[00:00:06] >> This is a living history interview with William Reese back there were you know classes of all 941 in 946 conducted by Marilyn summers on June the 23rd the year 2003 we're e his office in Columbia South Carolina the subject of the interview today is his life in general his experiences at Georgia Tech Mr Nick Williams Yes or pleasure it is to be here with you thank you to places fine to come back to Europe this evening so we can do this we're looking forward to talking to a man who lived through the system was a time for a master's degree so it's really wonderful to talk to you so we're going to start with the beginning of the said you on July just tell me where you were born and where you were born born in Dalton Georgia and August of 1918. [00:00:57] And lived there until I left to go to Georgia Tech when I was 17 years old don't George it was a tech stocks place right was your family involved in Texas for what we do know well they were the later in got they were and my father was market in the mark until business which is selling closer selling clothes clothing and things like that though it in past times he owned the grossest there were no you know hardware store owners in the small town so and were they born indulgences they lived in Dalton my mother was my but my grandfather was born and also that was the homes that were held right now and about a great grandfather's home which is right next to the state jail Smith's house as then the historical. [00:01:50] We must say No itself this was the very 1st man to graduate from Georgia Tech in your great grandfather liberating story. Ends and you did you know him as a child which is not to well I knew. Yeah him right around the area a historic figure at Georgia Tech of course I'm sure you see what was life like growing up in Dalton Georgia was a very small town as a small town was only about 7 or 8000 very very small county trees school elementary schools all within a block of my house really we walked to school to and we had to do and. [00:02:31] At lunchtime a school closed down for an hour and I by went home for work of course but that was. You know we had a lot of fun we were good students average Americans right so in those days you were called Raise your right called Mary right and that's all Reese went off to school every day and degree was supposed to do really well and carry way about that right after I had to be another interest how many brothers and sisters did you have had one brother 2 sisters 3 good faith right you know high school did they have a system of junior high and high schools or what was it you know well yeah we had elementary and junior high and then high school. [00:03:15] What were some of those other words Janet Well we did earlier days scouting and have hiking and camping and going to camp where you can live in close places you can do that right sure yeah this does use would you say you had a happy growing up time we'll have to really enjoy. [00:03:34] It I think people the small town just are very privileged I think I'm really sorry for the people that don't have that opportunity because in the us I think a wonderful they don't know what they're missing but on the other hand you do electronics and it was a wonderful group yes it was you were safe you were always safe Rice never looked at the we're here goes and wonders what left of my mind this is I think the freedom of fear is one of the greatest gifts you can say that's so you got it yeah hands down and refreeze and even know what that is today and it's certainly possible as a matter where you live so it was a good happy time. [00:04:13] Did you were you brought up to believe you were going to go to college or did you not even think about that well I had a cousin about 10 years older than I and I graduated from Georgia Tech and about 32. In the family I do but your family knew about so I said man across the street the Manly of the managerial works. [00:04:33] We lived right across St George he wants Georgia Tech and so you were taught about her Georgia Tech and that was where I was going from the time I was the had the duck I was it was a free just as a that's right and did you ever get down to see the campus were you familiar with Yeah I had an uncle that lived on 1st Street so we would go down and practically I think you know it is now where you live it certainly is. [00:05:05] Yeah he was a to see it right now he was a real estate business in Atlanta because the land was growing and it was a good thing and this was a surprise your so enough I had. One of my great grandfathers graduated from Dartmouth in civil engineering and that's how we got into the. [00:05:28] Living in Dalton because he came down as the construction engineer for the tunnel tunnel he. Got the project done. That he came down and then he married the daughter of another grandfather who was the. First 10 Missionaries of Charity and it's. Interesting what he's saying his name was blood. [00:05:56] And Aynesworth in red blood yellow u.n.c. and his hat he built 1st. 2 story house in Belton and that was the one next to Miss Wright Miss just you know right where is and is because I went to visit mistress so this is great as your great grandma your granddad goodness Ramphele great grandfather. [00:06:20] So you grew up around a lot of history right tradition in that area and course the Civil War we were still fighting the Civil War when for like it was. A war of Northern aggression that's right you were even though you work in the Deep South you were still affected by living in the state of Georgia right that was there ever a question of whether you could get into Georgia Tech and that was it and then you