October 7 is quite a celebratory day for Georgia Tech:

27 years ago, your FTRS statistician and PTFE'r Bird was born.

95 years ago, Georgia Tech beat Cumberland 222-0.

113 years ago, Georgia Tech opened its doors to students.

Bird's Birthday

We all know what Bird brings to the table on this site. Without him, we wouldn't have our number crunchings, powerpoint picture open threads, or blended RGB-value posts of the ACC. Happy Birthday, Bird, you old man.

Old drivers back in the day

Georgia Tech vs. Cumberland and The Game of The Century

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October 7 is quite a celebratory day for Georgia Tech.

26 years ago, your FTRS statistician and PTFE'r Bird was born.

94 years ago, Georgia Tech beat Cumberland 222-0.

112 years ago, Georgia Tech opened its doors to students.

After the jump we'll deep dive into all three of these significant events.

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NEXT STOP CHARLOTTE!

Called "the most dangerous runner in the country" as a freshman, Clint Castleberry left more than just an athletic legacy. In 1942 he placed 3rd in the Heisman voting behind two seniors. This finish is still the closest a freshman has ever come to winning the coveted trophy. The following year, Castleberry left Georgia Tech to fight in World War II with the intention of continuing his football career after completing his service. During the war he was stationed in Africa, where he co-piloted a B-26 Marauder known as "Dream Girl." In the early morning hours of November 7, 1944, Lt. Castleberry took off from Roberts Field in Liberia to continue a ferrying run up the coast towards Senegal, accompanied by another B-26. Neither of the two planes were ever seen again, despite an extensive six-day search involving American and British search crews. On November 23, 1944, all crew members were officially re-classified from "Missing In Action" to "Killed, No Body." His number, #19, is the only number ever retired for Georgia Tech football.

Leonard Wood was one of the earliest famous alumni of Georgia Tech. Initially a graduate from Harvard Medical School, Wood immediately joined the United States Army, was sent to Arizona, and was instrumental in the capture of the famous Geronimo. Due to his valiant service, he was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. In 1893, Wood was transferred to Atlanta to serve at Fort McPherson . While stationed in Atlanta, he enrolled at the Georgia School of Technology to receive his Master's degree. While he was at Tech,Wood became the captain of the football team as well as the acting coach of the squad. He led the team to Tech's very first victory, a 28-6 triumph over the Georgia Bulldogs. Following the rout, the ever-classless Georgia fans began throwing rocks at the team as they made their way to the train back to Atlanta. Wood was injured during the attack, receiving a large gash on his forehead. In a display of his mettle and fortitude, Wood cleaned his wound and sutured and stitched his own face.

After his time at Georgia Tech, Leonard Wood served as the personal physician to Presidents Grover Cleveland and William McKinley. Once the Spanish-American War broke out in 1898, Wood, under the direction of Teddy Roosevelt, helped form the legendary Rough Riders. Wood was promoted in the field to Brigadier-General and led successful engagements in the Battles of Las Guasimas, Kettle Hill, and San Juan Heights. At the conclusion of the Spanish-American War, Wood was appointed military governor of Cuba from 1899-1902.

During his later years, Leonard Wood's life was just as busy and full of adventure. After leaving Cuba, he was promoted to Major General and was transferred to the Phillippines. There, he became commander of the Philippines Division and eventually served as commander of the Department of the East. In 1910, Wood was appointed as Army Chief of Staff - he remains the only medical officer to ever hold a position on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Leonard Wood died in 1927 from complications during surgery intended to remove a brain tumor. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, and Ft. Leonard Wood in Missouri is named in his honor.

One of the many traditions that freshmen were required to participate in, shirt tail parades were always quite the spectacle for onlookers to witness. Freshmen would form a tunnel after every game for the team to run through while departing the field. Then, if the team was victorious, the freshmen would parade around the streets of Atlanta, many times ending up downtown at Five Points for a pep rally. These parades were sponsored by Ramblin’ Reck Club and Georgia Tech cheerleaders. Participation in the shirt tail parades was taken very seriously, and if freshmen were caught skipping, they would be taken to RAT Court and put on probation. One of the most notable shirt tail parades occurred in 1956 before the game itself was ever played. Governor Marvin Griffin sought to disallow the Tech football team from competing in the Sugar Bowl as the opposing team fielded a black player. When students discovered the governor’s stance, they decided to take action. The shirt tail parade set off towards the Capitol, located just a short distance from campus, only to discover that the governor was at his residence, several miles away. Undeterred, they continued their march to the Governor’s Mansion, where they burned and hung him in effigy. The governor finally conceded to the students’ demands and allowed the football team to make the trip to the Sugar Bowl.

