George Truman "G.T." Ward entered Virginia Tech in the fall quarter
of 1945. World War II had just ended. After just one quarter as
a cadet in the Corps of Cadets, he was drafted into the Army Airborne
Division as a paratrooper. He served 18 months with the occupational
forces in northern Japan before returning to Virginia Tech to complete
his bachelor's degree in architecture in 1951. While at Tech, he
married his wife of 58 years, Margaret Hall Ward '50, who passed
away in November 2007. Ward continued his studies at Tech to earn
his master's degree in architecture in 1952 and began his career
in architecture in 1953.
In 1964, he entered into a partnership to establish the firm Ward/Hall
Associates, AIA. He has had a long and distinguished career in
architecture, designing notable buildings including the Center
for Innovative Technology near Dulles airport and several buildings
on the Virginia Tech campus - the Merryman Athletic Center near
Lane Stadium and the VTLS and Waste Policy Institute buildings
in the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center. He is a member
of many professional organizations, including the College Fellows
of the American Institute of Architects, as well as many business
and public service organizations.
The extent of his leadership and service to Virginia Tech can be
demonstrated by the astounding number of positions and leadership
roles he has held on university boards, including the Board of
Visitors, Chairman of the National Campaign for Excellence, President
of the Alumni Association Board of Directors, Director of the Virginia
Tech Foundation, the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Alumni Board,
President of the William Preston Society, Director of the Virginia
Tech Athletic Fund Board, and a Lifetime Golden Hokie. Ward has
demonstrated his lifetime commitment to Virginia Tech's College
of Architecture through his distinguished service and generosity
in support of the university. Ward established an endowed chair
and scholarship within the College of Architecture and Urban Studies
at Virginia Tech and served as the first chair of their Advisory
Council for six years. In that time, he provided vital assistance
to the deans and administrators, achieving a number of college
goals, such as the creation of a college endowment, promoting the
college's need for additional space, and obtaining the site for
the Center for European Studies and Architecture in Riva San Vitale,
Switzerland.
In recognition of his lifelong service to Virginia Tech, Ward was
presented the Alumni Distinguished Service Award in 1988. He was
the 1996 recipient of the William H. Ruffner Medal, the university's
most prestigious honor, awarded annually to recognize individuals
who have performed notable and distinguished service to the university.