might well and but. [00:06:45] Because it was good friends with oil know how good a friend but he knew. I was Dr MacDaniels or a professional that you know it was kind of a thought he had been there at a time when there were not as many people down there so he wrote him an ice cube. [00:07:05] And so they sent me an application and I think that was my nail That's right yeah the letter if you had to finish it just does North Georgia have for your high school boy for your levels right just closer to the 11th level and which put you at a disadvantage when you got down to Georgia did lead your drive in the what they were saying that we then that we didn't have mechanical Trauner when in physics or any of that we had met with a good math teacher which was a blessing and hearing that for her was the Smedley her and she made sure you learn he made sure I made a round to speak for her so no teacher get a tribute right and you know why mechanical engineering What made you pick that up well this is again my cousin graduated that and he felt then and I have realized that I take mechanical engineering you can go any way. [00:08:01] And then you can branch into the other fields of engineering very easily replaced with your fans and figuring things. Like like my **** and I like your building I was always building things as well. I have looked for work for you in the sources you know played bass to basketball vast tracts and would have played football but it was during the Depression and they didn't have enough mind about football. [00:08:29] Through a serious amount of a you know they do was what you had and that we got it back. So when you went to test did you think about going out for the 4 I thought about it but. Going to schools very much and working 3 much just didn't and then you are f.e.m.a. where the team right even trackage are you know we just didn't or if we played in a mirror basketball in a meal truck things like that when we were there so you got exercise right there it is yeah so when you guys attack did you start it was a work session or was the school started a skill session so you break my 1st page in the summer we started June whether such a great thing for high school you there you are it will last a that a year yeah or you **** up a little bit a little and you get back my father my father shipped if you come in but he didn't load it because. [00:09:27] He said he would didn't have the money December so I worked made enough money that yep a present would you get a job somewhere I don't know I start out as a as a you know. Stockroom clerk a 10 cent store said 75 hours a week at $0.10 an hour to City police and have a child labor law their child labor laws and so. [00:09:51] Oversaturated mansion no youngsters to be worked every 5 hours and we know you were slaving for your education that's right he saved every penny probably right save $250.00 my dad gave me to say he'd get you would match whatever and I saved the he was a wise man even if you were less of. [00:10:13] Exactly right to fancy her yeah yeah yeah so by the time you came down you were ready to go to school you know what was it like to go to Georgia it was altogether different I could imagine met and it was 193636 when I graduated high school and 303536 years just 36 hours and going to med no conditions no air conditioning and you're going to live away from home probably for the 1st time yeah right only a boy went home the 1st weekend when I wouldn't go back on after that. [00:10:50] It was over toward is the time to clap and did you get yourself a room mate yeah I had roomed with Herring Winship from Macon and he was the Red Captain he was a sophomore out of I have got you that's what it was a number that I have less money like this but I enjoyed it because I they would come down and play tricks on him and I would be glad of it but I would get to wear red hat. [00:11:18] And. The school was a different school today are much smaller and you can walk about how grim made it different to make you know you for younger kids you know we were ever 3 much we changed and nobody was talking about them more than Mary and I we did have our o.t.c. program right in winter when the. [00:11:42] John the. Our o.t.c. for the what they call up said which was the. So you know when. It was. Aberdeen Maryland the. Mechanical then anyway it was the the bombing the bombs in the artillery and all that I can think of they weren't ordnance Yeah yeah it was ordinance and that's what it was so everything is a choice everybody well if you as a co-op that's not one you can get in because others ran a different That's right that's right you know it was our man who picked out for your piece in the the army to write Yeah you know so school started in you were just a typical college kid except for the fact it was good because we you know right now it does make Daniel find a job for you lately and. [00:12:38] I wish they put you for that with 2 sets of Georgia river of Columbus Georgia 5 going to come to hear you were coming to land in the world that's right or should. I look at that and how interesting was that to you that was very interesting and we worked in the round house was they took that and all the engines apart and made the repair skis made their fans and put them back together so we're talking big city yeah they think trains overhead and things like that you know that's a real hands on experience it is it's it's really really enjoyable and we learned a lot but do you remember any professors from this 1st from any time you were actually going. [00:13:27] Any of the day with your None of the night and any of the names of the bad professors was good I remember our 1st year of