John T. Barret after cake race, in street clothes and with his cake

Abstract

Georgia Tech Freshman Cross Country Run, March 8, 1924. Picture of John T, Barret, sophomore, Class of 1926, winner of the race at 18 minutes, 44 I seconds. Shown here with his cake and after shower and resumption of his usual student attire. He stands at the Southeast corner of Shack No, 1, his regular domicile during last half of his sophomore year. He is wearing W.W.I G.I. shoes and parts of his R.O.T.C. uniform. Cake by Miss Mary Lamar Knight which she personally presented him as sponsor of the race. It is sad that in those early times the winner did not receive a kiss from the sponsor, as well as her cake, which became customary twenty years or so later. Note the neglected appearance of his GI shoes. At Tech Barret considered shining his everyday shoes a waste of time and an "interference" with his studies. Later while in the Army during WWII he was issued 2 pair of GI shoes. Because of early difficulties with Saturday morning inspections he adopted the policy of reserving one particular pair as his "inspection" shoes which he would wear only at inspections and parades. These he kept in a high state of polish, even polishing them at times when they really didn't need it. The other pair were always worn as everyday shoes and he maintained them as time permitted by cleaning and polishing them practically every day. There came a time of almost continuous rain for a full week. It was impossible to keep shoes in decent condition, even if you wore them on alternate days, making honest efforts each day to clean and polish the pair not being worn. At Saturday's Inspection there were few decent looking shoes. The Inspecting Officer looked over Pfc. Barret real good, then remarked: "Those shoes have the appearance of those of a real soldier."