Berman, Alfred I., 1994 July 15

This is a Living History interview with Alfred Berman, class of 1944, conducted by Buffy Snipes on July 15, 1944 at his home in Sandy Springs, Georgia. The subject is the interviewee’s life, and experiences at Georgia Tech.

Mr. Berman played football in high school and decided to attend Georgia Tech because of the prestigious reputations of Coach Alexander and Coach Bobby Dodd. After taking a math class, he soon realized that Tech was going to be very challenging. He lived in Howell Dormitory. Mr. Berman had a full daily schedule, going from eight in the morning until eleven in the evening with non-stop classes, homework, and football practice. He earned a football scholarship and his main expense was textbooks. He pledged a fraternity but did not join because he could not afford the brother dues. Mr. Berman found that being on a football team was like a fraternity. One season, the Tech team only lost one game to the University of Georgia. On December 7, 1941, many Tech students realized that they would most likely be drafted into the military. Mr. Berman and his group of friends enlisted in the Air Force. They was much confusion among the students on campus. He was sent to the University of Pittsburgh to receive further education on general subjects and more specific subjects such as the elements of flying. Students on campus socialized at the Tap Room in the Biltmore Hotel, the Rainbow Roof in the Ansley Hotel, Pilgreens, the Yellow Jacket, and the Varsity. Football players were given free movie passes to the Fox Theatre. Players were also given a ten dollar per month allowance along with a four dollar per month allowance for laundry. The last game Mr. Berman played in was the Cotton Bowl, there the team lost by six points. He felt that the rivalry between Georgia Tech and UGA was fabulous. Mr. Berman’s favorite professor was W. Reynolds, who taught math. He was a very thoughtful and effective teacher. Mr. Berman’s least favorite class was Mechanical Drawing. Students would have labs two times a week and make sure that they wore their worst clothes to Chemistry lab. Mr. Berman did not have much time for extracurricular activities other than football, but does remember that many were very active even during wartime. He enjoyed watching the Wreck Parade every Homecoming Week and wore his RAT Cap all of his freshman year because they lost the UGA-Georgia Tech game. On February 25, 1942, Mr. Berman had to leave Tech with many other students because they were being shipped out all over the country. Students went to the YMCA off North Avenue because they could make free phone calls to their girlfriends. “Apple Jim” would sit on the steps and sell apples for a nickel. Sideways the Dog was on campus the same time as Mr. Berman. Sideways would attend classes, eat meals in the dining hall, and even go out on the field during football games. Dean George Griffin had a knack for remembering everyone’s name and what year they were scheduled to graduate in. Mr. Berman was known as “Alfred Berman, ’44.” The morale at Tech was low after December 7th because students knew that at any time, they could be drafted and shipped out. Most football players took classes at night, on Saturdays, and Sundays. They had tutors when they were on the road and were required to make up every class they missed. Mr. Berman feels that Georgia Tech was not an easy school and if one planned to graduate, they really had to devote four years of undivided attention to their studies. Coach Bobby Dodd was a very motivational speaker and could always pump the team up. Mr. Berman and his wife met at a Tech dance. They did not date until years later, but have now been married for forty-four years. Mr. Berman feels that going to Georgia Tech was the best single decision he ever made.