being in the same business you know he may have been maybe in the best Yeah it was they we had real good professionals all the way it was hard to be part of like you went away in the fall when it was time for the football star you were gone that's right when you came back and it was within the best basketball games you know we want to so it was it was very challenging because that's where we did not have. [00:14:03] Said we don't have mechanical drawing of and have physics or any other real technical subjects for the masses that so careless yet probably you know didn't have in the account so didn't have that income in high school no no but yeah it would have yeah we know it so we had a torch and we had to learn so we just because it was that your average interest in school was going to be to be pushed up. [00:14:30] At the 2nd day too much play in the 1st go home very much because in the majors we had to go **** 6 days a week 8 hours a day 1st at 1st some Milton deal with you know hours and days with no AC and you. Know what do you want is a calling. [00:14:49] And you mentioned to me that there were hazing that they never sessional kind of thing they did was the co-op the red courts or whatever they call them yeah but you all got indoctrinated shall we say that's right back and they then went to the school and you're never any of the activities well they would in any kind of joke or anything they could play it off on each other we could the. [00:15:15] At the time they were putting in a new drainage system on tech would they put in some about 8 or 10 it's pipe a foot or 10 foot high and they would land a role as powerful as the tech would take would the thought got in between each one and we had run to their hitter so that bell that was mean. [00:15:40] To make you bonus as you could yeah there's they're not easy then and there was always the syrup and for different things on everybody and on the day yeah and. Then they made some of the men dressed boisterous up like ladies about like being photographed them doing you in the attic paraded around like that yeah. [00:16:05] And they need that Titian at the banning holier but the tower above. Written the whole I didn't know yeah and she would then hollered scream at us that you are making too much noise and I don't like what you do and at present Daisy Yeah had a day because I'm of a good day to hash out yeah you know why that was there it was dating she actually lived there she lived in the town home our and that's where you ate and. [00:16:36] It was still fairly new that the only openly you're there yeah it was new it was really nice to know that diversity was just down the street right near Street money yeah did you guys go see movies in those days with and we went on Staten it would go down and we were about member the Lowe's Grande or any of those and the generic like yeah we wouldn't even waste our money on street cars we're brand walking. [00:17:03] Down to the fox if it was a good picture and there was a good little while it was nice it was amusing because Levy says What do you think you do in. The winter that we. We needed exercise and we. So the 3 months at school were fine you got into everything and then you were with whipped off away to be a working man he came back again and that picked up the pick up of the books and start to learn to sew the back of the door and that was it that's what court means on the back of your right did you change assignments or did you stay with the rules 3 after 3 years. [00:17:41] I can't remember exactly why but changed. I was out for 3 months and when I came back I went to combustion engineering in Chattanooga the word little bit more you know that when you were adults you know. You could see the light at the end of the tunnel so to speak you are right you know you are a writer was there ever a time when you wondered if you could hack it yeah what's a try she said it happened it was it was really a challenge to write Yeah that was a time when you think well I don't believe it's worth it I think I do but you know we're ever going to any plays from the marionettes the drama club that was there we didn't even read into that they weren't there when we were them and they did most of theirs in the winter as I remember it was I was afraid of so you really it was hard for you to keep her yeah yeah yeah because of the Absolute the thank the our o.t.c. drilling and things like that was very much about your sort of like yeah. [00:18:51] So when you think back in those days do you think back on those being happy days yeah I was going you were still you know that was studied and personally they were real real happy days. So let's even though it was oppression everybody was for it if their body was for it was Ok for your own the same boat so yeah that's right I don't think people understand it too well say no I don't think they do they don't realize and I think that's like you know young people were much more. [00:19:23] I guess Jalen just back then they're leaving having money in their states you know the cars that drive the only one or 2 boys had cars that were out of the whole school yeah I mean if you had to be very self-reliant and the money would earn when you work was to go towards Suisham right so that when you came back to school you could go to school it's a good system you live on things then show you this we learned a lot and. [00:19:52] You really learn what a lot of what you study and then you know stand what's going on take it out the fire. Yeah so despite the fact there were her chips both of those he had a really really worked great if there was a happy yeah. As a magnet Yeah right he wanted to when we started that