T. Marshall Hahn
Encyclopedia
Thomas Marshall Hahn Jr. (born December 2, 1926) was President of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
from 1962 to 1974 and Director of Georgia Pacific from 1983 to 1993. He received his B.S. degree in physics from the University of Kentucky
in 1945.
Born in Lexington, Kentucky, he was educated in the Lexington, Kentucky
public schools before going to the University of Kentucky, where he graduated "with highest honors". After graduation he served in the U.S. Navy and was a physicst for U.S. Naval Ordnance Laboratory
. After his navy service, he went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
, where he earned a Ph.D. in physics in 1949. He was a research assistant at MIT, beginning in 1947. After graduating from MIT, he returned to the University of Kentucky as associate professor and then professor of physics.
In 1954, he went to Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech) in Blacksburg, Virginia as head of the Department of Physics. He was the leading force in establishing a doctoral program in nuclear engineering physics at VPI, and in the acquisition of the nuclear reactor simulator that was put into operation in 1957. He left briefly to serve as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Kansas State University
.
He returned to Virginia Tech as President on July 1, 1962, where he remained until 1975. Dr. Hahn was instrumental in the Virginia Tech's transition from a largely military and overwhelmingly white and male technical institute focused on agriculture and engineering that emphasized undergraduate teaching over research or graduate program to symbolized by its new name, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
, that was a coeducational, multiracial research university with a thriving college of arts and sciences and burgeoning graduate program. During his tenure Virginia Tech tripled in size. During this period, even remote Blacksburg, Virginia was not untouched by the student anti-war protests with Dr. Hahn targeted as a symbol of the bureaucracy. He served until December 31, 1974 and was succeeded as President of Virginia Tech by William E. Lavery in 1975.
Dr. Hahn was chairman and chief executive officer of the Georgia-Pacific Corp. He was with the Georgia-Pacific Corp. since 1973 as director (1973–present); chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer (1984–1985); president and chief executive officer (1983–1984); president and chief operating officer (1982–1983); president (1976–1982); executive vice president, pulp, paper, and chemicals (1975–1976); and executive vice president, chemicals (1975). T. Marshall Hahn Jr. Hahn's tenure as CEO of Georgia Pacific from 1983 to 1993 included the boom years for the paper industry and the GNN takeover. The latter was one of Hahn's strategic decisions to build the paper side of Georgia Pacific's business. Dr. Hahn was instrumental in organizing a cross country tour for the New Virginians
, a Virginia Tech musical group. The tour included stops at Georgia Pacific facilities across the country.
He was Chairman of the Salvation Army
National Capitol and Virginia Divisional advisory board, 1972–74; Chairman, Virginia Cancer Crusade, 1972; member, Virginia State Board of Agriculture and Commerce, 1962–74; member, board of visitors, Ferrum Junior College
, 1966–74; President, Southern Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges; board of visitors, Air University, 1966–69; member, Academic Affairs Commission, American Council of Education; Chairman, Metropolitan Areas Study Commission of Virginia, 1966–68; and member, Governor of Virginia's Commission on Status of Women, 1964-66.
He has been a fellow of the American Physical Society, and a member of the National Science Board, appointed by the President in 1972. His directorships also included the board of control of Southern Regional Education Board; First National -Exchange Bank of Virginia; The Lane Company; Dominion Bankshares, Inc.; Roanoke Electric Steel Corporation, and Shenandoah Life Insurance Company.
He married Peggy Lee Hahn.
.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, popularly known as Virginia Tech , is a public land-grant university with the main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia with other research and educational centers throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and internationally.Founded in...
from 1962 to 1974 and Director of Georgia Pacific from 1983 to 1993. He received his B.S. degree in physics from the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
in 1945.
Born in Lexington, Kentucky, he was educated in the Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky
Lexington is the second-largest city in Kentucky and the 63rd largest in the US. Known as the "Thoroughbred City" and the "Horse Capital of the World", it is located in the heart of Kentucky's Bluegrass region...
public schools before going to the University of Kentucky, where he graduated "with highest honors". After graduation he served in the U.S. Navy and was a physicst for U.S. Naval Ordnance Laboratory
Naval Ordnance Laboratory
The Naval Ordnance Laboratory , now disestablished, formerly located in White Oak, Maryland was the site of considerable work that had practical impact upon world technology. The White Oak site of NOL has now been taken over by the Food and Drug Administration.-History:The U.S...