After serving in the Army (1950-52) during the Korean War, he earned a MS degree in Higher Education with certification in Counseling and Guidance from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. While in the service he was selected to be on the Modern Pentathlon National Training Team to prepare for the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki. In 1955, at Miami University, he met and married Gay Kimbrough who was teaching in the Miami University Laboratory School.

In 1957, after five years at Miami and having risen to the rank of Assistant Dean of Men, he accepted a position at Georgia Tech as Assistant Dean of Students. Three years after arriving at Georgia Tech he was made Associate Dean of Students and four years later in 1964 he became the Dean of Students. He retired in 1991 as Vice President/Dean of Students Emeritus. During his 34 years at Georgia Tech, he served nine seated or acting presidents. Enrollment grew from 5,200 in 1957 to 13,000 in 1991. Female enrollment grew from 11 in 1957 to 3,050 in 1991.

Dean Dull was responsible for the coordination of all disciplinary processes and policies. Additionally, he had administrative charge of all Student Personnel Services and activities outside of the curriculum including New Student and Parent Programs, Residence Halls and Family Housing, Student Counseling, Fraternity Affairs, Religious Affairs, International Student Affairs, Community Services, Student Athletic Complex, Health Services, Handicapped Student Services, Student Publications, Student Radio Station WREK, and all student organizations. His pride and joy was serving as advisor to the Student Government and in this capacity he attended weekly meetings for 33 years.

When he retired in 1991 approximately 80% of the living alumni had been students during his career. He remained in contact and corresponded with many of Tech’s alumni since retiring. He was proud of the dramatic growth of Student Affairs facilities, in both quality and number, during his years of service. Residence hall beds grew in number from 1,100 in 1957 to 4,200 in 1991. Family housing units grew from 220 to 300. Construction included a new 60 bed Health Center, a new Student Center, a new Student Athletic Complex, a new Student Services Building and a Theatre Complex including the Dean James E. Dull DramaTech Theatre. For 31 years his family lived on the campus. During this time his wife, Gay, and he were selected to become honorary alumni of Georgia Tech. Together they wrote a book, It’s For You, Thirty-One Years of Our Life On the Georgia Tech Campus. In 1960 he found and acquired the official Ramblin’ Wreck. Later he designed the costume and persona of "Buzz," the Yellow Jacket Mascot; he also inspired the design of the signet class ring. In an extracurricular "options" program he taught students beginning Ballroom Dancing for 30 years. He also organized a national championship winning GA Tech College Bowl Team and trained the Wreckette Dancing and Drill Team. In retirement he remained active with the Theatre Complex and wrote a "50-year History of DramaTech" and the forerunner drama organization "The Georgia Tech Marionettes." He was an active member in the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, Association of Southern Deans, and Southern College Personnel Association. In addition he was a member of ANAK, ODK, Pi Kappa Phi Social Fraternity and Friends of DramaTech. He served on the Council of the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center and the Advisory Board of the Greater Atlanta Council of the Boy Scouts of America (Jim was an Eagle Scout), a member of the Partners Class and the official board of Peachtree Christian Church.

Jim is survived by his wife, Gay, two sons: Dr. John R. Dull and wife, Beth of Atlanta and David A. Dull and wife, Cindy of Winter Springs, FL, grandson, Grant Dull and granddaughter, Taylor Dull. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, April 5, 2:00 p.m., at Peachtree Christian Church, 1580 Peachtree Street, N.W., Atlanta, GA 30309. Rev. Neal P. Ponder officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to the Peachtree Christian Church Columbarium or the DramaTech Scholarship at the Georgia Tech Foundation, 760 Spring Street, N.W., Suite 400, Atlanta, GA 30308. A celebration reception at the church will follow the service. Arrangements by Cremation Society of Georgia, Inc.