to me, and his help gave me the guts to pursue veterinary medicine. As much as a student can consider a dean a friend, I considered him such. One of the things I remember most about him was his well-worn Tech class ring. I remember thinking that it must have a lot of history.

I still have my 1970 class ring, and I wear it on special occasions (I wouldn't want to leave it in a cow). My brother, Gordon Groover (animal science '79, M.S. '88, Ph.D. '01), associate professor emeritus at Tech, lost his ring while fishing with me in Lake Huron. Enjoyed your article very much.

C.A. Groover '71

Pickford, Michigan

Story ideas and letters to the editor

Emailvtmag@vt.edu

Mail – Virginia Tech Magazine (0336); 902 Prices Fork Road; University Gateway Center, Suite 2100; Blacksburg, VA 24061

Onlinesubmission form

Class Notes

Emailfleets@vt.edu

Mail – Class Notes, Alumni Association; Holtzman Alumni Center (0102), Virginia Tech; 901 Prices Fork Rd.; Blacksburg, VA 24061

Onlinesubmission form

Address Changes

Emailalumnidata@vt.edu

Phone – 540-231-6285 (M-F, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.)

Mail – Alumni Association; Holtzman Alumni Center (0102), Virginia Tech; 901 Prices Fork Rd.; Blacksburg, VA 24061

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The university's flagship publication, Virginia Tech Magazine forges stronger relationships among alumni, donors, and friends of Virginia Tech. The magazine highlights the vibrancy of a university on the leading edge of technology, service, learning, research, and scholarship and showcases the achievements of alumni, faculty and staff, and students through a rich array of feature stories, alumni profiles, and university and alumni news. Virginia Tech Magazine is published quarterly by the Office of University Relations, with support from Alumni Relations. The Virginia Tech Foundation underwrites most production costs.