Virgil Young Cook Eady, Sr.
1898 - 1969
Virgil Eady’s father died when Virgil was very young and he, along with his mother and siblings, spent most of his childhood in an orphanage. He worked his way through college and graduate school by playing the trumpet and leading the glee club.
He joined the faculty at Oxford College as a professor of English and Bible Studies in 1929. In 1944, he became Dean and Division Executive, a position he held until his retirement in 1966, making him the longest serving chief executive in the history of the college. Under his leadership, the college’s basic liberal arts program became a pilot plan for all Methodist junior colleges. Some of his innovations include the World Affairs Institute and Fine Arts Week at the school. One of the most enduring of his contributions to both the college and the town is his successful fight to keep the Oxford campus open when there were plans to close it during the Dr. S. Walter Martin administration. The Eady Sophomore Service Award, the only student award to be given at annual commencement, was established in his honor.
His many roles in the Oxford community included Georgia Kiwanis District Governor in 1945, founder of the Covington Music Club, and lay leader of the North Georgia Conference of the Methodist Church. The Eady Admissions Center at Oxford College was named in his honor.
An accomplished musician, Eady also served as the Conference song leader and when the Methodist Hymnal was revised in 1966, Eady served on the tunes committee.
His many roles in the Oxford community included Georgia Kiwanis District Governor in 1945, founder of the Covington Music Club, and lay leader of the North Georgia Conference of the Methodist Church. The Eady Admissions Center at Oxford College was named in his honor.
An accomplished musician, Eady also served as the Conference song leader and when the Methodist Hymnal was revised in 1966, Eady served on the tunes committee.