Georgia Tech Alumni Association
Encyclopedia
The Georgia Tech Alumni Association is the official alumni association
for the Georgia Institute of Technology
(Georgia Tech). Originally known as the Georgia Tech National Alumni Association, it was chartered in June 1908 and incorporated in 1947. Its offices have been in the L. W. "Chip" Roberts, Jr.
Alumni House on North Avenue
since 1979.
Its first presidents (starting in 1921) were William H. Glenn
, followed by L. W. Robert, Jr.
and Y. Frank Freeman
. The current president and CEO of the alumni association is Joseph P. Irwin, who has held the post since 1999. Other notable presidents include Cherry L. Emerson
, Bobby Jones
, and Frank A. Hooper
.
As of June 2010, there were approximately 126,000 living alumni of Georgia Tech. Since 2006, Georgia Tech alumni have given between $30 million to $40 million a year, providing about 30 to 40 percent of the institute's development funds. Georgia Tech is ranked third in alumni giving among public universities, and 26th overall.
on June 28, 1906 and was approved two years later by Fulton County on June 20, 1908. The organization published its first annual report in 1908, but was largely dormant due to the pressures of World War I. The organization played an important role in the 1920s Greater Georgia Tech Campaign, which consolidated all existing alumni clubs and funded a significant expansion of Georgia Tech's campus.
In 1923, the alumni association created one of its most popular programs, an alumni placement service. In 1932, the service was reorganized and run by Dean George C. Griffin
and Fred W. Ajax until budget cuts returned forced the program's return to the alumni association in 1949. The alumni association's placement service is now known as "JacketNet Jobs".
In 1947, prompted by the Georgia Board of Regents
' critical lack of funding for the school, the association organized the annual Alumni Roll Call, which asked graduates to donate according to their ability; the fundraiser continues to this day. The association won numerous awards for the performance of the Roll Call from the American Alumni Council; this included the organization's highest award, the Alumni Service Award, in 1967 for the development and operation of the Joint Tech-Georgia Development Fund.
Also in 1947, the association polled all existing alumni on whether the school should change its name from the Georgia School of Technology to the Georgia Institute of Technology; the alumni voted 5,113 to 1,495 in favor of the change, a result that Georgia Tech president Blake R. Van Leer took to the Georgia Board of Regents to convince them to allow the name change. The alumni association (and association president Fred Storey in particular) was influential in the finding and selection of Georgia Tech president Edwin D. Harrison
in 1957.
The organization is the sole subject of a published book, Ramblin' Wrecks from Georgia Tech: A Centennial History of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association.
Alumni association
An alumni association is an association of graduates or, more broadly, of former students. In the United Kingdom and the United States, alumni of universities, colleges, schools , fraternities, and sororities often form groups with alumni from the same organisation...
for the Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
(Georgia Tech). Originally known as the Georgia Tech National Alumni Association, it was chartered in June 1908 and incorporated in 1947. Its offices have been in the L. W. "Chip" Roberts, Jr.
L. W. Robert, Jr.
Lawrence Wood "Chip" Robert, Jr. was a 1908 graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology and founder of noted Atlanta engineering and architectural firm, Robert and Company.-Early life and education:...
Alumni House on North Avenue
North Avenue (Atlanta)
North Avenue in Atlanta is a major avenue in Atlanta that divides Downtown Atlanta from Midtown Atlanta. North Avenue stretches continuously in Atlanta from Candler Park in the east, across Interstate 75 & Interstate 85, along the southern boundary of the Georgia Institute of Technology, to Joseph E...
since 1979.
Its first presidents (starting in 1921) were William H. Glenn
William H. Glenn
William H. Glenn was an 1891 graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology and president of the Southeastern Compress and Warehouse Company.-Early life and education:...
, followed by L. W. Robert, Jr.
L. W. Robert, Jr.
Lawrence Wood "Chip" Robert, Jr. was a 1908 graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology and founder of noted Atlanta engineering and architectural firm, Robert and Company.-Early life and education:...
and Y. Frank Freeman
Y. Frank Freeman
Young Frank Freeman was an American film company executive for Paramount Pictures. Freeman graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1910. In addition to his work with Paramount, he also worked with banking, higher education, and athletics.He was the first winner of the Jean Hersholt...
