George C. Griffin
Encyclopedia
George C. Griffin 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" and "Mr. Georgia Tech."
and attended Tech from 1914 to 1918. He signed up 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 touchdown
s. He was a member of Pi Kappa Phi
Fraternity.
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. "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.
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:
and the plaza connecting them) and a track arena. 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." "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.
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
, most notably as Dean of Men
Dean (education)
In academic administration, a dean is a person with significant authority over a specific academic unit, or over a specific area of concern, or both...
from 1946 to 1964. He was known variously as "the best friend of all Tech men" and "Mr. Georgia Tech."
Student
Griffin was born in Savannah, GeorgiaSavannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
and attended Tech from 1914 to 1918. He signed up to serve in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
; he then attended from 1920 to 1922, receiving a degree in civil engineering
Civil engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
in 1922. Griffin was part of the Tech team that is known for the biggest rout in college or professional football, against Cumberland University
Cumberland University
Cumberland University is a private university in Lebanon, Tennessee, United States. It was founded in 1842, though the current campus buildings were constructed between 1892 and 1896.-History:...
. Griffin carried the ball four times for 56 yards and two touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s. He was a member of Pi Kappa Phi
Pi Kappa Phi
Pi Kappa Phi is an American social fraternity. It was founded by Andrew Alexander Kroeg, Jr., Lawrence Harry Mixson, and Simon Fogarty, Jr. on December 10, 1904 at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina...
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. He would later serve as "placement officer, alumni club ambassador, emergency loan officer for students, raconteur, recruiter, and any other job that needed doing."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. "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.
Dean of Men
In March 1941, Griffin was called to active dutyActive duty
Active duty refers to a full-time occupation as part of a military force, as opposed to reserve duty.-Pakistan:The Pakistan Armed Forces are one of the largest active service forces in the world with almost 610,000 full time personnel due to the complex and volatile nature of Pakistan's...
as a Captain in the Naval Reserve
United States Navy Reserve
The United States Navy Reserve, until 2005 known as the United States Naval Reserve, is the Reserve Component of the United States Navy...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
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 ArtsFerst Center for the Arts
The Robert Ferst Center for the Arts, located in Atlanta, Georgia, is Georgia Tech's theater and arts center and is adjacent to DramaTech, the student run theater...
and the plaza connecting them) and a track arena. 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
Carl Sanders
Carl Edward Sanders Sr. is an American politician who served as the 74th Governor of the state of Georgia from 1963 to 1967.Sanders was born in Augusta, Georgia and attended the University of Georgia on a football scholarship...
declared May 16, 1964 to be "Dean George Griffin Day." "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.