N&W and VPI

[NW Mailing List]

The N&W and Virginia Polytechnic Institute (now better known as Virginia Tech) have had a long relationship.  At one time the N&W was known as a VPI company because of the number of VPI graduates employed by the railroad.

Then, there was the N&W photo and document collection that was on deposit at Va. Tech until recently.

Probably less well know is the relationship between the N&W and the VPI (Va. Tech) school song, "Tech Triumph."  As explained in the November 1948 Norfolk and Western Magazine, in the spring of 1919 a VPI student, W. P. Maddux, felt that his school should have an original, published and copyrighted song, which up until that time had not existed.  So, he collaborated with Mrs. John C. Boggs in his hometown of Blackstone, VA and the manuscript for "Tech Triumph" was submitted for approval.  It was accepted and adopted by the corps of cadets as their official college song during the finals of 1919.  It has been recorded by the likes of Bob Crosby's orchestra.

What is the relationship with the N&W?  Maddux entered the N&W as cashier at Crewe in 1922, eventually becoming chief clerk to the general southern freight agent at Atlanta in 1937.  So, the composer of "Tech Triumph" was an N&W man.

Go Hokies!

Gordon Hamilton
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