. The current president and CEO of the alumni association is Joseph P. Irwin, who has held the post since 1999. Other notable presidents include Cherry L. Emerson
Cherry Logan Emerson (engineer)
Cherry Logan Emerson, Sr. was an American engineer and academic administrator.-Education:Emerson graduated from Georgia Tech with two bachelor's degrees: one in mechanical engineering and one in electrical engineering...
, Bobby Jones
Bobby Jones (golfer)
Robert Tyre "Bobby" Jones Jr. was an American amateur golfer, and a lawyer by profession. Jones was the most successful amateur golfer ever to compete on a national and international level...
, and Frank A. Hooper
Frank Arthur Hooper
Frank Arthur Hooper was a United States federal judge.-Early life and education:Born in Americus, Georgia, Hooper attended Boys High School in Atlanta, Georgia. He attended the Georgia Institute of Technology, but left for medical reasons...
.
As of June 2010, there were approximately 126,000 living alumni of Georgia Tech. Since 2006, Georgia Tech alumni have given between $30 million to $40 million a year, providing about 30 to 40 percent of the institute's development funds. Georgia Tech is ranked third in alumni giving among public universities, and 26th overall.
History
Georgia Tech was founded in 1885 and opened in 1888, and the first two graduates matriculated in 1890. Attempts at forming an alumni association had been made since 1896, until a charter was applied for by J. B. McCrary and William H. GlennWilliam H. Glenn
William H. Glenn was an 1891 graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology and president of the Southeastern Compress and Warehouse Company.-Early life and education:...
on June 28, 1906 and was approved two years later by Fulton County on June 20, 1908. The organization published its first annual report in 1908, but was largely dormant due to the pressures of World War I. The organization played an important role in the 1920s Greater Georgia Tech Campaign, which consolidated all existing alumni clubs and funded a significant expansion of Georgia Tech's campus.
In 1923, the alumni association created one of its most popular programs, an alumni placement service. In 1932, the service was reorganized and run by Dean George C. Griffin
George C. Griffin
George C. Griffin served in various positions at his alma mater, the Georgia Institute of Technology, most notably as Dean of Men from 1946 to 1964. He was known variously as "the best friend of all Tech men" and "Mr. Georgia Tech."-Student:...
and Fred W. Ajax until budget cuts returned forced the program's return to the alumni association in 1949. The alumni association's placement service is now known as "JacketNet Jobs".
In 1947, prompted by the Georgia Board of Regents
Georgia Board of Regents
The Georgia Board of Regents oversees the University System of Georgia as part of the state government of Georgia in the United States. The University System of Georgia is composed of all state public institutions of higher education.-History:...
' critical lack of funding for the school, the association organized the annual Alumni Roll Call, which asked graduates to donate according to their ability; the fundraiser continues to this day. The association won numerous awards for the performance of the Roll Call from the American Alumni Council; this included the organization's highest award, the Alumni Service Award, in 1967 for the development and operation of the Joint Tech-Georgia Development Fund.
Also in 1947, the association polled all existing alumni on whether the school should change its name from the Georgia School of Technology to the Georgia Institute of Technology; the alumni voted 5,113 to 1,495 in favor of the change, a result that Georgia Tech president Blake R. Van Leer took to the Georgia Board of Regents to convince them to allow the name change. The alumni association (and association president Fred Storey in particular) was influential in the finding and selection of Georgia Tech president Edwin D. Harrison
Edwin D. Harrison
Edwin Davies Harrison was the sixth president of the Georgia Institute of Technology , from 1957 to 1969. It was in Harrison's honor that the first 'T' was stolen from the face of Tech Tower....
in 1957.
Publications
The alumni association produces a monthly magazine that chronicles the accomplishments of Georgia Tech, its faculty and its alumni. Initially founded in 1923 as the Georgia Tech Alumnus under editor Albert H. Staton, who left to work in industry; his place was taken by R. J. Thiesen who was editor of the magazine until 1951. In 1969, the publication had a circulation of 20,000. The publication is now the Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine. A companion publication to the Alumni Association Magazine was established in 1965 as a quarterly newsletter and named Tech Topics. This publication won national Newsletter of the Year in 1967.The organization is the sole subject of a published book, Ramblin' Wrecks from Georgia Tech: A Centennial History of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association.