1939 VPI Gobblers football team

American college football season February 2026 August 2023 1939 VPI Gobblers football Southern Conference SoCon 4–5–1 1–4–1 Henry Redd 8th David Marion Pitts Miles Stadium The 1939 VPI Gobblers football team represented Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute in the 1939 college football season. The team was led by their head coach Henry Redd and finished with a record of four wins, five losses and one tie (4–5–1). VPI was ranked at No. 110 (out of 609 teams) in the final Litkenhous Ratings for 1939.Vols Second In Final Litkenhous Grid Rankings; Southern California Tenth E. E. Litkenhous Johnson City Sunday Press December 31, 1939 11 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/123000367/vols-second-in-final-litkenhous-grid/ Newspapers.com Schedule Eastern September 23 w y 1939 Randolph–Macon Yellow Jackets Randolph–Macon Miles Stadium Blacksburg, VA 26–0 2,500 Virginia Tech Live Up to Promises in Routing Jackets https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1939-09-24/ed-1/seq-51/ Library of Congress The Sunday Star September 24, 1939 51 September 6, 2022Yellow Jackets Lose To V.P.I. By Score 26-0 https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=TYJ19390929.1.3&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------- Library of Virginia The Yellow Jacket Weekly September 29, 1939 3 December 2, 2022Tech Scores In Every Quarter To Defeat Jackets, 20-0 https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=TSWT19390924.1.6&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------- Library of Virginia The Southwest Times September 24, 1939 6 January 17, 2025 September 30 l y y Marshall Fairfield Stadium Huntington, WV 0–20 8,500 Elkin's 95-Yard Run Spices Marshall's Win Over V. P. I. https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1939-10-01/ed-1/seq-26/ Library of Congress The Sunday Star October 1, 1939 26 September 6, 2022Marshall Whips Tech, 20-0 https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=TSWT19391001.1.6&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------- Library of Virginia The Southwest Times October 1, 1939 6 January 17, 2025 October 7 2:30 p.m. l y North Carolina Foreman Field Norfolk, VA 6–13 15,000 Varsity Takes On VPI Today at Norfolk https://newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073228/1939-10-07/ed-1/seq-1/ University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill The Daily Tar Heel October 7, 1939 1 August 23, 2022Lalanne Leads Varsity To 13-6 Victory https://newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073228/1939-10-08/ed-1/seq-1/ University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill The Daily Tar Heel October 8, 1939 1 August 23, 2022Lalanne's Two Drives For Carolina Top V. P. I., 13 to 6 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1939-10-08/ed-1/seq-27/ Library of Congress The Sunday Star October 8, 1939 27 September 6, 2022 October 14 2:30 p.m. t y William & Mary City Stadium Richmond, VA 6–6 6,500 Stubborn Indians Hold Tech To 6-6 Tie https://digital.libraries.wm.edu/flat-hat-1939-october-17 College of William & Mary The Flat Hat October 17, 1939 3 February 3, 2024W.-M. Blocks Kick Behind Goal to Tie V. P. I. at 6 to 6 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1939-10-15/ed-1/seq-35/ Library of Congress The Sunday Star October 15, 1939 35 September 6, 2022 October 21 w y y 1939 Centre Colonels Centre Miles Stadium Blacksburg, VA 28–0 3,500-4,000 Virginia Tech Smothers Centre Easily, 28-0 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1939-10-22/ed-1/seq-26/ Library of Congress The Sunday Star October 22, 1939 26 September 6, 2022Tech Defeats Centre, 28-0 https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=TSWT19391022.1.6&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------- Library of Virginia The Southwest Times October 22, 1939 6 January 30, 2024 October 28 2:30 p.m. l y Washington and Lee Lynchburg Municipal Stadium Lynchburg, VA 0–6 10,000-12,000 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/107994127/justices-touchdown-gives-generals-victo/ The Daily News Leader Justice's touchdown gives Generals victory over Tech October 29, 1939 August 23, 2022 Newspapers.comBrilliant Defense Gives Generals 6-0 Victory of VPI https://dspace.wlu.edu/bitstream/handle/11021/29247/RTP_19391031.