Evening star., 1947-01-05
Rites for Dr.. Burruss,
Retired vPI President
Set for Tomorrow
BY the Assoeioted Press

bLAChSbUttG, va, Jan. g.
Funeral services for DR.. Julian Ash
by Burruss. 70-year-old president
emeritus of Virginia Polytechnic IN
stitute, who died today at his home
here after long illness, win be held
at 8 pm. tomorrow at Riverview
Cemetery, Richmond.
The~Rey. Eugene D. Witherspoon,
Wilmington, N. c., who served at
v. p. I. from 1882 to 1943, viii off,
ciate. Pallbearers will be elders of
the Blacksburg Presbyterian Church.
The services will be private and the
family has requested no flowers.
Surviving are DR.. Burruss' widow,
son, Julian A. Burruss, jr.. stu
dent at v. P. l., and a daughter
Jean Mcdowell Burruss, all of
Blacksburg.
DR.. Burruss had been in Ill health
for more than two years. He was
injured seriously about two years
ago when an automobile in which
he was riding skidded on. the icy
road as he was returning to Blacks
burg from Roanoke. He never fully
recovered.
During his 26 years as president
Of v. P. l., Dr.. Burruss saw the
schools physical facilities increase
in value from $1,052, 900 In 1919 to
an estimated $500, 900 in 1945.
Retired in 1945.
He retired as president and was
elected president emeritus. effective
July 1, 1945, because his health
would not permit him to continue
his active duties.
Born in Richmond August /, 1876,
the son of the late Woodson C. and
Cora Emmett Mcdowell Burruss, DR..
Burruss attended Virginia Polytech-
mic Institute and winning the degree
of B. S. in civil engineering in 1898.
He later studied, at Richmond Col
lege (now University of Richmond)
Harvard and Columbia, earning his
A. NJ. from Columbia in 1906. He
received his Phi. D.. from the Uni
versity of Chicago in 1921 and in
1887 Hampden Sydney conferred on
him the degree of l.. L. D.
He served his native State in his
chosen field of education since 1901,
when he became principal of Rich
mond's Leigh School. In 1904 he
was made director of manual arts
in Richmond,s public schools and
held the post until 1908 when he
was chosen president of the Teach
iers College, established by the Cen
eral Assembly at Harrisonburg. He
was president of the Harrisonburg
School, now Madison College, until
named to succeed DR.. Joseph D.
Eggleston as president of v. P. I. in
1919.
Held Many Offices.
His services to Virginia were not
+, limited to serving as the first alum
nus president Of Virginia Polytechnic
Institute. He was chairman of the
State Agricultural Commission au-
thorized by the 1929 General Assem-
bly,. It's thorough report submitted
to the 1880 Assembly was the basis
for much that was constructive in
advancing agricultural interests. He
served on the Commission on Sim
plification and Economy in Local
Government in Virginia and on the
Commission on Medical Education
He was a member of the Virginia
Board of Agriculture and of the
Board of the Virginia Truck Expert
ment Station.
He was active in the affairs of
the Virginia State Chamber of Com
merce and served term as chair
man of its Committee on Industrial
Development. He was district gov
ernor Of Rotary International in
1929-30.
In 1939-40 he was president OF
the Association of Land Grant Col
Ileges and Universities and in 1887
the Progressive Farmer named him
the Man of the year in agriculture
| in Virginia.