co-op glycine the some 29 I was graduating you know that's a little down is and then trying to serve God The ones are made Yeah that's right that's what you grow attrition. [00:20:27] And they I think in talking to Robert they have advisors in the dormitories now Yeah they don't want him but yes that's it everything customers really know yet what it is that. We know that we didn't have all that we had to get out or either get somebody find somebody that knew what they were doing. [00:20:47] I think probably you were a lot more self-reliant more independent right. Let's face it you're a lot more innocent like we had a lot easier ideas in there and try some simpler things and women something really really terrible happened where you graduated in June of 141 you remember your graduation where does it have this. [00:21:08] Graduation we didn't go to the graduation we were you can't see when we had to go you had to do your summer we had to just summer camp after we didn't get our diplomas till after the summer camp so it was the end of the summer it was in June that that a graduation was in June and we were we were already in camp and there is it you know to get to work for your graduation then come that winter of course that in from the state of yeah your world changed drastically really that year that you graduated where you were you know most address where you live Ok where we were we didn't worry about it we knew that's where we will go whatever happened to school there were hoping that we can you know enjoy the commission when you graduate and then you know we went in this is 2nd lieutenant. [00:21:57] So you remember. When you actually went into the military. We got to camp it every name Maryland ordinance. The ordinance department and. When we left there we had orders to return in 30 days. What do you have like there was no gap if you like but they got another school is going to camp and then right into the military and we were commissioned officers mission option right that's the good part about that if you were going you know if you're going there with some weight you know and we visit with him tell me about your military career with well we were Aberdeen Proving Ground Maryland which is on the upper part of the Chesapeake Bay And we we went into the ordnance ****. [00:22:47] With the law to take a lot of tech men and stuff out there and they did so they were training training us and we we stayed there about 2 years and met a young lady from some to South Carolina she was working up in a ballistic lab. And romance blew. [00:23:07] It all with dead misses and then me. And we did use a wartime marriage romance with a record chip in that bag we went together about a year and. Then I was and had orders to go to Florida Mississippi and then overseas floor of the typical So we got married she had a big wedding and something. [00:23:35] They let me off load after combat is for just that's what you listen to them but that was what to tell us when we went heartbreak is the worst. Made us mad was they put us on a Liberty ship that took 30 days to go from Norfolk Virginia to bury Italy. [00:23:56] Well. You went to Italy and I'm sure. There there had Yeah. We were right in our midst depo there you know just. Elevate the captain by that time so I had a small meeting maintenance company took over seas and when you could about right we will ever know that well I wrote to my wife every day thank you yes it's free. [00:24:25] And. We. I mean the we had the ordinance and I mean we were towards depo and then they transferred me to another house that was there about 6 months and then. Transferred to the we were sad to the airport we were ordered to stand there for steak and machine guns and bombs and everything connected with the Air Force and we will behead the British over on the East Coast and then I was transferred up and counted which was close to say feel to the front lines so you're right we're all yes we couple times the Germans broke through and scared us but we believe we did. [00:25:15] And should rethink how many years you're alone do you know by your own their way onto. You and then when you get shipped then go for the easier ones and we know the they came along and so we. Know that where you were when it occurred I was up here and going to Italy and. [00:25:43] Advance they feel like it's a 1st a feel for the bombers to come in if they had trouble when they're on the bombing runs and then. That's right the day they picked about 8 of us to close up some of the camps over nearly and we had charge of get rid of all ammunition and things and I've got some pictures and I didn't bring them of the explosions we had a lot of those bugs work is just at least on the market where we had some I would had such high explosives just you couldn't move. [00:26:21] Very far. From here so we had a blow up you were actually in Europe and the easy right Actually it was a joyful time to say the little boy that was really excited. You have no point. When they left we finished clearing out this. Bomb dumps and depos where they organise back to United States train for the Pacific. [00:26:52] Have enough police. Well when I got home see then v.j. day in the nick of time adjusting the neck that resulted in his throwing the parts to get out and then have quite enough points to. Not be trainable. You know I didn't have to up trading thought for. [00:27:17] It and get the word. Right and we're we wish your life during your time something so you came home to something similar secretary to the bank president over there while I was always there so. You came back home and now what am I going to do it. We went to the beach and went on some couple