Anonymous Donor Endows Three New Named Scholarships

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Anonymous Donor Endows Three New Named Scholarships

A generous donor has endowed three separate Stamps President’s Scholarships — not in his own name, but in honor of three people whose work he admired and whose friendship he valued.

CLYDE J. ORR JR. (1921 – 2010) A World War II veteran, Clyde J. Orr Jr., Ph.D. ChE 1953, was hired by Tech as an assistant research professor soon after earning his Ph.D. and served on the faculty for 30 years. A renowned scientist and Regents Professor, Orr published 62 works in 89 publications in five languages. One of his books, Particulate Technology (1966), was deemed a definitive text, and Orr is widely recognized as a pioneer whose foundational research continues to inform work in the field. In 1958, Orr and fellow researcher Warren Hendrix began work on a better way to measure tiny surface areas. Their patented device is considered one of the most significant Georgia Tech research contributions of the 20th century. The partners founded Micromeritics Instrument Corporation, which thrives to this day, with headquarters in Georgia and six offices worldwide. In 1995, Orr was inducted into the Georgia Tech College of Engineering’s Hall of Fame.

JESSE W. MASON (1890 – 1979) Jesse W. Mason served on Georgia Tech’s faculty from 1938 until his retirement in 1972. While at Tech, Mason was a Regents Professor in chemical engineering, CE department head, and finally dean of the College of Engineering, serving in this capacity from 1948 until 1965. He was selected to spearhead a committee on creating an advanced plan for academics at Georgia Tech by then Institute President Blake Van Leer, and he later would be instrumental in selecting Van Leer’s successor, Edwin Harrison. The Jesse W. Mason Building — built in 1969 and fully renovated in 2013 — is home to the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Through his leadership and service, Mason made a mark on the Institute that is honored by, but extends far beyond, the building that bears his name.

JAMES R. BORDERS James R. Borders, ME 1983, went on to the University of Georgia after attending Georgia Tech and earned both an MBA and a JD degree. He is founder and president of Novare Group, which has developed more than 6,000 condominium homes, 1.4 million square feet of office space, and 400,000 square feet of retail space throughout the Southeast. Over the years, Borders has supported Georgia Tech through both generous gifts and tireless service. He has served on the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering Advisory Board, the Alexander-Tharpe Board, the Alumni Association Board of Trustees, and the Georgia Tech Foundation Board of Trustees. He has made gifts to the Institute through Alumni Roll Call, the Alexander-Tharpe Fund, and the GATV Real Estate Acquisition Fund. His philanthropic support for Georgia Tech has been recognized at the highest level as a member of The Hill Society.

The donor’s name will never be known to the deserving scholars who will benefit from his generosity, but they will know the names and legacies of these noteworthy Georgia Tech faculty and alumni.