Walter Mitchell

Abstract

Class of 1923 Walter Marshall Mitchell ("Mitch") Phi Delta Theta Tifton, Georgia CHEMICAL ENGINEERING Tech gives thanks to Tifton for sending Mitch to her, although he was born in Cordele, Georgia, on the second day of August, 1901. A good athlete, a good student, a good fellow--in other words, a Man. He prepped at Tifton High and G.M.C. Varsity Baseball,  20; Varsity Football,  21,  22; Varsity Track,  22,  23; Vice-President, Skull and Key; Koseme; Bull Dog; Anak; Cotillion Club, Secretary and Treasurer,  22,  23; "T" Club; G.M.C. Club; President, Senior Class; Secretary, Pan-Hellenic Council; Student Council; Textile Society. Was a member of the 1921 Tech baseball season. The feature of the schedule was the eastern trip, the most ambitious which Tech or any other of the southern nine had ever attempted. The trip was of a week s duration going to meet North Carolina State, Georgetown University, the Naval Academy, the University of Maryland, and Washington and Lee. The Navy middies represented the best in the east and it was the first time Tech played in Annapolis. Though a two year rival with Georgetown in football, this was the first time that they met Tech on the baseball field. It was believed to be the first time Tech met with Washington and the Lee nines, or at least the first for many years. The University of Maryland was a first timer as well. Though the schedule promised to be difficult, the reporter was sure that such a team, which included Mitchell, could pull it off. Played shortstop for the 1921 season. In the November 1921 Koseme society initiations Mitchell was known as "the star batsman of the Squeedunk Club in the Tall Grass League . . . Displaying the weapons with which he got into the limelight." On May 22nd 1926 was present when Tech Team wins first track meet held by S.A.A.U. Mitchell caused a sensation when he fought his way from last place to near first place winning the prettiest race that was run during the meet, "the prettiest finish that any four-forty man has shown on Grant Field this year." There were about fifteen entries in the race and no preliminaries. They ran the two-twenty straightaway and finished at the end of the wooden stands. Mitchell did not get a good lane to start from and did not get a chance to jump out and lead the whole way, but he fought his way to the finish. Elected secretary and treasurer of the Cotillion Club in May of 1922 for the upcoming year. In the third game of the 1922 football season against Alabama, Mitchell played the best game of his life to that point as rear end and this was the best played game of the season for Tech so far. Alabama started off with several sweeping end runs but after they found out that Walt and John Staton had no intention of letting them pass they began hitting the center of the line, with little better results. Tech won the game 33 to 7. Contrary to expectations the game was a walkaway for Tech. Alabama had been heralded as the one of the strongest of the south. Though strong, Alabama was unable to make any headway against Tech which seemed invincible. The crowd at Grant Field was also the largest of the season, with 12,000 people watching the fracas. On October 10, 1922, the first meeting that year for the Senior Class Mitchell was elected as president. As a prominent man on campus, in November 1922 Mitchell endorsed Gene Turner saying "I think Gene Turner is doing wonderful work in China and deserves the support of Tech." Mitchell played his last game on Thanksgiving Day 1922 in which the Jackets won the Southern Title by defeating the Auburn Tigers 14-6, closing his career in a blaze of glory. In an article concerning the loss of eight graduating veterans it was lamented that Mitchell would not be there to hold down his end of the Tornado, "his loss will be felt badly next year." Mitchell was serving as Secretary and Treasurer of the Cotillion Club when the club held its dinner dance, one of the most brilliant features of Thanksgiving week of 1922. The dance was given at Druid Hills Golf Club which was beautifully decorated in smilax. Supper was served at nine o clock at individual tables arranged around the edge of the ball-room. Yellow and white chrysanthemums in low bowls graced the center of each table. Vice-President, Draper Corporation Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta; head of Southern operations for Draper Corp., chairman of the Pan American Investment Co. of Panama and a director of several major local firms; president of the Atlanta Rotary Club and the Georgia Tech Foundation. Nominated for the Fulton County commission in October of 1966. Resources: Blue Print 1923; The Technique-December 10th, 1920, pg. 12, vol. 10; The Technique-February 11th, 1921, pgs. 1 and 5, vol. 10; The Technique-November 18th, 1921, pg. 5, vol. 11; The Technique-May 26th, 1922, pgs. 1, 7-8, vol. 11; The Technique-May 26th, 1922, pg. 5, vol. 11; The Technique-October 20th, 1922, pgs. 1, 5, vol. 12; The Technique-October 20th, 1922, pgs. 1, 7, vol. 12; The Technique-November 3rd, 1922, pg. 1, vol. 12; The Technique-December 1st, 1922, pg. 11, vol. 12; The Technique-December 1st, 1922, pg. 7, vol. 12; The Technique-December 8th, 1922, pg. 6, vol. 12; Actual photo; Files