George C. Griffin

Infobox Person
name = George C. Griffin

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image_size = 250px
caption = A statue of George Griffin near the Ferst Center for the Arts
birth_date = 1897
birth_place= Savannah, Georgia
death_date = 1990 (age 93)
death_place=
occupation = Dean of Men

George C. Griffin (1897 - 1990)cite web|url=http://video.library.gatech.edu/griffin/griffin.html|title=George Griffin Photograph Collection|publisher=Georgia Tech Library Archives|accessdate=2007-07-28] 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" [cite news|first=William Lloyd|last=Johnson|url=http://gtalumni.org/StayInformed/magazine/win99/feedback.html|title=Feedback: Johnson: War Years Bring Changing of Guard at Tech|work=Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine Online|publisher=Georgia Tech Alumni Association|date=Winter 1999|accessdate=2007-07-28] and "Mr. Georgia Tech."

Biography

tudent

Griffin was born in Savannah, Georgia and attended Tech from 1914 to 1918, taking a break to serve in World War I; he then attended from 1920 to 1922, receiving a degree in civil engineering in 1922. Griffin was part of the Tech team that is known for the biggest rout in college or professional football, against Cumberland University. Griffin carried the ball four times for 56 yards and two touchdowns. [cite web|url=http://www2.cumberland.edu/about/gotc/pbp.html|title=PLAY-BY-PLAY: GEORGIA TECH 222, CUMBERLAND 0 |date=1916-10-07|accessdate=2007-03-23] cite news|url=http://gtalumni.org/StayInformed/techtopics/win92/griffin.html|title=Welcome to the George C. Griffin Student Galleria|work=Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine Online|publisher=Georgia Tech Alumni Association|date=Winter 1992|accessdate=2007-07-28] He was a member of Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity.

Faculty

In addition to his other roles, Griffin served as a math instructor, assistant football coach, and coach of tennis, track, and cross-country during his career.cite web|title=George C. Griffin|publisher=Georgia Tech Alumni Association|url=http://gtalumni.org/Publications/techtraditions/legends/griffin.html|accessdate=2007-07-28] He would later serve as "placement officer, alumni club ambassador, emergency loan officer for students, raconteur, recruiter, and any other job that needed doing." [cite web|url=http://video.library.gatech.edu/cgi-bin/Griffin/griffin.pl?showpic=GP332&lastpicnum=0&search=Griffin,*George*C&fieldtype=key&dispic=no|title=George C. Griffin|work=George C. Griffin Photograph Collection|publisher=Georgia Tech Library Archives|accessdate=2007-07-28]

From the 1920s to his retirement in the 1980s, many students utilized Griffin's "Hip Pocket Fund," an unofficial loan slush fund financed by area businessmen.cite news|first=Joshua|last=Cuneo|url=http://www.nique.net/issues/2003-10-10/focus/2|title=A Look Back at Tech History: Dean Griffin’s “slush fund” used to help those in need|work=The Technique|date=2003-10-10|accessdate=2007-07-28] "Instead of sending the money back to where it came from, he would dole it out again to whomever he had on his waiting list," allowing the program to become a sort of need-based scholarship. As assistant dean of men, Griffin established a central placement office in the early 1930s.cite book|first=Robert C.|last=McMath|coauthors=Ronald H. Bayor, James E. Brittain, Lawrence Foster, August W. Giebelhaus, and Germaine M. Reed|title=Engineering the New South: Georgia Tech 1885-1985|publisher=University of Georgia Press|location=Athens, GA]

Dean of Men

In March 1941, Griffin was called to active duty as a Captain in the Naval Reserve during World War II and was temporarily replaced by Fred W. Ajax. Griffin became Dean of Men when Floyd Field retired from the position on July 1 1946. In a subsequent reorganization of the institute by Blake R. Van Leer, Griffin was given the duties of "the coordination of religious affairs, the YMCA, the infirmary, and campus director of health." Griffin earned a Master's degree in industrial management in 1957.

Griffin was a popular speaker and wrote a book entitled "Griffin, you are a great disappointment to me". The title is from the following anecdote:

Legacy

Griffin received numerous awards and honors. Most notably, several places and events were named after him, including the "Student Galleria" (which consists of the Student Services Building, the Ferst Center for the Arts and the plaza connecting them) and a track arena. [cite web|url=http://ramblinwreck.cstv.com/genrel/032102aad.html|title=George C. Griffin Track & Field Facility|work=RamblinWreck.com|publisher=Georgia Tech Athletic Association|accessdate=2007-07-28] He received the 1955 Alumni Distinguished Service Award and was posthumously induced into the Pi Kappa Phi Hall of Fame. Upon his retirement, there was a celebration and Georgia Governor Carl Sanders declared May 16 1964 to be "Dean George Griffin Day."cite news|first=Josh|last=Werner|url=http://www.nique.net/issues/1999-05-07/campus%20life/3|title=George Griffin Day allows recognition, rememberance |work=The Technique|date=1999-05-07|accessdate=2007-07-28] "Dean George Griffin Day" was celebrated again on May 14 1999. The Pi Mile Road Race was named after him in honor of his tenure as a track and cross country coach.cite web| title=George C. Griffin Pi Mile Race | publisher = Georgia Tech Alumni Association | url = http://gtalumni.org/Publications/techtraditions/traditions/pimilerace.html | accessdate = 2007-07-28]

References