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y Washington and Lee University The Ring-tum Phi October 31, 1939 3 August 23, 2022Generals Trip V. P. I. As Justice Thrills His Homefolk https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1939-10-29/ed-1/seq-33/ Library of Congress The Sunday Star October 29, 1939 33 September 6, 2022Generals Beat Tech As Stadium Is Dedicated https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=RCN19391102.1.7&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------- Library of Virginia Rockbridge County News November 2, 1939 7 December 4, 2022 November 4 2:30 p.m. w Furman Miles Stadium Blacksburg, VA 20–7 2,500 Engineers Down McLeod's Team In Snow Fall https://cdm16821.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16821coll21/id/20580/rec/1 Furman University The Furman Hornet November 10, 1939 5 August 23, 2022Virginia Tech Snaps Jinx To Defeat Furman, 20 To 7 https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=TSWT19391105.1.6&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------- Library of Virginia The Southwest Times November 5, 1939 6 February 28, 2024 November 11 2:30 p.m. l y Richmond City Stadium Richmond, VA 0–13 8,000 Virginia Tech to Oppose Spiders at City Stadium https://collegian.richmond.edu/cgi-bin/richmond?a=d&d=COL19391110.2.29&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN------- University of Richmond The Richmond Collegian November 10, 1939 4 August 23, 2022Undefeated Spiders Score Victory Over Gobblers, 13-0 https://collegian.richmond.edu/?a=d&d=COL19391117.2.38&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN------- University of Richmond The Richmond Collegian November 17, 1939 5 August 23, 2022Undefeated Richmond Adds Virginia Tech To Victims, 13-0 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1939-11-12/ed-1/seq-29/ Library of Congress The Sunday Star November 12, 1939 29 September 6, 2022 November 18 w y y Virginia Scott Stadium Charlottesville, VA rivalry 13–0 8,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-virginia-tech-tops-vir/150525597/ The Baltimore Sun Virginia Tech tops Virginia in 13–0 upset November 19, 1939 July 2, 2024 Newspapers.comCavaliers Downed By V.P.I., 13 To 0 https://search.lib.virginia.edu/sources/uva_library/items/uva-lib:2758501 University of Virginia The Daily Progress November 20, 1939 8 August 23, 2022Virginia Backs Bottled As V. P. I. Triumphs In Upset, 13 to 0 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1939-11-19/ed-1/seq-27/ Library of Congress The Sunday Star November 19, 1939 27 September 6, 2022VPI Beats Virginia, 13-0 https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=TSWT19391119.1.6&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------- Library of Virginia The Southwest Times November 19, 1939 6 January 30, 2024 November 23 2:15 p.m. l y VMI Maher Field Roanoke, VA rivalry 7–19 20,000 Virginia Tech Bugle https://digitalsc.lib.vt.edu/Bugle/1940Bugle The Bugle 1940 1940 237 August 23, 2022Tech and VMI Both Confident Of Win Thursday https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=TSWT19391122.1.6&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------- Library of Virginia The Southwest Times November 22, 1939 6 January 17, 2025Fighting Squadron Humbles Gobblers 19-to-7 And Win State Championship http://digitalcollections.vmi.edu/digital/collection/p15821coll8/id/8195/rec/11 Virginia Military Institute The V.M.I. Cadet November 28, 1939 3 August 23, 2022Shu Stars For V. M. I. In Roanoke Game https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=RCN19391130.1.7&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------- Library of Virginia Rockbridge County News November 30, 1939 7 December 4, 202220,000 Persons Expected At VMI-VPI Game https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=RCN19391123.1.1&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------- Library of Virginia Rockbridge County News November 23, 1939 1 January 17, 2025 Before the season The 1938 VPI Gobblers football team compiled a 3–5–2 record and were led by Henry Redd in his seventh season as head coach. After the 1938 season, VPI lost ten letter winners due to graduation and another letter winner by