trips and we said Well what we're going to narrow down. [00:27:48] What we're going to do for makes money. And that's one side to come back to George stick. And what we just. Well I was. I just didn't have a feeling of what I wanted to do and I just felt like if I took the time at Georgia Tech we would not you were just going to get her and you know that's all we did take you know industrial engineer on the rigs and then we have. [00:28:16] That kind of growth close and just start was just starting that department. Something 3 just 3 of us. And. You know yeah bill paid and Jewish and everything and we had to live we couldn't find a sustain I could buy the house and land on that we can afford and so take it. [00:28:44] Get in with the. Man how the bomb. No bomb or bomb or plant out of area the housing we lived in the housing robber Yeah. Yeah so you community and thing and then attack everything out. After you've been in the war. Very real and it was yeah you were getting you know. [00:29:17] We were saying this we found the Bible was straight myself from Paul Dukes with the 3 you with 3 and now. You do it or someone else. And when I got to tech that I got that Bob Overstreet was in the administration building where I went to see what was going on and about and he talked about the growth of and then I think Paul Dukes was instead because he wanted to play his 5th year but well right and so you think come on. [00:29:53] You you know right and what he was intrigued by when we were. You know. We. Went and do industrial buildings that are just a lot of the buildings it was that it. The destruction of the plants they were the time when everything was speeding up you know direction mines and everything like that they were shown as the new equipment and how to arrange equipment for production less production then the building had a built or type of building and then more use and what we were doing really was just finding what industrialising your engineer to be right. [00:30:43] And. They didn't know it and we didn't even realize that they were. Mechanical and tech and industrial had practice same hours to graduate and so with that's how we were able to get out so quickly because you know any other class would transfer All right so we just had to do a few extra classes to get the degree That's amazing isn't it really if you hadn't run into battle Street let's look now that's right. [00:31:16] With you but it's all through. No you didn't get to go to your 1st graduation right now I'm guessing but when you graduated the 2nd time it was the 1st graduating class for you that's right yeah right it was in February it did they call the school then or department or what does a color that was. [00:31:37] An engineering duster engineering department the part right. That time you know where kids can get in go right up your diploma you know a mother and father came out and then your wife you said trying to kill had retired sections right in here you are armed with 26 degrees and what we want to do with your life well we find that very back to my cousin that was Tech when he. [00:32:05] Was in with another man and they had refrigeration service company and legacy here so it's one year later he was just very much is he came from the nice family his mother was a was unmanly of the people who remember 1st referred to a cross street and very talented painter and I. [00:32:26] Played the piano and organ at the church and did a little of everything and he and his friend had started the refrigeration company that he had here and you know another man had started it and the in July we were invited to come work farm and so we were there year and then we heard through. [00:32:47] Some harmony was an architect in Georgia Tech graduate and he was living in Columbia you may had to. Because it just feeds and dismissed Otis to own and operate the Columbia Lumber Company wanted to diversify and. He was just in a condition to start an expedition company. So you said I we do this. [00:33:16] We came to Atlanta and. He interviewed me and and I checked up on him and we and so he decided to go into it we took on the Chrysler temple which at that time was part of the Chrysler motor that was in was that the founding then of Columbia it was the founding of January the 1st night in force that. [00:33:39] I came over and started Jane with the 1st night for said that her forget that they are 47 was starting it so yeah it was part of it was a division of Columbia lumber company where we started it you know over the years and then teens 16 we spun it off as a separate corporation and $960.65 Mr and the family so myself and 3 other people we went in together both the company and they've all retired and we bought the stock so my son Robert and I own all the stock so no I think it's your company after many years lo these many years that's right. [00:34:29] So you didn't have school shopping around for careers anymore you know things yeah I knew I was going back to bite you degree worth it yes that was worth it it really got valuable information and it was along the lines of the things that we were interested in getting to run a lot of that we took a lot of. [00:34:52] When you call it psychology courses what. They like that that we had had in my father exposure to the world yeah yeah that's kind of the value of id is that it's a little bit of this old that's right all along lines around it when you listen we have gone on to grow into being the most successful program to attack yet with industrial engineering it's the one that wins all the war really brings the glory on the Master's program industrial engineer in the world with me several consecutive years you know it