. After his navy service, he went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
, where he earned a Ph.D. in physics in 1949. He was a research assistant at MIT, beginning in 1947. After graduating from MIT, he returned to the University of Kentucky as associate professor and then professor of physics.
In 1954, he went to Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech) in Blacksburg, Virginia as head of the Department of Physics. He was the leading force in establishing a doctoral program in nuclear engineering physics at VPI, and in the acquisition of the nuclear reactor simulator that was put into operation in 1957. He left briefly to serve as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
.
He returned to Virginia Tech as President on July 1, 1962, where he remained until 1975. Dr. Hahn was instrumental in the Virginia Tech's transition from a largely military and overwhelmingly white and male technical institute focused on agriculture and engineering that emphasized undergraduate teaching over research or graduate program to symbolized by its new name, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, popularly known as Virginia Tech , is a public land-grant university with the main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia with other research and educational centers throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and internationally.Founded in...
, that was a coeducational, multiracial research university with a thriving college of arts and sciences and burgeoning graduate program. During his tenure Virginia Tech tripled in size. During this period, even remote Blacksburg, Virginia was not untouched by the student anti-war protests with Dr. Hahn targeted as a symbol of the bureaucracy. He served until December 31, 1974 and was succeeded as President of Virginia Tech by William E. Lavery in 1975.
Dr. Hahn was chairman and chief executive officer of the Georgia-Pacific Corp. He was with the Georgia-Pacific Corp. since 1973 as director (1973–present); chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer (1984–1985); president and chief executive officer (1983–1984); president and chief operating officer (1982–1983); president (1976–1982); executive vice president, pulp, paper, and chemicals (1975–1976); and executive vice president, chemicals (1975). T. Marshall Hahn Jr. Hahn's tenure as CEO of Georgia Pacific from 1983 to 1993 included the boom years for the paper industry and the GNN takeover. The latter was one of Hahn's strategic decisions to build the paper side of Georgia Pacific's business. Dr. Hahn was instrumental in organizing a cross country tour for the New Virginians
New Virginians
The New Virginians was a musical group from Virginia Tech founded in 1972. Its founder and first director was Stan Kingma, who had directed the Virginia Tech Glee Club, later called the Showmen, which was the nucleus of choral music singing at Virginia Tech...
, a Virginia Tech musical group. The tour included stops at Georgia Pacific facilities across the country.
He was Chairman of the Salvation Army
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
National Capitol and Virginia Divisional advisory board, 1972–74; Chairman, Virginia Cancer Crusade, 1972; member, Virginia State Board of Agriculture and Commerce, 1962–74; member, board of visitors, Ferrum Junior College
Ferrum College
Ferrum College is a private college in Ferrum, Virginia, USA, in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia. Ferrum College has the second-oldest environmental science program in the nation and was ranked 41st by US News and World Report in Comprehensive Colleges–Bachelor's for 2006....
, 1966–74; President, Southern Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges; board of visitors, Air University, 1966–69; member, Academic Affairs Commission, American Council of Education; Chairman, Metropolitan Areas Study Commission of Virginia, 1966–68; and member, Governor of Virginia's Commission on Status of Women, 1964-66.
He has been a fellow of the American Physical Society, and a member of the National Science Board, appointed by the President in 1972. His directorships also included the board of control of Southern Regional Education Board; First National -Exchange Bank of Virginia; The Lane Company; Dominion Bankshares, Inc.; Roanoke Electric Steel Corporation, and Shenandoah Life Insurance Company.
He married Peggy Lee Hahn.
Honors
He was named to the Hall of Distinguished Alumni at the University of Kentucky in 1965. He was recognized by eight different Greek-Letter honorary fraternities. He also received the MIT Corporate Leadership Award (1976), and the same year was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Seton Hall UniversitySeton Hall University
Seton Hall University is a private Roman Catholic university in South Orange, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1856 by Archbishop James Roosevelt Bayley, Seton Hall is the oldest diocesan university in the United States. Seton Hall is also the oldest and largest Catholic university in the...
.