Virginia Tech Alumni Association News - Spring 2003

Profiling Excellence among the Faculty and Alumni

From Classroom to Movie Set: James I. Robertson, Jr. (Faculty)

The Spirit of UT Prosim: Major General Ellis (Alumni)

From Classroom to Movie Set,
James I. Robertson, Jr. Is Telling the Story of the Civil War

For many students of Virginia Tech, attending a Civil War history course taught by Dr. James I. Robertson, Jr. is an unforgettable experience. Robertson's class is the largest of its kind in the nation. The course is not taught in a classroom, but in an auditorium-typically filled with some 250 students every semester. And the professor is not just a professor of history-he is making history.

Robertson joined the Virginia Tech faculty in 1967, and is regarded with the highest esteem among his colleagues and students. A gifted and unique educator, he brings a style of teaching unparalleled among historians. Through his stirring and impassioned lectures, his students not only learn about the Civil War, they actually have the opportunity to experience it. He can captivate students one moment, bring them to roaring laughter the next, and even make them tearful with his poetic description of a ravaging battle. One of his former students and now a history teacher remarked that "Dr. Robertson's lectures were more like stories than history-it was hard to take notes simply because he made the history so compelling you couldn't stop listening."

A native of Danville, Virginia, a community steeped in Civil War history, Robertson first became a student of that period in history. His fondness and lifelong interest in the war, however, grew from a much deeper source. At an early age he learned his great-grandfather was a Confederate soldier and a cook for General Robert E. Lee.

Robertson was appointed an Alumni Distinguished Professor of History at Virginia Tech, a distinction he shares with only eight other faculty members. In 2000, he established the Virginia Center for Civil War Studies, and is currently its Executive Director. He has received every major award presented in the field of Civil War history, and he is a regular guest for programs on the History Channel, the Arts and Entertainment Network, and public television. In addition, he also hosts a weekly radio broadcast aired by eleven public radio stations.

An award-winning author, he is well known for numerous works that include Soldiers Blue and Gray, General A.P. Hill, and Civil War! America Becomes One Nation. Robertson recently established a friendship and working relationship with acclaimed Civil War artist Mort Künstler, and together they have produced several spectacular books and calendars. Most recently, they completed a companion publication to the Warner Brothers major motion picture, Gods and Generals.

Robertson garnered the attention of the public when he became the leading historical consultant and advisor for Gods and Generals. Ron Maxwell, the producer, director, and screenwriter for the movie, used Robertson's latest book, Stonewall Jackson: The Man, The Myth, The Legend as his primary resource for the Confederate general. The biography has won numerous awards, and was a main selection of two major book clubs.

Stephen Lang, who plays Stonewall Jackson, used the biography extensively to develop his portrayal of the general. When asked how he was able create Stonewall Jackson's character, Lang responded that he "had the Bible in one hand, and Robertson's book in the other."

Robertson also worked extensively with other notable cast members, including Robert Duvall, who plays Robert E. Lee, and Jeff Daniels, who portrays Joshua Chamberlain. In fact, after a private dinner and lengthy discussion with Robertson, Duvall chose to alter his eye color to that of the famous Confederate general by wearing special contact lenses. As the project continued, Duvall and Robertson became good friends. When asked of his involvement with the film, Robertson said, "In a sense, this is one of the bigger moments of my life."

Many students and audiences have been touched by Robertson's profound teaching ability, his commitment to excellence, and his undying passion for history through storytelling. When an individual such as Robertson empowers those around him with an appreciation for his craft, they in turn share their experience with others. Indeed, this has secured him a place in history, not too unlike his favorite generals.

By Barry Doyle, Editor

General Ellis Carries the Spirit of Ut Prosim into the Defense of our Nation

Thirty-five years after graduating from Virginia Tech, Major General Edward R. "Buster" Ellis '68 is still living the motto of the university-That I May Serve. His story is like so many other alumni often having a variety of jobs and experiences, yet committed to a lifetime of service. Indeed, Ellis' duties and responsibilities have taken on new meaning in a post 9-11 world.

Ellis was born in Alabama, then spent much of his youth in Northern Virginia while his father was stationed at the Pentagon. He enrolled at Virginia Tech in 1964 on a baseball scholarship. Joining the Corps of Cadets was voluntary for the first time that year, and Ellis chose Army ROTC assigned to 'T Company'-composed of varsity athletes. He was in the same battery with catcher Johnny Oates, and the only pitcher recruited that year. That was the beginning of a lifelong friendship between the two teammates. During his undergraduate years, Ellis also became a member of the Cotillion Club and the Monogram Club.

Following graduation, a masters program at the University of Alabama was his next stop. In Tuscaloosa, he returned to his family roots by enrolling in Air Force ROTC and received his commission as an Air Force second lieutenant in 1971. Having held a variety of positions since then, Ellis accepted flying, education and staff assignments.

Completing pilot training in 1972, Ellis followed with tours of duty as a T-37 flight instructor and a variety of positions flying the F-4E Phantom, culminating in serving as operations officer for the 36th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Osan Air Base, South Korea. His educational experience has included both flying and instruction. Ellis commanded the 35th Flying Training Squadron from 1988-90 and also the 71st Flying Training Wing from 1995-97. In the instructional assignment area, he has been at the Air University at Maxwell AFB in Alabama as a section commander at Squadron Officer School, instructor and student squadron commander at the Air Command and Staff College, the commander of Squadron Officer School, and the commander of Air Force Officer Accession and Training Schools.

In more recent years, Ellis has held several staff positions including a stint as Chief of the Western Hemisphere Division at the Joint Staff in Washington, D.C. During the most recent four years he has been serving in strategic positions in Europe, including assignments in Italy, Greece, and Turkey. While in Turkey, he was responsible for allied enforcement of the No-Fly Zone in Northern Iraq. As overall commander, Ellis has logged 215 combat flying hours in the F-15A/C/E Eagle, and 190 combat support flying hours in additional aircraft.

Today, Ellis serves as the Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations at Headquarters Allied Air Forces Southern Europe, NATO and is stationed in Naples, Italy. He and his wife, Sydney, have been married for 32 years and have three sons and four grandchildren. Their oldest son, Justen, followed in his father's footsteps as an F-15E pilot at Seymour Johnson AFB, NC.

Despite his international assignments that keep him considerable distances from the university, Ellis has returned to Tech's campus several times. In the mid-90s he returned as guest speaker for an Air Force Dining Out. This February, he was the featured speaker at the senior banquet held during Military Weekend. Always passionate about mentoring young men and women, he stresses the university motto. When asked about the influence the university has had on him, Ellis replied, "I look back on my time at Tech and I know the things I learned prepared me for my career in the Air Force. After all, one of our Air Force core values is Service Before Self. Getting a great education at a school whose motto is "That I May Serve" grounds you and prepares you for success, no matter what your profession."

Ellis is another example of the many soldiers who put themselves in harms way to defend against aggression and terrorism throughout the world. He is another son of the university who has shaped his career around the university's values that are etched in stone on the War Memorial pylons, including one that has become perhaps the most influential in his life - Ut Prosim.

By Colonel Richard "Rock" Roszak, Retired USAF