withdrawal.Virginia Tech Squad To Begin Work Sept. 1 https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=SNH19390826.1.4&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------- Library of Virginia Suffolk News-Herald August 26, 1939 4 January 17, 2025 VPI started their preseason practices September 1st. Game summaries Randolph–Macon Randolph–Macon at VPI RM VPI 0 0 0 0 6 7 7 6 September 23, 1939 Miles StadiumBlacksburg, VA 2,500 Jake Miller (Davis & Elkins) VPI's first game of the season was a victory over Randolph–Macon at Miles Stadium. During the trip to Blacksburg, the manager for the Randolph–Macon team had a ruptured ulcer and had to be taken to the hospital.Carter Richardson Stricken At Blacksburg; Reported Better https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=TYJ19390929.1.3&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------- Library of Virginia The Yellow Jacket Weekly September 29, 1939 3 January 24, 2024 The starting lineup for VPI was: Lawson (left end), Pitts (left tackle), Graves (left guard), Zydiak (center), Gosney (right guard), Coleman (right tackle), Willson (right end), Boswell (quarterback), Thomas (left halfback), Ellison (right halfback), Hudson (fullback). The substitutes were: Barnes, Buchanan, Clark, Cocker, DeBord, DeMuro, McCurdy, Rose, Shawhan, Smith, Streiff, B. Tate, W. Tate, Taylor, Traynham, Unterzuber, Warriner, Woolwine and Wycoff. Willard Henderson and Kern did not play due to injury.Marshall Tilt Is Worrying Tech Coaches https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=SNH19390927.1.4&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------- Library of Virginia Suffolk News-Herald September 27, 1939 4 January 17, 2025 The starting lineup for Randolph–Macon was: Robert Golubic (left end), Stuart Pugh (left tackle), R. Miller (left guard), George Chappell (center), Marshall Peterson (right guard), Dick Powell (right tackle), George Sawyer (right end), Billy Fox (quarterback), John Lovett (left halfback), Gordon Harrell (right halfback), Dick Irby (fullback). The substitutes were: James Cramer, Lewis, McDowell, Rawlings and Smith. Marshall VPI at Marshall VPI Marshall 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 13 September 30, 1939 Fairfield StadiumHuntington, WV 8,500 "Steady drizzle" Ernst (Cincinnati) 1939 Marshall Thundering Herd football team After their victory over Randolph–Macon, VPI played Marshall College at Fairfield Stadium in Huntington, West Virginia. The starting lineup for VPI was: Willson (left end), Coleman (left tackle), Graves (left guard), Zydiak (center), Gosney (right guard), Pitts (right tackle), Clark (right end), Boswell (quarterback), Ellison (left halfback), Thomas (right halfback), Warriner (fullback). Hudson and Henderson did not play due to injury.Virginia Tech Grid Forces Have Final Drill Here Today https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=SNH19391006.1.1&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------- Library of Virginia Suffolk News-Herald October 6, 1939 1 January 17, 2025 The starting lineup for Marshall was: Bob Adkins (left end), Ed Ulinski (left tackle), John Boyd (left guard), Jim Roberts (center), Ray Truitt (right guard), Harold Cox (right tackle), Jack Mattiford (right end), Zach Kush (quarterback), Jackie Hunt (left halfback), Jack Morlock (right halfback), Ev Elkins (fullback). The substitutes were: Clyde Underwood. North Carolina North Carolina vs. VPI UNC VPI 0 7 6 0 0 0 0 6 October 7, 1939 Foreman FieldNorfolk, VA 2:30 p.m. 15,000 "Mid-summer heat" Dixon Foster 1939 North Carolina Tar Heels football team The starting lineup for VPI was: Clark (left end), Pitts (left tackle), Graves (left guard), Streiff (center), W. Tate (right guard), Gosney (right tackle), Willson (right end), Boswell (quarterback), Thomas (left halfback), Ellison (right halfback), Warriner (fullback). The substitutes were: Anderson, Cocker, Coleman, DeMuro, Willard Henderson, Hudson, Kern, Lawson, McCurdy, Rose, B. Tate, Taylor, Todd, Traynham, Unterzuber, Woolwine and Zydiak. The starting lineup for North Carolina was: Paul Severin (left end), White (left tackle), Leroy Abernethy (left guard), Robert Smith (center), James Woodson (right guard), Claud Kimball (right tackle), James Mallory (right end), Jim Lalanne (quarterback), George Radman (left halfback), Mike Bobbitt (right halfback), Sydney Sadoff (fullback). The substitutes were: Charlie Baker, Don Baker, Blalock, Frank Doty, Harry Dunkle, Bill Faircloth, Grant, Sweet James, Gwynn Nowell, Stewart Richardson, Charles Slagle, Leo Slotnick, Bob Stoinoff and Carl Suntheimer. William & Mary William & Mary vs. VPI W&M VPI 6 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 October 14, 1939 City StadiumRichmond, VA 2:30 p.m. 6,500 Paul Magoffin 1939 William & Mary Indians football team The starting lineup for VPI was: Clark (left end), Pitts (left tackle), Graves (left guard), Zydiak (center), Gosney (right guard), Coleman (right tackle), Willson (right end), Boswell (quarterback), Thomas (left halfback), Ellison (right halfback), Warriner (fullback). The substitutes were: DeMuro, Henderson, Hudson, Rose, Streiff and Tate. The starting lineup for William & Mary was: Charles Gondak (left end), Hank Whitehouse (left tackle), Buster Ramsey (left guard), Rudolph Tucker (center), John Brodka (right guard), John Dillard (right tackle), Alphonse Chestnut (right end), Mervyn Simpson (quarterback), Lloyd Phillips (left halfback), Waldo Matthews (right halfback), H. Hollingsworth (fullback). The substitutes were: Cary Berry, Harold Burchfield, Ed Goodlow, Jim Hickey, Carter Holbrook, Jimmy Howard, Hurlie Masters, George McComb and Clarence Twiddy. Centre Centre at VPI Centre VPI 0 0 0 0 14 0 7 7 October 21, 1939 Miles StadiumBlacksburg, VA 3,500-4,000 Richard Carrington (UVA) VPI's 1939 homecoming game was a victory over the Centre Colonels. The starting lineup for VPI was: Clark (left end), Pitts (left tackle), Graves (left guard), Zydiak (center), Gosney (right guard), Coleman (right tackle), Willson (right end), Boswell (quarterback), Thomas (left halfback), Ellison (right halfback), Warriner (fullback). The substitutes were: DeMuro and Taylor. The starting lineup for Centre was: Schultz (left end), Lucian Cayce (left tackle), Dutch Herrick (left guard), Bill Hale (center), Jim Brakefield (right guard), Kyle (right tackle), Marlin Mays (right end), Bill Yates (quarterback), Red Smith (left halfback), Theodore Selin (right halfback), Roger Thompson (fullback). Washington and Lee Washington and Lee vs. VPI W&L VPI 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 October 28, 1939 Lynchburg Municipal StadiumLynchburg, VA 2:30 p.m. 10,000-12,000 Richard Carrington (UVA) 1939 Washington and Lee Generals football team The game against Washington & Lee on October 28 was the first game played at Lynchburg Municipal Stadium.Lynchburg's New $250,000 Stadium Dedicated https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=HR19391103.2.23&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------- Library of Virginia The Highland Recorder November 3, 1939 2 December 2, 2022Generals - Gobblers Dedicate New Lynchburg Football Stadium Oct. 28 https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=TFHFL19391020.1.3&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------- Library of Virginia The Farmville Herald October 20, 1939 3 December 2, 2022W. & L.-V. P. I. Game Dedicates Lynchburg Stadium Saturday https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=RCN19391019.1.8&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------- Library of Virginia Rockbridge County News October 19, 1939 8 December 2, 2022Where Washington and Lee Will Meet V. P. I. This Week-end https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=LG19391027.1.6&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------- Library of Virginia The Lexington Gazette October 27, 1939 6 December 2, 2022VPI And W-L Will Dedicate Huge Stadium https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=TSWT19391024.1.2&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------- Library of Virginia The Southwest Times October 24, 1939 2 January 17, 2025 The starting lineup for VPI was: Lawson (left end), Pitts (left tackle), Graves (left guard), Zydiak (center), Gosney (right guard), Coleman (right tackle), Willson (right end), Boswell (quarterback), Thomas (left halfback), Ellison (right halfback), Warriner (fullback). The starting lineup for Washington & Lee was: Howard Dobbins (left end), Richard "Dick" Boisseau (left tackle), Stephen Hanasik (left