It is a sad day for Virginia Tech.  My prayers go out to all involved.  I graduated in Metallurgical Engineering in 1952 and will always have a place in my heart for Virginia Tech. (Fred Preston '51 Met E. 4/17/07)

What is a Hokie and why are the colors Orange & Maroon?

The answer leads all the way back to 1896 when Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College changed its name to Virginia Polytechnic Institute. With the change came the necessity for writing a new cheer and a contest for such a purpose was held by the student body. Senior O.M. Stull won first prize for his "Hokie" yell which is still used today. Later, when asked if "Hokie" had any special meaning, Stull explained the word was solely the product of his imagination and was used only as an attention-getter for his yell. It soon became a nickname for all Tech teams and for those people loyal to Tech athletics. The official university school colors - Chicago Maroon and Burnt Orange - also were introduced in 1896. The colors were chosen by a committee because they made a "unique combination" not worn elsewhere at the time. As a matter of information, the original name of Virginia Tech was PRESTON AND OLIN INSTITUTE. Preston was for William Preston of the Smithfield Prestons. [GENEALOGY NOTE: The Carol Newman Library at Virginia Tech contains considerable genealogy on both the Smithfield and Walnut Grove Prestons.] I am not sure of the dates but I believe it was formed in 1872 as Preston and Olin Institute. Later it became Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical, Virginia A&M, then Virginia Polytechnic Institute and finally "and State University" was added. Until the end of World War II it was primarily a military college where students wore uniforms all the time similar to West Point, Virginia Military Institute (VMI) and others. With veterans coming back they obviously did not have to take ROTC so the civilian population increased dramatically. Later, being a member of the corp was made optional however, I believe taking military courses for ROTC was still required.