Garner, Thomas Edward, 1995 July 27

The following is an Oral History Interview with Thomas E. Garner, Georgia Tech class of 1940, conducted by Marilyn Somers at his home in Atlanta, Georgia on July 27, 1995. Mr. Garner begins the interview by explaining why he came to Tech to study architecture. Mr. Garner recalls how difficult Tech was and how he gutted it out to become an architect. He goes on to describe the location of the architecture classes and the Great Depression's effect on the classes at Tech. Mr. Garner then takes us through a typical day at Tech for him starting in Decatur. He then talks about the six week design projects that were competitions between schools of architecture around the United States. This design project reminds him of a story about a fellow student who drank too much while finishing one of these inportant projects. Next, Mr. Garner discusses his free time activity of playing tennis. He describes the hectic schedule of Tech and tells a story about Earl Bortell inviting street urchins into class one day and talking with them. Next, Mr. Garner mentions some of the professors that he knew. He also mentions Glenn Rainey, Harold Bush-Brown, and Olivier Vinour. He continues by explaining about the design projects that Tech professors assigned and how they were judged. He then tells the story about how he and six of his friends "cooled off" a student who was angry about his fifth year design project being destroyed by falling alcohol bottles. Mr. Garner recalls memories of Dean Skiles, Dean Field, and Dean Griffin. Then, he talks about the scenery of Atlanta focusing on the theatres. He then talks about Julian "Judy" Harris and Paul Heffernan. Mr. Garner recalls his football memories by talking about some of the games he attended. He then talks about some Tech people he knew including Cherry Emerson and Chip Roberts. Mr. Garner recalls the memories of the basketball team and the small gym that they played in. He then describes the dances and the Francis Virginia. Mr. Garner talks about the YMCA and what he did there. Mr. Garner ends the interview by recalling Techwood dorm and his graduation.