guard), John "Jack" Mangan (center), James Lindsey (right guard), Kelley Litteral (right tackle), Courtney Wadlington (right end), Dan Justice (quarterback), Charles Didier (left halfback), Preston Brown (right halfback), Alfred "Junie" Bishop (fullback). The substitutes were: Francis Sugrue and Taylor Truehart. Furman Furman at VPI Furman VPI 0 0 0 7 12 0 6 2 November 4, 1939 Miles StadiumBlacksburg, VA 2:30 p.m. 2,500 "Snow-swept turf" 1939 Furman Purple Hurricane football team Before their match against Furman, VPI athletic director Monk Younger offered free tickets to the game to the first 13 people who brought him a black cat, in an effort to "slay the jinx that has denied Tech victory in two state games despite impressive yardage totals". The cats would then be released on the football field before the game.Furman-Tech Game Offers Ace Fullbacks https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=SNH19391103.1.4&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------- Library of Virginia Suffolk News-Herald November 3, 1939 4 January 17, 2025 The starting lineup for VPI was: Lawson (left end), Pitts (left tackle), Graves (left guard), Zydiak (center), Gosney (right guard), Coleman (right tackle), John Henderson (right end), Boswell (quarterback), DeMuro (left halfback), Ellison (right halfback), Warriner (fullback). The substitutes were: Thomas. The starting lineup for Furman was: Lloyd Coley (left end), Sam Fleming (left tackle), Hugh Wofford (left guard), Johnson Moore (center), Gates Barker (right guard), Hinson (right tackle), Ray Dorman (right end), C. V. Lipscomb (quarterback), Joe Jenkins (left halfback), Dan Martin (right halfback), Rhoten Shetley (fullback). The substitutes were: Brevil and Robert Fitzer. Richmond VPI at Richmond VPI Richmond 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 6 November 11, 1939 City StadiumRichmond, VA 2:30 p.m. 8,000 Richard Carrington (UVA) 1939 Richmond Spiders football team The starting lineup for VPI was: Lawson (left end), Pitts (left tackle), W. Tate (left guard), Streiff (center), Gosney (right guard), Coleman (right tackle), J. Hudson (right end), Kern (quarterback), Thomas (left halfback), DeMuro (right halfback), R. Hudson (fullback). The substitutes were: Anderson, Boswell, Clark, Ellison, Traynham, Warriner and Willson. The starting lineup for Richmond was: Bill Burge (left end), Harold McVay (left tackle), Joseph Mack (left guard), Ed Merrick (center), Bert Milling (right guard), David Robertson (right tackle), Dick Humbert (right end), William Fitzhugh (quarterback), Art Jones (left halfback), Alec Moore (right halfback), Stuart Hoskins (fullback). The substitutes were: Joseph Amrhein, William Cash, Edners Dickinson, Wilson Faris, Fred Frohbose, Jack Powers, Gordon ReMine and Edward Sinar. Virginia VPI at Virginia VPI UVA 6 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 November 18, 1939 Scott StadiumCharlottesville, VA 8,000 Dixon Foster 1939 Virginia Cavaliers football team The starting lineup for VPI was: Lawson (left end), Pitts (left tackle), Bill Tate (left guard), Streiff (center), Gosney (right guard), Coleman (right tackle), John Henderson (right end), Boswell (quarterback), Thomas (left halfback), Ellison (right halfback), Hudson (fullback). The substitutes were: Clark. The starting lineup for Virginia was: James White (left end), Lee McLaughlin (left tackle), Herbert Winokur (left guard), Raymond Murden (center), John Sauerbeck (right guard), R. Walter Jones (right tackle), Nick Gianakos (right end), Mosby Cardozo (quarterback), Jim Gillette (left halfback), Sylvester O'Grince (right halfback), Leroy Neustedter (fullback). VMI VMI vs. VPI VMI VPI 7 0 12 0 0 7 0 0 November 23, 1939 Maher FieldRoanoke, VA 2:15 p.m. 20,000 "Brisk" T. G. Kain (Georgia) 1939 VMI Keydets football team The starting lineup for VPI was: Clark. (left end), Pitts (left tackle), Bill Tate (left guard), Streiff (center), Gosney (right guard), Coleman (right tackle), John Henderson (right end), Boswell (quarterback), Thomas (left halfback), DeMuro (right halfback), Warriner (fullback). The substitutes were: Anderson, Buchanan, Ellison, Graves, Hudson, Kern, Rose, Shawhan, Taylor, Traynham, Willson and Zydiak. The starting lineup for VMI was: Gordon Irwin (left end), Byron Walker (left