20 Common Questions about Georgia Tech
- When was Georgia Tech founded?
- Who were the Presidents of the school?
- Who and when were the first graduates?
- What year did Georgia Tech admit women?
- What year did Georgia Tech begin racial integration?
- Who have been some of the school's more famous alumni?
- When did John Heisman coach at Georgia Tech?
- What years have the football team won the NCAA National Championship?
- When did Georgia Tech's rivalry with the University of Georgia begin?
- What type of vehicle is the Ramblin' Wreck?
- What is 'RATS' abbreviated for and when did that tradition begin?
- When did the school change its name?
- Who is George P. Burdell?
- Have there been pets on campus?
- When did The Varsity / Junior's open?
- When was ANAK founded?
- What and when was the Drown-Proofing class?
- What 1996 Olympic events were held on the Georgia Tech campus?
- When did the campus radio station begin?
- Has the "T" from Tech Towers been stolen?
When was Georgia Tech founded?
Georgia Institute of Technology was founded in 1885 by the Georgia State Legislature. The school first held classes on October 8, 1888.
Who were the Presidents of the school?
The Presidents of Georgia Tech have been:
1888-1896 Isaac
S. Hopkins
1896-1905 Lyman
Hall
1906-1922 Kenneth
G. Matheson
1922-1944 Marion
L. Brittain
1944-1956 B
lake R. Van Leer
1957-1969 Edwin
D. Harrison
1969-1971 Arthur
G. Hansen
1972-1986 Joseph
M. Pettit
1987-1994 John
Patrick Crecine
1994 -- present G. Wayne Clough
Who and when were the first graduates?
The first graduates of the school were Henry L. Smith and George C. Crawford in 1890.
What year did Georgia Tech admit women?
Georgia Tech first allowed women to enroll in 1952. Previously, women were permitted to attend Georgia Tech's Evening School of Commerce.
What year did Georgia Tech begin racial integration?
Racial integration began with the 1961 -1962 school year.
Who have been some of the school's more famous alumni?
A few of the famous alumni from Georgia Tech include:
William A. Alexander (1912) ~ Football Coach
George Griffin (1922) ~ Dean of Students
Bobby Jones (1922) ~ Golfer
Ivan Allen, Jr. (1933) ~ Atlanta Mayor
Jimmy Carter (1946) ~ President
John Young (1952) ~ Astronaut
David Duval (1993) ~ Golfer
When did John Heisman coach at Georgia Tech?
John Heisman coached football at Georgia Tech from 1903-1919. His coaching record for football stands at 102 wins - 29 losses - 7 ties. He also coached baseball for 14 seasons.
What years have the football team won the NCAA National Championship?
The football team has won the National Championship in 1917 (Coach John Heisman), 1928 (Coach William Alexander), 1952 (Coach Bobby Dodd), and 1990 (Coach Bobby Ross).
When did Georgia Tech's rivalry with the University of Georgia begin?
Georgia Tech played its first football game against UGA in 1893. After Georgia Tech severed all athletic ties in 1919 over a particularly offensive insult by UGA, the rivalry was resumed in 1924 and has been continuous since then.
What type of vehicle is the Ramblin' Wreck?
The Ramblin' Wreck is a 1930 Ford Model A Cabriolet Sports Coupe. It leads the football team onto Historic Grant Field for every home game and is a common sight at many school events.
What is 'RATS' abbreviated for and when did that tradition begin?
RATS is an abbreviation for Recently Acquired Tech Students. This tradition of requiring the freshman class to obey certain rules started in 1915. Rat caps were later introduced. They were mandatory for all incoming freshman to wear until hazing laws prohibited this tradition to continue.
When did the school change its name?
The Georgia School of Technology changed its named to the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1948.
Who is George P. Burdell?
George P. Burdell is a fictional student created by Ed Smith in 1927. Smith registered George P. Burdell in all his classes, completed his schoolwork and tests, and saw to his graduation in 1930 with a bachelor's degree. Other students since Smith have helped him to a master's degree and a tour of duty in the military. George P. Burdell is still enrolled at Georgia Tech today.
Have there been pets on campus?
There have been two notable pets on campus. Bruin the Bear was a gift from University of California, Berkeley, after their football team lost to Georgia Tech in the 1929 Rose Bowl. A dog named Sideways lived on campus from 1945-1947, sleeping in the dormitories and attending classes with the students. She was hit by a car and is buried near Tech Tower.
When did The Varsity / Junior's open?
Georgia Tech alumnus Frank Gordy opened the The Varsity in 1928. It is the world's largest drive-in restaurant. Junior's Grill has seen three different locations. It opened in 1948 as Pilgrims. Ten years later, the name changed to Junior's under new ownership and has been kept in the same family ever since.
When was ANAK founded?
The ANAK Society was founded in 1908 as an secretive honorary organization for upperclassmen. Many of the student clubs today owe their beginnings to ANAK including the school's yearbook, newspaper, and Student Government Association.
What and when was the Drown-Proofing class?
Coach Fred Lanoue taught at Georgia Tech from 1936-1965. He is known for the water survival class he developed called Drown-Proofing. This class was a graduation requirement up until 1988.
What 1996 Olympic events were held on the Georgia Tech campus?
Georgia Tech hosted the Swimming and Diving Events in its Aquatic Center for the 1996 Summer Olympics. The Athletes' Village was also located on its campus. Currently the Aquatic Center can be used by faculty/staff/students and the Village is utilized by Georgia State University as dormitories.
When did the campus radio station begin?
The first radio station on campus was a gift from Atlanta Constitution editor Clark Howell in 1924. Its call letters were WBBF. In 1925, the station changed to WGST ( G eorgia S chool of T echnology). It operated as a commercial station with student involvement. WREK, the first and current student-owned and operated station, began in 1968.
Has the "T" from Tech Towers been stolen?
The "T" from Tech Tower has been stolen numerous times in Georgia Tech's history. An article published in a January 1992 issue of The Technique outlines the methods a group of students used to steal the "T". The Class of 1922 presented Georgia Tech with the letters, which were then made of wood. They were replaced by metal frame neon letters in 1949.