Emerson, Cherry Logan, Jr., 1996 April 30

This is a Living History interview with Cherry Logan Emerson, a friend of Georgia Tech, conducted by Barbara Alexander on April 30, 1996 in Mr. Emerson’s home in Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Emerson is the grandson of William H. Emerson, one of the original founders of Georgia Tech. The first four classes offered at Georgia Tech did not include engineering. Mr. Emerson’s grandfather died in 1924 and there was a memorial service held for him in the Old YMCA building’s chapel. Mr. Emerson was very close to his grandfather. As a young boy, Mr. Emerson remembers being tutored by D.M. Smith. After graduating from Boys’ High, Mr. Emerson went on to study at Emory University and later got his graduate degree at MIT. Mr. Emerson’s advisor at MIT was Warren Lewis. He later married his advisors daughter, Mary. After graduating from MIT, Mr. Emerson worked for Monsanto for seven years before starting a firm called Emerson & Cumming, with a former co-worker, Bill Cumming. Over the years, Emerson and Cumming had many successful projects, which Mr. Emerson describes in detail. The arts have always been very important to Mr. Emerson. The three most important people in Mr. Emerson’s life were his music teacher, Alfredo Barilli, his grandfather, and Warren Kimball Lewis, his father- in-law. Mr. and Mrs. Emerson have six children, three girls and three boys as well as numerous grandchildren. Although none of the Emerson children or grandchildren attended Georgia Tech, Mr. Emerson still maintains his Georgia Tech connections.