Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/116

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

a stock raiser and fruit grower. Dr. and Mrs. Dodd are the parents of: Francis Clay, born April 27, igo8; Anna Lou, born January 4, 1910; William Samuel, born March 8, 1912.

Julian Ashby Burruss. The State Nor- mal School, at Harrisonburg. Virginia, has for five years claimed the services of Julian Ashby Burruss as president. Mr. Burruss is well-known in educational circles in his native state, having taught in many of her leading institutions, his reputation also based upon the work he has conducted while connected in an official capacity with the organizations of educators in Virginia. Mr. Burruss is now in the midst of a great work at the Normal School, while those interested in the institution and its welfare are aware of the worth of his achievements in the past five years.

Mr. Burruss is a son of Woodson Cheadle Burruss, born in Bowling Green, Caroline county, Virginia, died January 10, 1907. He was a contractor during his business life, and was a soldier in the "Caroline Grays" throughout the war between the states, be- ing once wounded in battle. He married Cora Emmett, died in 1905, daughter of Dr. John McDowell, and had children : Eva May, born in Richmond, Virginia, Decem- ber 9, 1881, married Albert H. Gillock, of Lexington, Virginia, and has one son, Woodson Burruss ; and Julian Ashby.

Julian Ashby Burruss, son of Woodson Cheadle and Cora Emmett (McDowell) Burruss, was born in Richmond, Henrico county, Virginia, August 16, 1876. After attending the public schools of his native city he became a student in the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, whence he was .grad- uated B. S. After a course of study in Rich- mond College, he became professor of mathematics and natural science in Rein- hart Normal College, Speers-Langford Military Institute, and the Searcy Female Institute, and was then appointed to the principalship of the Leigh School, at Rich- mond. During summer sessions he studied at the University of Chicago and at Har- vard L^niversity, and was subsequently di- rector of manual arts in the public schools of Richmond. He was for a time a scholar in the Industrial Education at the Teachers' College,, of New York City, and was awarded the degree A. M. by Columbia

University and the Master's diploma by the Teachers' College. He was a fellow in edu- cation at Columbia University, and was afterward president of the Virginia Asso- ciation of Colleges and Schools for Girls, also holding the office of director in the Southern Educational Association. Mr. Burruss has likewise occupied the presi- dency of the Virginia State Teachers' As- sociation.

In 1908 he received the appointment to the presidency of the Virginia State Normal School, at Harrisonburg, Virginia, assum- ing the responsibilities of his office the fol- lowing year. He has given to that institu- tion whole-hearted and devoted service, and has there instituted numerous innova- tions tending to increase not only the effi- ciency of the system there employed but to give to educational work in the state teachers better equipped to supply the de- mands made upon them in the active work of instruction. His eflforts have erected a high standard to which graduates of the school must conform and have given to the school's activities a definite purpose — "not only to give training in the various school subjects, but to give its students instruction in the art of teaching, by acquainting them with right principles, aims, and procedures that make up the activity connected with managing a school. The Normal School does not attempt to make educational ex- perts of its graduates, but it rather aims to equip them with the first-hand knowledge of the art of teaching; to give them a broad sympathy with the life of the children and a spirit of confidence in the work of instruc- tion — in short, to take charge of a school and make it go."

Mr. Burruss has been a contributor to educational journals, his articles bearing the stamp of knowledge and familiarity with the subjects under discussion and contain- ing enlightening material on new phases of educational problems. He is a member of the Rockingham Union Lodge, No. 27, Free and Accepted Masons, of Harrisonburg, Virginia. His political beliefs are Demo- cratic, and he affiliates with the Presby- terian church.

Mr. Burruss married, in June. 1907, Rachel Cleveland, born May 10, 1888, daugh- ter of George Dorsey Ebbert, of Covington, Kentucky.