Irving L. Peddrew, III, poses for his high
school graduation picture.
(Hampton, Virginia, 1953)
(Photo reproduced by Mr. Reuben Burrell, University
Photographer, Hampton, Virginia.)
Events
1950s
Desegregation of the Blacksburg Presbyterian Church. An oral
history interview with Ellison A.
Smyth, church pastor for 21 years, is available. This
interview by Dr. Michael A. Cooke is from the Black Appalachian
Oral History Project, Ms. 91-019, which is housed in
Special Collections of the University Libraries.
1953
Irving L.
Peddrew III was the first black student admitted to
Virginia Polytechnic Institute.
"Virginia Tech Admits First Negro, Student from Hampton," Roanoke Times, September 11, 1953
Irving Peddrew's letter to the Virginia Tech
about his decision not to attend Ring Dance.
Jerry Bonet starts the group (c1953-54) that would evolve into the Council of Human Relations.
Among those attending the early meetings were Irving Peddrew III, Ellison Smyth, Maryanne Matus, John Sears,
and several white students. Early meetings were held at the old Presbyterian Manse and the old Presbyterian Church.
See interview by Michael A. Cooke with Ellison A. Smyth.
1954
Charlie Yates, Floyd Wilson, and Lindsay Cherry matriculate
to VPI.
Oral History Interview with Lindsay Cherry (including additional images)
1955
Matthew Winston (class of 1959)
is the fifth black male student admitted to Virginia Tech.
After graduating, Mr. Winston had a distinguished career as a
researcher for NASA, serving over 35 years. He was awarded an
agency medal for his contributions to equal opportunity
employment within NASA.
1956
Essex
Finney of Powhatan admitted to Virginia Tech. After
completing his degree in Agricultural Engineering in 1959, he
earned his master's from Penn State and his doctorate from
Michigan State. Dr. Finney was a Princeton Fellow in Public
Affairs in the Woodrow Wilson School, Princeton University in
1973-74. He served from July 1980 to June 1981 in the Office
of the Science Advisor to the President in Washington, D. C.,
in the administrations of both Jimmy Carter and Ronald Regan.
In 1985 the College of Engineering of Pennsylvania State
presented Dr. Finney with an Outstanding Engineering Alumnus
Award in recognition of "his expertise in agricultural
research, for his contributions to enhancing the quality of
our nation's food and agricultural products, and for his
invaluable activity within professional agricultural
organizations." Dr. Finney worked for many years in the
Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of the United States
Department of Agriculture. In 1993 he ws appointed Acting ARS
Administrator.
Oral
History Interview with Dr. Essex E. Finney
1958
Charlie L. Yates was the first
black graduate, receiving a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering.
Dr. Yates served on the faculty of Tech for four years in the
Department of Mechanical Engineering (1979-83). He left Tech
in 1983 to head the Engineering Program at Hampton
University, and later he was a visiting associate professor
at Old Dominion University. During this period away from
Tech, he served on the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. Dr.
Yates returned to Tech in July 1987 as an associate professor
in the Department of Aerospace and Ocean Engineering.
Oral History
Interview with Dr. Charlie Yates
"VPI's First Negro Graduate Would 'Do It All Again,'" Norfolk Virginian Pilot, June 10, 1958
1959
James Whitehurst and Robert G. Wells admitted to VPI. Mr.
Whitehurst graduated with a degree in electrical engineering;
Mr. Wells graduated with a degree in metallurgical
engineering.
Mr. Whitehurst later became the first black member of the
Virginia Tech Board of Visitors, as
well as being the first black male to attend the Ring
Dance.
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