is a phenomenal program you know since graduating from that program we really don't have too many jobs that are going to my geography and. [00:35:35] So you remain on these years in Colombia right now and tell me about your family well we help 1st 1st year we're close our 1st son was born the 1st year we were and what was his name is Bill Williams Jr Ok so he is a just like you with that 19 that was in 1947 you know that they mean a bill came when Columbia cooling and he said. [00:36:03] He was an excellent the next one was Wilson and he was born in 1958 and they're both medical doctors Ok and the name the 3rd one and Robert Ressler we met they're going in the he's the engineering and in the book you now go back to the oldest one bill went into let's call that he got. [00:36:26] Bill went to. Hampton said Gin you for one year and then he went to Davis and graduated Davis and then with wheels and then you were you know that's where a child graduated Yeah I know and where do you go to medical school and with medical school with universe stuff tell medical school college in Charleston What does the special specialize in never tell what you he went to New Orleans to hospital down their practice to 3 years he came back he says is he married have children he has 3 sons Rhys me to look at recently you would you dare venture their name Yeah the 1st one is. [00:37:14] Reese they call him the solicitor and then Philips and then Andrew good. All right let's rewind and Wilson wrote something called he was born in 52 and he went to. The Harvard he went to Princeton you know in Princeton and then he came back he came back to university and graduated in the universe South Carolina Numac to the medical school. [00:37:50] And what is your. Opt about his pediatric ophthalmologists variant and he has spent well over. Did you know all of the 10 years of education. But anyway. That's. So we can we are all now that Wilson has so many children he has 2 sons and her grandson for by where their names Wilson's you and Peter. [00:38:26] And then we can't abide. By our operator and he's the only one that was a Georgia Tech and he's no one charged in the game. Like he he graduated in architecture 1st. Harvard for a year and that they went in to listen half year think in the saddle and he came back in the bottom fell out architecture you couldn't get a job. [00:38:54] Anyway so yeah I thought of the back to Georgia Tech mechanical engineering he could come in the company with me so that's what he did and here was his great great debate. And then does he have children he has 3 sons so that makes 6788 and Robert Jr is the 1st and then. [00:39:28] The Larry and. John. You know what Larry just right your cup runneth over it seems like Ms Williams only began to mislead right now to make way something like the best the firman in the area and now Robert sons is going to George the 3rd generation right wing writes in Is he taking he's got appearing too he's taking mechanical engineering system racing and I mention that that one of my grandfathers went to Dartmouth. [00:40:09] Graduation Dartmouth and civil engineering and you know the one that lives I mean I don't know now the amazing thing is that we're in the 3rd generation of Midway and so they're still going to there are stacked at least one of those sheep in a family that. Never Sleeps you know where. [00:40:27] Yeah. He's got a 2nd son is. Interested I think thinking you know and it's not easy now I just send the kids to Georgia Tech from another state and I don't know all of the money yeah it's still a good value it's cheaper than going to Princeton or Harvard or. [00:40:48] Is that like it you know it's be in your day yeah to a $50.00 doesn't even get you to the front door. Or you get a roof over that are probably not not even if the holiday is are we. Know it's time to really change that now that I have great position to see those times change their opinion really going from the a model forward to the airplanes and everything else is not meant changing where yes you know in the in the best time the one thing leads to another that's right and you know actually horse and buggy 2nd whether you can remember them for problems or that we had we had a barn full of. [00:41:27] Series with a fringe on top and all that really which you can now. Use if you wanted to write like yeah that's right dollars. If you enjoyed your career do you feel like George Tech prepared you well for what you do definitely I was I don't think I could get a better education anyway and there's a charge that you could use anything you know this stuff pretty neat when you lived a life that you can look back at and name yeah it was the right way to go right now you get to enjoy all the grandchildren growing up and building their way make it right with me you you have to try to live a Christian life and I think that's a big you bless many people as well as many times over your head definitely Well we're awfully glad that there's a whole family of Ramle Wrexham Georgia Tech that came to the Georgia Yeah and one of your software the staff yellow yeah it's a lever structure. [00:42:27] You know it's been an interesting accumulation of memories for you know really has been appreciate you have been great and I'm sharing your story and we I didn't know about the 1st industrial engineering class that you've taught me something that really let's run a fixture of it yes I know we're going to put that on the end of your plate so that you know Ok I'm bigger I think you so much for your patience and your time thank you fact of the thank you for coming over and we're looking forward to talking to you again I'm sure you will stay right there.