tackle), William Walker (left guard), George Atkison (center), Ray Reutt (right guard), Andy Nelson (right tackle), Luther Sexton (right end), James Shelby (quarterback), Nelson Catlett (left halfback), Paul Shu (right halfback), Edgar Carney (fullback). The substitutes were: Philip Chapman, Dale Heely, Johnson, John Larrick, Robert Mathews, Earl Mitchell, Bill Nugent, Bosh Pritchard, Roy Replogle, Barney Skladany, Harold Tipton and Thomas Thrasher. After the season Multiple VPI players were named to the Associated Press All-State Team. They were Gosney (First Team), Warriner (First Team), Coleman (Second Team), Pitts (Second Team), Tate (Honorable Mention) and Zydiak (Honorable Mention).Jones And Humbert On AP All-State Second Team https://virginiachronicle.com/?a=d&d=SNH19391129.1.4&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------- Library of Virginia Suffolk News-Herald November 29, 1939 4 January 17, 2025 In December 1939, the VPI letterwinners chose linemen Jim Coleman and John Henderson as co-captains of the 1940 VPI Gobblers football team.V. P. I. Names Linemen As First Co-Captains https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1939-12-14/ed-1/seq-71/ Library of Congress The Evening Star December 14, 1939 71 January 14, 2025 Players Roster VPI 1939 rosterQuarterbacks Dick Kern Samuel B. Rose, Jr. Guards Cecil Anderson Roland M. Cocker Woodrow Gosney Preston Graves Joseph Franklin Smith Bill Tate John Charles Wycoff Tackles Jim Coleman Frank L. DeBord, Jr. Charles Thomas McCurdy Dave Pitts (Capt.) Benjamin C. Tate Andrew Wellington Todd Ralph Travis UnterzuberCenters Graham Buchanan Herbert Andrews Markle Frank Streiff Bill Zydiak Ends Gerald Clark John Henderson Lewis W. Kincaid Bob Lawson Dan Shawhan Louis WillsonHalfbacks William T. Barnes Phil DeMuro Sonny Ellison Willard Joseph Henderson William W. James Sherwood A. Roudabush Herbert Joseph Thomas Albert Crawford Traynham Garrett Ernest Taylor Walter Trimble James Walter Woolwine Fullbacks I. Ward Boswell Rankin Hudson George Warriner Varsity letter winners Twenty-two players received varsity letters for their participation on the 1939 VPI team.1939 VPI Letterwinners Virginia Tech January 3, 2023 https://hokiesports.com/sports/2018/5/1/football-player-letterwinners.aspx Player Hometown Notes Cecil Van Anderson Andersonville, Virginia World War II veteran (Major, Army Air Corps). Irving Ward Boswell, Jr. Arlington, Virginia World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War veteran (Lieutenant Colonel, Air Force). Graham Sullivan Buchanan, Jr. Saltville, Virginia World War II veteran (Major, Army). Gerald Harley Clark Bristol, Tennessee James Emory Coleman Fayetteville, West Virginia Philip Galliano DeMuro Passaic, New Jersey Matthew Leslie "Sonny" Ellison Beckley, West Virginia H. Woodrow Gosney Clarksburg, West Virginia Robert Preston Graves Salem, Virginia World War II and Vietnam War veteran (Colonel, Army). Awarded the Bronze Star Medal. John L. Henderson Sevierville, Tennessee Rankin McGuire Hudson Sweetwater, Tennessee Richard Davis Kern Winchester, Virginia World War II veteran (Major, Army). Awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart. J. Robert "Bob" Lawson Cambria, Virginia David Marion Pitts (Capt.) Manassas, Virginia Daniel Green Shawhan Washington, D.C. World War II veteran (Lieutenant Colonel, Army). Frank Arthur Streiff Savannah, Georgia World War II veteran (Lieutenant commander, Navy). William Lee "Bill" Tate Pulaski, Virginia Herbert Joseph Thomas South Charleston, West Virginia World War II veteran (Sergeant, Marines). Awarded the Medal of Honor. Walter Haynes Trimble Swoope, Virginia World War II veteran (Army). George Daniel Warriner Montgomery County, Virginia World War II veteran (Captain, Army). Awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Purple Heart. Louis C. Willson Blacksburg, Virginia William Daniel Zydiak Manville, New Jersey Coaching and training staff Head coach: Henry Redd Assistant coaches Backfield coach: Herbert McEver Line coach: Sumner D. Tilson Manager: John Harrington Freshman coaches Freshman head coach: Red Laird Assistant freshman coach and trainer: Willard D. Altman Assistant freshman coach and trainer: Thomas A. Slusser References VPI Category:Virginia Tech Hokies football seasons VPI Gobblers